To Declaw or Not To Declaw...Is It Really Necessary?

Today I want to talk about one of the most controversial topics out there for cats...declawing.  No matter what your opinion is, it's likely you feel strongly about it and think everyone else is ridiculous.  Well let's get the facts out in the open first.  What is declawing?  Is it removing just the nail or is it really more than that?

First, the surgery is NOT just removing the nail but amputating the first 'knuckle' of each digit.  It is the equivalent of amputating the first knuckle of each of your fingers.  That is a fact.  A tendonectomy is severing the tendon of each digit so the cat cannot retract its claws.  This does not mean you do not need to trim their nails.  It is even more important you do that if this surgery is done because they cannot scratch on their posts in order to file them down.  They will continue to grow.  These are two very common surgeries.

Now for some more facts..16 countries have deemed this practice inhumane and have made it illegal.  Those countries are:   England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and Poland.  There really is no way to keep your cat from scratching regardless because it is a natural behavior for them and they will continue to try even after the surgery.  They do this to mark territory, stretch their "fingers" and a variety of other things.  It is not because they do not like your furniture or you.

http://www.moggies.co.uk/stories/declaw.html

http://pictures-of-cats.org/Why-is-Declawing-Illegal-in-the-UK.html

There are alternatives to declawing such as Soft Paws (which your vet can apply), scratching post training, double sided tape on the areas you want them to keep away from (they do not like the feeling of tape on their paws), and antiperspirant spray on your furniture and other areas you don't want them scratching on (smells good and keeps them away). 

Here are some pros and cons regarding declawing:

http://www.vetinfo.com/cat-declawing-procedure-explained.html

http://www.catsinternational.org/articles/scratching_and_declawing/Truth_about_Declawing.html

The picture may be a little graphic for some but that is the aftermath of a declaw surgery.  As you can probably tell I am against declawing; however, I have adopted 2 already declawed cats.  Their personalities are quite different.  One of them has trouble jumping up on things compared to my clawed cats.  The other one has behavioral issues and will chase down my other cats and attack them.  I admit they are both very sweet and I have never had a problem with them biting.  They are obviously indoor only cats, though, and if you just have to declaw then please keep them indoors.  I will never advocate or agree with having an indoor/outdoor declawed cat.

Also, please discuss with your vet and others prior to making this decision because it is lifelong and there can be physical problems later on such as arthritis, pain while walking, potential behavioral changes (especially with young children), etc.

Here are some estimated costs as well:  http://catdeclawing.org/declawing-cats-cost/
Here are some alternatives:  http://www.thecatsite.com/a/declawing-and-alternatives

I've seen both sides of this and have done it to a former cat of mine in the distant past and will never do it again.

As always, I welcome any comments, questions or concerns.  Please click the follow link to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.