Cats are more independent and less trainable, and their behavior differs significantly. Claws are an integral component of a cat’s identity; they stretch their muscles, mark territory, and even walk. Unlike majority of mammals, which walk on their soles and heels, cats walk on their toes; as a result, when they are declawed, their stride changes completely, causing extreme suffering. You might think declawing your cat is the solution to your scratching problems, but it is not. It is inhumane to remove part of a cat’s toe just because they scratch your furniture or you don’t want to trim their nails.
Most people think that only the cat’s claws are removed during the procedure, but this is not the case. Declawing is a term that refers to a sequence of bone amputations that is more correctly referred to as “de-knuckling.” In humans, fingernails develop from the skin, but claws grow from the bone, so the last bone is severed to prevent the claw from growing back. Because declawing cats is a surgical procedure, it necessitates general anesthesia and a recovery period of up to two-week. Declawed cats can understandably have sore paws following surgery (Osmanski, 2021). This symptom, however, may remain over time. After all, declawing a cat permanently alters its anatomy. Just as humans may experience sensitivity, soreness, or pain following surgery, according to Dr. Endersby, cats might continue to experience pain following the declawing process for the remainder of their lives (Cheung, 2019). Additional post-operative problems may include aggressiveness, foot deformity, and nerve damage.
When cats scratch, they mark their territory with their scent glands on the bottom of their paws. By removing this part of the cat’s anatomy, you are taking away one of the most important tools a cat has for jumping, climbing, self-defense, balance, and communication (Cheung, 2019). Imagine a situation where a declawed cat escapes and is forced to fend for itself on the streets. The resultant consequence is that it will likely die. In addition to being cruel, declawing results in many physical and behavioral problems for your pet, leading to health complications or even death. These issues include lameness, biting, and aggression or not using the litter box. These behaviors can be so severe that owners will often relinquish their cats to shelters where they may be euthanized due to unadoptable behavior.
Fortunately, there are non-surgical approaches to declawing cats significantly more effective. Dr. Ellis suggests that cat owners can train their cats to utilize scratching posts, which should be placed in specific locations, often apparent to the cat, as this is how they establish their territory (Cheung, 2019). Feliway Scratching Post Liquid, for example, can be applied on a scratching post to encourage your cat to scratch there (Osmanski, 2021).
Although I advocate against declawing, certain circumstances necessitate it. I concur with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) when “a cat’s excessive or improper scratching behavior creates an intolerable risk of damage or continues to be destructive despite diligent attention to behavioral adjustment and alternatives,” then declawing may be necessary. Dr. Ochoa provides an illustrative example: If an older person owns a cat and also has a medical condition that requires them to take blood thinners, the cat can scratch the owner and cause them several problems. Another compelling reason for declawing is health reasons (Osmanski, 2021). If a cat develops an infection in the bone or toe or is diagnosed with cancer, and your veterinarian recommends declawing, I would agree with their decision.
For the most part, declawing a cat should only be done as a last resort due to dire circumstances. More often than not, cat owners declaw their pets for petty reasons. Sadly, many individuals don’t want to devote the time and effort to teaching their cats or having a scratching post in their apartment out of sheer pride and ignorance. I commend policies being advocated to make the practice illegal, and they should ban it altogether.
References
Osmanski, S. (2021, May 22). What Is Cat Declawing? The Pros, Cons, and What to Know About Declawing Cats. Parade. https://parade.com/1208891/stephanieosmanski/declawing-cats/
Cheung, H. (2019, June 5). Cat declawing: Should it be banned, and why does it happen in the US? BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48528968
write