Declawing Your Cat
By Lynn Lopez
Cats are cute and cuddly creatures—right up to the point they unsheathe their claws and do some damage. That is mostly why cat owners often take their cats to the veterinarian for declawing, or onychectomy. Pet owners usually opt to have their cats declawed to stop them from doing damage inside the house and causing harm to people. Unfortunately, there is evidence showing how declawing can cause harm to your cat. You may be protecting yourself from your pet’s claws, but it’s not a pleasant experience for your furry little friend.
Contrary to popular belief, declawing isn’t similar to a manicure wherein a cat’s claws are simply shortened. The procedure involves amputating the end bones of a cat’s toes, preventing it from baring its claws. It’s described as being similar to having your fingers cut off at the first joint. This is the reason why many cat lovers, veterinarians, and animal rights groups are up in arms against declawing, because it essentially entails maiming a cat. People against declawing also argue that this procedure hinders the natural instincts and defenses of a cat.
A cat may also experience some effects, such as a personality change due to the loss of its claws and it may also shift its weight from the front legs to the hind legs, making them lose their sense of balance because the animal may find it difficult to walk on its toes.
Before you immediately turn to declawing your cat as an option, consider the alternatives first. You can provide your pet with a scratching post. You can attract your cat by rubbing the post with catnip, play with it by the scratching post, and place the post by your cat’s sleeping area so it can scratch when it wakes up. You can also conceal your cat’s claws with protective vinyl caps.
If you’re still determined to have the declawing procedure performed on your pet, consult your veterinarian first if he or she can do it and learn more on its effects on your cat’s health. But remember that scratching is a natural part of cats’ behavior, and they do it mainly for pleasure, to keep their claws in shape, to mark their territory, and for exercise as well.
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