De-clawing is physically and emotionally maiming cats. Case studies have shown that de-clawing is a cruel act of mutilating animals that result to the de-clawed animal becoming lame, not to mention developing arthritis, depression and a host of other long-term complications. Any way you look at it, de-clawing cats is inhumane. In fact, many countries consider de-clawing illegal. In the United States, however, self-serving cat owners practice this cruel act.
More than Just Trimming the Toenails
De-clawing is not a simple matter of trimming the cat's toenails. It is a form of surgery that involves amputating the toe bones at the end of a cat's paws. The whole procedure requires a post-operative period of recovery that is quite different from what human surgical patients go through. After all, feline patients don't usually have the comfort of a hospital bed, bed pan or wheelchairs.
What they do have are litter boxes, and the pet owner's place in which to stay as they regain the use of their feet -- a process that is not without pain, to say the least, since cats can't resist walking, jumping and scratching. These self-sufficient animals would rather hide their pain than be helpless. But they may also begin to exhibit untoward behavior to cope with their discomfort, putting your furniture and other property at risk of damage.
A De-clawed Cat is a Vulnerable and Hostile Cat
A de-clawed cat, once back in his litter box, will not be able to dig properly. Thus, he may wander off to other places where he can pee: on the living room carpet, the cupboard or by the door. Many cat owners discover that scratches on the drywall or floorboard are much easier to deal with than cat urine, which can penetrate deeply.
De-clawing a cat deprives him of one of his primary means of defense, rendering him vulnerable to threats from unfriendly animals or, worse, predators, should he ever step outside the house unaccompanied. The loss of claws also invariably impairs mobility and balance orientation. The sense of insecurity this engenders sometimes leads to hostility and aggressive behavior that may be directed at people, including the pet owner. Remember, the de-clawed cat still has his sharp teeth with which to bite human flesh!
Mutilation in the First Degree
Claws naturally endow cats with fearsome grace, and removing the claws can indeed be crippling. Drastically altering the structure of these elegant animal parts is mutilation of the first order. Even the most insensitive cat owner will balk at the idea of de-clawing their wards if the appropriate but horrible-sounding word "amputate" were used to describe the practice. The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) is unequivocally opposed to de-clawing as a way of correcting feline "vices," describing it as a disfigurement that offers convenience to people but only sufferings for the cat.
Alternatives to De-clawing
* If you do not want your cat clawing on your furnishings or scratching his claws on any part of your house, temporarily protect these areas with duct tape or aluminum foil. Cats typically are averse to scratching these surfaces.
* While you are training your cat, you can squirt him with water, blow a whistle or make loud noises whenever he claws or scratches on something that you do not want him to.
* Trim your cat's toenails regularly.
* Get your cat a few scratching posts and place them in designated areas in the house. You can train your cat to use his claws on these scratching posts instead of using them on your furniture. Other cat furniture can serve the same purpose, like cat condos, pet steps, etc.
There's one product I won't hesitate to recommend in case you have met with less success in training your kitten, or obtained your pet already a fully grown adult. This is the Soft Paws vinyl nail cap to keep furniture from being scratched by feline claws. Developed by a veterinarian, this product falls off as the cat's nails grow, to be replaced by a new one. A possible drawback is that it may keep your kitten from enjoying the act of clambering up his post.
You may also want to buy scratching posts or cat furniture from your local pet supplies retailer. I have used these materials extensively around the house since my cat Ace was a kitten. He enjoys clawing on them so much that pawing any of the chairs and sofas has probably never occurred to him!
Clawing- A Natural Part of Cat Behavior
Scratching with claws is one way cats mark their turf. This is accomplished through glands beneath their paws that secrete a distinctive scent. The pulling and stretching of muscles in cats' front quarters when they scratch also serves as a form of exercise that helps to keep them fit. This facility for clawing is such a natural part of these felines' behavior that taking it away from them amounts to one of the more cruel forms of deprivation.
David Lee is owner and designer of Ace Cat Furniture and Ace Cat Health web sites. See his sites for more information on cat health like, cat flea control , or cat leukemia
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