Why Declawing a Cat is Cruel
Cat declawing is a procedure that is still considered acceptable in the United States, however it is becoming less popular as the public becomes more informed of the cruelty of this procedure and they are becoming more educated as to why cats need their claws. Many wonderful non-profit organizations have tried to raise awareness of this issue. Once such organization, The Paw Project, has done a great job in raising awareness.
Cats have claws for a reason and they use them for various purposes including:
Balance – Cat claws help the cat balance, especially when they climb on uneven objects like tree limbs or shelves.
Grabbing/Clasping – Cats use their claws much like hands or fingers and will pick up objects with their claws the same way a person would use their fingers.
Traction – Cat’s claws provide extra traction when a cat is walking or running.
Defense – Cat’s claws are its only line of defense should it find itself face-to-face with an adversary.
Digging – Cat’s will cover their excrement in the dirt after they "do their business." Their claws help them dig a hole in litter or the ground so that they can "use the facilities" and then cover up.
Marking - When cats scratch things, they are actually marking their territory. Tiny glands in the claws leave a secretion or pheromone that allows the cat to mark its territory so other cats know the items that the scratching cat "owns." The secretions are undetectable to humans.
Before the turn of the century, declawing cats was extremely commonplace, and is becoming less commonplace in the last decade… but it is still far too common. The most frequently cited reason that people declaw their cats is because cat owners worry about their cat destroying their furniture. Most of these pet owners do not realize that this surgery is amputation and that most cats, when provided with the appropriate scratching surfaces, will not scratch or ruin furniture.
All cat owners, and especially those who have cats with claws should provide their Information about cats with a variety of scratching surfaces – find something that your cat likes! This point can’t be stressed enough. Not all cats like vertical scratching posts and not all cats like to scratch sisal.
When looking for a good scratching post – try a variety and see what your cat likes. If you have multiple cats, you may find that they each like something different:Explore orientation – horizontal vs. Vertical
Explore materials – try sisal, carpet, wood, cardboard, etc.
Try different areas of your house – move the post to different areas, some are mounted, some are free-standing, some lay on the floor – see what your cat likes and will use!
Sprinkle some catnip on the post to encourage use. Note, not all cats are sensitive to catnip.
Never force your cat to the post, you may scare him/her – you can gently show it to her; she’ll know what to do. But never force.
If your cat insists on scratching one of your favorite items, buy some pet-friendly sticky tape. It’s double-sided tape that will deter your cat from scratching because it’s sticky on both side but the tape will not damage furniture.
If you still insist on declawing your cat, realize that there are other risks. Your cat’s personality may change and not for the better. He/she may no longer be able to jump to areas that they used to be able to and may become confused and depressed. Cats paws may be very sensitive and while not proven, it is theorized that many cats that have been declawed have developed litter box aversion because of the negative association they have with pain they feel digging in the Cat litter box and going to the bathroom. Finally, never declaw the back claws. Cats do not use their back claws destructively.