Cats: Should They Be Declawed?

Cats and scratching go hand in hand, or should I say "paw in paw". You can't have one without the other to some extent. It is a natural behavior for cats and it has more than one significant motive for them. Many cat owners would not have one without getting it declawed. I have known people that think having their cats declawed is harmless and can't imagine having a feline friend without the procedure. I also know many people who feel the exact opposite, just as I do.

I have had cats all of my life and have never had one declawed. That is not to say I haven't had a declawed cat. I adopted one nine years ago and he is still with me today. He is very clumsy and cat litter sticks in the crevices of where his claws should be. He is by far the messiest with cat litter of any cat I've ever had. I am convinced these problems are from being declawed. I also had another precious little female kitty for over thirteen years before her death. She was not declawed and caused little harm to my home. Cat litter also did not stick all over her paws. It takes time, patience and proper places for a cat to scratch. I think it is a cruel procedure for the cat to be declawed and is completely unnecessary with the exception of very rare situations. I know many cat lovers who still think having a cat declawed is acceptable and will disagree with me, but that's okay, too. I can agree to disagree on the subject.

Let's discuss how the cat is declawed. Declawing a cat is medically called onychectomy and is the amputation of the claw and the end toe bone joint. The procedure to have a cat declawed does not simply remove the claw. It is a cruel surgery and would be the same as having our finger tips cut off to keep our fingernails from regrowing. The surgery is naturally painful for the cat for more than a week and that is without complications. After being the declawed, there is always the risk of infection and bleeding, as well as problems with the cat being able to feel his toes for a long time. It is also thought to cause psychological problems in the cat, being declawed certainly can but probably does not always. Cats need to be kept indoors anyway for several reasons, but if the cat has been declawed he or she must stay indoors. The cat no longer has the climbing abilities to escape danger once it has been declawed.

Having a cat declawed will not stop the scratching behavior but it will no longer damage whatever surface it is scratching. The scratching is instinctual and will never stop. It is not for the simple reason of sharpening the claws as is a common myth. In the wild, male cats scratch surfaces to mark their territory and let other male cats know of their presence. Cats also scratch as a simple sign of being content and happy. It is a natural process and the cat is just being a cat.

When the cat begins scratching on furniture, redirect him to a scratching post. There are many types available at pet stores. Some are tall structures with places for the cat to climb and hide. These are usually covered in carpet. The types I've had better luck with are covered with twine wrapped around cardboard and lay on the floor. This type is also the least expensive and several can be bought and placed where needed in the house. I personally think sisal wrapped scratching posts in vertical or horizontal styles are a common sense approach. Scratching posts wrapped in carpet seem to send the wrong signal to cats that carpet scratching is okay.

If your cat is not attracted to the scratching post, try rubbing it with catnip. Cats love catnip and will usually begin using the scratching post surface instantly. If you are using the tall type of scratching post, try putting the cat's favorite treats at the top surface to encourage climbing the post. If you see your cat scratching the corner of a sofa or chair, spray her with water from a spray bottle or throw something noisy near her (not at her). There are also products available at the pet stores to spray on the furniture to make them smell unattractive to the kitty. If the cat is still insistent in scratching on the same piece of furniture, then try placing the scratching post to block the area and see if she uses the post then. There are so many humane options to deter your cat from damaging furniture. Declawing a cat should never be the first option. Your cat should also never be hit, there is absolutely no reason to ever hit an animal.

Most veterinarians will suggest declawing only as a last resort for cats. Some owners will actually want to have the cat euthanized if the scratching behavior can't be controlled. Many cat owners also automatically believe declawing should be the first choice without ever trying any other options first. I know cat owners that almost think of declawing in the same way as sterilizing the cat. They just automatically plan on the declawing surgery as soon as they make plans to get a cat. This is just not necessary. It is really easy to clip the cats claws short and redirect them to the proper scratching surface. There are even special claw covers available from the veterinarian. There are options and I just think putting a cat through this terrible surgery and leaving her with deformed toes should not be one of them.