Jul 20 2007
Declawing A Cat
If you are getting fed up with your cat scratching your soft furnishings you may be planning to declaw him. Please don’t do this. In
A cat’s claws are not toenails- its more like a bone. Declawing is like amputating your the top bone in your toes or fingers. The surgery is painful and the cat will still be in pain for a while after surgery, yet still has to walk on those painful paws.
A declawed cat can no longer do all the things she instinctively wants to do. She can’t climb, even indoors because she has lost her way of gripping and will fall, with a shocked look on her face. “Why can’t I do this anymore?” she thinks. She can’t scratch or groom herself properly, she can’t defend herself against dogs or nasty people, so she feels insecure, her balance is affected and she is deprived of the psychological comfort derived from scratching.
A declawed cat may become neurotic and develop psychological problems. She may resort to biting because she feels unsafe. Sometimes the claws re-grow but are deformed and may easily become infected.
Read this cautionary tale if you are still not sure: Declawing Problems
If your furnishings are getting scratched, and repellant sprays are not suitable for the fabric, there is another humane solution. Claw caps called Soft Claws , created by a vet, will solve the problem for sure. You apply the claw caps to your cat’s front claws. Only use these if your cat never goes outside though, because it does prevent them from defending themselves.
Feline De-Clawing Alternatives
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I agree wholeheartedly - declawing your cat is a barbaric act and should be illegal (I believe it is in some European countries). In addition to the alternatives you suggest there are a multitude of scratching posts available. The trick is to make the post more attractive than your furniture. If you’re not willing to invest the time and effort then don’t get a cat.
I agree also. None of my 3 cats are declawed, and they have learned not to claw the furniture etc. I have a climbing post about 8 ft tall that is carpeted, and they love to climb and sink their claws into the post, then hang from it - gives them exercise. With all that I’ve read about declawing, I would never again declaw my cats. Thanks for the post
[…] cat try using soft claw covers instead. Alternatives to Declawing, Nail Caps for Cats/. Read this article about declawing. I hope that you are feeling better soon. Tabby __________________ Free Ebook "Choosing […]