Declaw the Declawing Procedure

By: Renu Eapen

PR Intern for PETA

Posted on October 28, 2013 at 2:00 PM

A lot of people think that declawing cats is like giving them a nail cut or a manicure. In reality, declawing is a very painful and crippling procedure for your pet. Majority of declawings are taken place due to the safety of the owner's furniture. Cat climb and scratch every surface, this is a natural habit for them and do it to stretch their muscles. However, declawing is not just removing their nails to protect the condition of your couch.

When you declaw your cat, you are taking away something that cats use very often. Declawing is not as simple as a nail clipping. It is a very painful ordeal. Imagine cutting a person's fingers off at the knuckles. Declawing is equivalent to cutting off a person's fingers. The pain does not end after the surgery. The nails can grown back inside the paws, causing extreme pain that you won't be able to see.

Claws are a part of the cat's body. There is a reason for them to be born with it. Claws are a cat's first line of defense. With claws, cats will be able to keep itself safe from other animals and people. With claws, cats are confident and feel normal. Some cats become aggressive when their claws are removed. Many people think cat become safer to be around babies once they are declawed, but the lack of claws can make a cat feel insecure causing them to bite more often. 

With an insecurity, cats might feel the need to mark their territory in other manners. House trained cats can also start doing their business outside the litter box. If that happens, your furniture if gone for sure!

When you declaw your cat, your cat has to relearn how to walk all over again. For humans, our toes help us balance. When we lose one toe, our balance is not as steady. There is no difference with cats. Their claws hep them balance. Without them, they have to relearn how to walk.

Declawing may sound like a painless and safe thing to do, but in the contrary it is a very bad idea for your cat. Cats are born with claws and is used for everything they do. Like the thumb, claws are an important part of their body. While many people do not know the serious harm declawing causes, the good news is that the awareness is spreading. Australia, England and Japan among many other countries have banned the action of declawing. Many vets in the States also refuse to perform the surgery. But cat owner need to be more aware of why declawing is terrible for their pet and what they can do instead.

Cat owners can do other things to keep their pets from ruining their couches. Trim their nails regularly. When the cat is relaxed, gently press on their toes until the claws extend, then with a small pet nail cutter, cut the nails making sure that you do not go deep enough to cut the vein.

Scratching posts can help keep your cat busy and away from the couch. Cats love to scratch and is in fact good for them. Soft fluffy carpets won't satisfy your cat, so a strong scratch post will keep them busy and entertained.

Train your cat. At the end of the day, your cat will obey what you say if you train them. Teach them where to scratch and where not to. When you see your cat scratching somewhere they are not supposed to, then use a loud, stern voice to discourage them from continuing that behaviour. Cats don't like getting yelled at, so they may not repeat the act again.

There are many other ways cat owners can keep their couches and families safe without the act of declawing. Declawing is dangerous, painful and a permanent crippling procedure. It is a truly unfair act towards to cat. However, there are many ways to keep your cat and furniture safe from pain and damage. For more information on the dangers of declawing, go on to the PETA website.