Declawing: Ethical or Not

In recent years, there has been much discussion between cat lovers, haters and veterinarians around the world about whether or not declawing cats is ethical and if the cat will experience pain. To remove a cat's claw is to remove not only the nail, but it is an amputation of the first joint of their paw. This can cause the animal pain and prevent them from protecting themselves, as well as the possibility of a negative impact on their personality. Cat declawing can cost in the hundreds of dollars and is an unnecessary surgery; people should consider alternatives before committing to it.

There are two ways to declaw a cat, one safer than the other, but not by much. Onychectomy is a procedure that removes the first knuckles on the cat's already small paws. It is the equivalent of someone cutting off the tip of your finger, up to the last knuckle. There have been reported problems such as nails trying to grow back through where the joint was removed.

Tendonectomy, is cutting of the tendons so that the cat may not extend the claws at all. This comes with problems of its own and many veterinarians, even those that agree with declawing, prefer not to touch this type. This is mainly because that you need to trim the cats nails every two weeks and if you don't, the nail could grow into the cat's paws and cause it much more pain. Also, if you don't clip them, than the cat will, eventually, have the ability to scratch again.

Both these types have been banned in over two dozen countries, including much of Europe and Japan. There are also many cities in the United States, most of them in California, that have banned such surgeries, on the grounds that it is animal cruelty. Many other groups are trying to pass laws in many places and trying to gain alliance and educate people about the dangers of declawing.

Even if the cat is unconscious for the procedure, the pain will continue over to the next day. Plus, as with any surgery, there is a chance for infection and malpractice.  According to Paw-Rescue.org,

"A Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine study on 163 cats reported that 50% of the cats experienced one or more of these complications. About 20% experienced further complications such as infection, nail regrowth and lameness…"

This means that there will be many more veterinary bills to pay, as well as much pain and suffering for an animal that you may consider to be a friend. Death is another, much rarer, side effect. If your veterinarian does not do the surgery correctly, the cat can bleed to death or die of infection.

If you still insist on having a declawed cat, perhaps you should consider adopting a cat that is already declawed. Many of these cats have ended up at the Humane Society because their owners noticed a change in personality change and other problems.

Personality change has been reported my many owners after declawing their cats. People have reported once happy and out-going cats becoming quiet and withdrawn. Others become angry and violent, becoming excessively defensive and weary of humans and other animals. Reports of cats ceasing use of their litter boxes have also come out; because of the sores in the cat's paw make it painful to step in the grainy sand. They also don't know how to protect themselves properly.

Protection can become a big problem, not just when it comes to personality changes. If your cat manages to get outside after the declawing operation, it will have no means to protect itself from other animals or climb up a tree to escape. Biting becomes an over-compensation for the lack of claws and the cat cannot control his jaws like he can his claws during play.

Without claws, the cat will also lose its ability to walk normally.  In example, Fluffy got declawed and now has to straddle the top of the couch, as he cannot use his claws to keep his balance. In many studies, cats that are declawed end up with limps or otherwise walk funny because lack of whole parts of their feet.

Onychectomy is often compared to getting your cat spayed or neutered: a necessity. Cats can claw at children and ruin furniture etc. Some people get their kittens declawed before seeing what the kitten even acts like around the house. This is a large mistake. You should test the waters with your cat to see if they even need it done and if you think they do, then exhaust all other options before resorting to taking off all the kittens fingers. Cats often cannot cause much harm if you stop being lazy and either train the cat or clip its nails. These don't take too long and it can save your cat from a life time of pain and awkwardness.

Maybe you've had a cat or even several cats that have had this surgery and recovered 'just fine'! They have no problems that you can see and they still seem friendly and lovable. Consider yourself lucky! Did you know that the oldest recorded person to have ever lived Jeanne Calment, smoked her entire life? Does this mean that because a few people are not affected by smoking that it doesn't negatively impact anyone's life? Of course not. Thinking this way has created many problems through out history. Just because the cats that you know are fine after the surgery, does not mean that every cat is going to be.

It's not to say that declawing is never necessary. If a cat or kitten is neglected for sometime and its nails grow to a point that it starts to cut into the skin of the cat and it can no longer walk properly, it would seem humane and important to get it declawed. It would be in a lot of pain. But most of us can handle ten minutes every two weeks to clip our friends nails. It should be a regular and accepted part of owning a cat and more people should accept that.

If you insist on having multiple cats in the house, you may think that declawing is the best bet to keep them from tearing each other to bits. Again, alternative methods are always preferred and if a cat really wants to fight, then using its mouth will work well enough. This can cause more damage than scratching and can turn play-fighting into serious fighting with real wounds.

There are many cheaper alternatives to having your cat declawed, for any situation. This helps because getting a cat declawed can cost anywhere between $100 and $450. And if your cat has any problems after the surgery, it can cost more to get it fixed or worse yet, euthanized.

The company 'Soft Paws' sells claw covers that covers the entire nail, preventing the cat from damaging furniture and from hurting people or other animals that the cat may play or fight against. They are said to take only five minutes to apply and come in packs of forty for only $18.95 (plus tax and shipping). There is also the option of trimming nails. This can be done in the house for free and should be repeated every two weeks. It's easy, especially if you start when the cat is young. Ask your veterinarian to learn how to do it for the first time.

It is natural for cats to want to scratch. It's how they remove the layers of dead nail that grow naturally again and again, to let out the new, healthy nail underneath. If you don't want to declaw and don't feel like covering kitty's nails in rubber, then maybe you should try a scratching post. Cardboard and other such material is best for the cat, as tightly woven fabric discourages them from scratching this particular material. (This makes it perfect for your furniture.) Try sprinkling the desired scratching surface with catnip so the cat will feel drawn to it and decide to scratch there instead.

There are also sprays that work well in stopping the cat from scratching. These can be found at any grocery store and pet store. They are fairly cheap in price and are safe for most surfaces. All this does is let of a smell that, for the most part, only the cat can smell. This specific smell repulses the cat and will make it look else where for scratching.

If you decide that you have enough time to train the cat and want to make it stop scratching by yourself, the best way to stop them is by making them feel uncomfortable as they do it. Banging pots and pans loudly whenever they try will scare them and it can become a conditioned habit to stay clear of furniture. Another way is to simple spray them with water repeatedly. Some people even stomp on the ground and yell loudly to make the cat go away. Never hit or kick your cat, however, as it is cruel and can make a cat defensive and withdrawn.

If you have a cat that is already defensive and paranoid or just too rough during play and will hurt your children or other animals, then maybe consider getting a trainer. These people are trained professionals that are used to rough animals and can help your kitty learn to be less hurtful. I've learned from personal experience that this works wonderfully if you have the money and are willing to give up bonding time with your cat or kitten for a few weeks. This is best done at a young age, where they are more easily taught.

Many people don't understand what it means to get a cat declawed. It is not simply removing or pulling out the nail. They also don't realize all the problems that can come with the surgery. Of course, all animals experience pain and suffering. Some just don't have the proper voices to tell you so. Watch for signs of limping and constant meowing after the surgery as well as the cat's inability to use the liter box. You may also notice an allergic reaction to the medicine used during the surgery. If you still insist on removing your cat's claws, then keep an eye out for signs of infections and allergic reactions as well as nail re-growths and bleeding in the paws. You may want to consider getting a cone for around their heads, so they don't bite off the stitches that were inserted. If your cat seems upset when you pick them up and it continues to stay that way or get worse over the next week and beyond. If there were problems with the surgery, don't bring them to the same veterinarian. Ask friends about who they go to and recommend. It could mean saving your pets life.

While declawing cats may be needed as a last resort, people should look into alternatives before committing their pet to such extreme measures. There are a lot of places to look into, especially on the internet and at your veterinarian's office, where you can get good advice as to how to handle your kitty. No matter how you look at it, there is going to be danger for your cat around every corner, even years after the surgery. Please, consider that your cat can not tell you how it is feeling and what it thinks about what you subjected it to. Think before you amputate.