What Is Declawing Actually?

If people more fully understood what declaw actually means, I have no doubt the practice would be outlawed. It’s commonly believed that declaw means to remove only the cat’s nailbed. If that were the case, then not so awful. After all, I’ve lost a fingernail a time or two in my life and it wasn’t the end of the world. But the truth is, the cat’s toes are surgically cut way up at the mid-knuckle and the entire lower toe is amputated. This amputation often includes a portion of the main foot pad underneath. This is a whole new ballgame now. To cut half the toe off and compromise that lower pad means to take away the cat’s natural cushion, balance, and movement. It also means nerves are being cut away, which will leave the cat with residual pain for years and years to come, maybe the rest of her life. She has now lost not only her grip, but also her balance, her natural movement, and even basic comfort.

Even after a cat is declawed, she will still have the biological urge to “sharpen” her claws on scratching posts, etc. She’s hard-wired for this. She also will still have the desire to play with her toys. But play time will be entirely different for her now – she can’t grab her toys and toss them in the air like before, or play tug of war with you and her favorite ribbon. These things just slip through her fingers now. She has been robbed of these simple enjoyments.

Also consider this: cats are very stealth. No matter how careful we are, they can still sneak out the door. If your declawed kitty gets out, she is now at the mercy of neighbor dogs, feral cats, coyotes, owls, hawks, and even just plain nasty people. And poor little thing, she can no longer climb a tree for safety, or lash out to defend herself, or even run fast enough to get away. Plus, if she’s out for any length of time and gets hungry, she can’t even catch a bird or lizard for food. Exposing your kitty to so many potential risks just cannot be justified.

Is There A Good Enough Reason Then To Declaw My Cat?

Lots of people still feel declawing a cat is okay if it’s done for the “right reason.” Decades ago I might have agreed. That was before I had Monet, one of my cats, declawed. I realized immediately what a horrible mistake I’d made when I picked him up from the vet, because his feet were now so very very tiny. That’s when the vet explained what was really done. It was decades ago, but I’ll never forget that day. I almost threw up.

But it was done, and my poor little Monet was the one who had to live with it. He was in such pain and struggled to learn how to walk again on the little nubby feet he was left with. I couldn’t have been more sorry or felt more miserable for what I’d caused him. I began reading up on declawing, and learned more and more about what an awful thing declawing is. Boy, do I wish I’d done the research before putting my beloved pet through it. In my humble opinion, and now that I am more fully informed about it, I believe declawing is cruel and should be banned.

But Are There Suitable Alternatives To Declawing My Cat?

!! Yes, Absolutely, Yes !! 

First, get into the practice of trimming Fluffy’s toenails when she’s quite young, and do it regularly, say once a week, to keep her familiar and comfortable with the routine. Even if she’s a bit older, still start the habit — better late than never. That’s the single best thing you can do to minimize her scratching inappropriately. If Fluffy totally resists, however, don’t force it. You don’t want to become the “bad guy.” Take her instead to your veterinarian or neighborhood groomer or Petsmart and have her nails trimmed for a nominal cost. Let them be the bad guy if necessary. You need to get those nails trimmed, but you don’t want to compromise her trust in you. So it’s perfectly okay to enlist someone else’s help.

Once you’ve established the nail trimming routine, here are some really cool added options to ensure that she won’t even think about scratching your furniture and drapes anymore:

           

Also, here’s a “home remedy” to discourage your cat from scratching your furniture. Simply apply a strip of packing tape to the spot where she insists on scratching. She won’t like the feel of it or getting it stuck on her toes. Then position her new scratching post right near that same spot and, in a very short while, she’ll figure out the scratching post is a much better option. I always sprinkle some fresh catnip on the new scratching post to attract her even more quickly. Cats go crazy for catnip, you know. TIP: Be sure to pinch it between your fingers before sprinkling it; this releases the fragrance more fully so your kitty gets the whole effect. And it’s SO much fun to watch cats play in catnip. You might even want to have your camera phone handy. Voila!  Problem solved.

   

With medical technology advancing at lightning speed nowadays, it’s entirely possible, maybe even likely, that declaw surgery could be improved upon so as to prevent kitty’s nails from growing long, without mutilating kitty’s little feet. Until that time, this animal lover is dead set against declaw. Alternatives, such as those listed above, are SO much more humane, available, affordable, and provide interactive fun for you and your kitty.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

God Bless and Happy Pet Parenting!

With love and good wishes,
jeannie.   ?

About jeannie:  I’ve been pro-actively involved in pet rescue all of my life. I founded Milagro Senior Pet Refuge© (Phoenix) in 1998, and BareFootPets (TM) in 2008.  Animal welfare has always been and will always be my heart’s work. If my only legacy is that I save a handful of precious souls that would not survive otherwise, I’m good with that.