Declawing Your Cat Is Inhumane and Painful

young-giMany people consider their cats part of the family. They’ve became integral parts of our lives offering love and companionship. Yet, De-clawing them has became as common as spaying or neutering.

If you’re considering De-clawing our cat, there’s some things you should know about the surgical process. It’s not simply a type of manicure as most people might think. It is a very serious, painful surgery and it will takes weeks for your cat to re-cooperate! In some countries De-clawing is considered an inhumane mutilation and it is actually illegal!

A cat’s claw isn’t a toenail, it is adhered to the bone, sort of an extension of the bone. De-clawing involves literally amputating the last bone in your cats paw! It is comparable to removing the last joint on all of a humans fingers! And, even worse it’s not just one amputation, it is literally ten amputations in one surgery!

In rare instances De-clawing has damaged the tendons in the cats legs making it painful for them to walk! In even more common instances the cat’s personality will change. They will become depressed, lethargic and often quit doing things that involve scratching such as using a litter box! De-clawing is very traumatic to a cat and some never return to their old selves after the surgery.

A cat’s claws are it’s only means of protection from predators. Without a means of defense your cat is left helpless and can fall prey to the neighborhood dogs!

Cat’s by nature are built to be graceful, agile, well balanced creatures with a love for climbing. Different from most mammals that walk on their feet, cat’s walk on their toes and their claws are used for balance. De-clawing a cat drastically changes the way the cats feet touch the ground. This unnatural angle causes back pain much like the wrong shoes cause back pain in humans. Their claws are also used for exercising and stretching. Cats will dig their claws into a surface and pull back to stretch the muscles in their shoulders, backs and legs.

All cats love to scratch, it’s just a fact that you’ll have to deal with if you’re going to be a cat owner! But, the solution isn’t De-clawing, the solution is to redirect the scratching! Scratching is how a cat marks it’s territory! Through scratch marks and a scent that is released by glands in their paws, they’re letting other animals know that this is their home!

If your cat is shredding furniture try buying a scratching post. Just keep in mind that cats like surfaces that are rough, though a fancy scratching post might look better sitting in your living room, kitty probably won’t like it! One of the best materials for a scratching post is sisal. Even studies have shown that it’s a perfectly textured material for a cats scratching needs. The post should also be taller than your cat is when standing. This will allow them to be able to fully stretch their bodies and it needs to be stable so that it don’t fall over on the cat.

To redirect the cats attention to the scratching post, try placing it in the area where the cat has already been scratching. If the cat likes to scratch a certain chair or the sofa, place the post in front of it. You may also be able to entice the cat to the post by rubbing it with catnip. Spend some time playing with your cat around the post, let it chase a string around the post or attach toys to the post.

If the cat still seems to prefer shredding the furniture, there are totally pain free ways to change it’s mind! Try spraying the cat with a water gun when you catch it scratching. You can also try spraying the furniture with a lemon or orange scented air freshener. Most cats really don’t like citrus smells and this may keep them away from the spot!

Cat’s instinctively hide pain, they know that showing pain is a sign of weakness and vulnerability to a potential predator. But, your cat still feels pain just like any other living creature!

De-clawing is as emotionally devastating to a cat as losing a limb is to a human. It’s a inhumane, unnecessary surgical procedure that can forever change the cat you’ve grown to love so much!

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