To declaw, or not to declaw? That is indeed the ultimate question. Cat declawing is a very emotional subject for some. Mainly people are concerned about the irreparable effects declawing has on your cat.
It has become very popular among cat owners mainly because cat claws cause tons of damage around the house. 3 years ago my wife bought a pair of kittens who still had their claws. During that time, you could visibly see the scratches she had on her neck and arms from handling the young kittens. The sad thing is that often the cats don't hold ill will against you with their claws, they just use them as part of everyday life. Cats, but especially kittens, just simply have a difficult time NOT scratching you and every piece of furniture in your home with their claws.
Cats use their claws to balance themselves, get away from danger, defend themselves, attack their prey, mark their territory and much more. So removing their means of performing this ability is something which you should consider very carefully. Removing a cat's claws is kind of like chopping your fingers off of your hands. Sure, you can keep your hands, but no fingers....So if you are looking into removing your cats claws, read on for a few pros and cons we have run into with cat declawing.
Pros to cat declawingIts good to know that the entire procedure is very easy on the pocketbook. It is so common that most vets offer the procedure for a reasonable cost.It is also a very safe procedure. There are dozens of other operations your cat may have to endure which could cause much worse side effects than a simple declawing. So if you are worried about the problems with the procedure itself, you don't have to worry so much because most vets are very good at performing claw removal.It is always important to research your cat's vet, however. Not all veterinarians are made the same, so make sure to check your vet out to ensure that they are doing a good job with their patients.And there is the old-time favorite pro to cat declawing. Your furniture will be much safer than if you chose to keep your cat's claws in place. Also, much as in the story with my wife, your cat won't be destroying your neck, chest, arms, and legs because of the cat's claws. Your cat's meanest attack after removing its claws will be a simple furry pressure from its paws.
Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, does it not? Sadly, the list of cons is more extensive than you may think.
Cons to cat declawingThe most important reason you would chose not to declaw your cat is because of the pain that your cat undergoes during the procedure. Unfortunately, many cats suffer a great deal of pain because of having their claws removed. This pain can be so traumatizing to the cat that their behavior will actually change. They'll become more reclusive and less friendly (especially to strangers). They'll seem more aloof. They'll feel helpless against the world because their main line of defense will have been removed.
They'll walk differently because of the change in their front paws, and if the vet accidentally leaves any bone fragments behind, they'll have pain in their front paws for the rest of their life.Its also worth noting that many cats, no longer able to use their claws, will start using urine to mark their territory. As you might imagine, this means that they will no longer use the litterbox, but instead will pee on the side of your couch instead of ripping a hole in it. But claws are not the problem here, and both issues can be controlled, but its important to know that there are all kinds of issues associated with cat declawing.
This doesn't mean that you cat will suffer from any of these symptoms, but they are relatively common in cats who have undergone claw removal.
And one last note on the cons to declawing. More of a warning, really. If your cat is over 3-8 months in age, then don't declaw him. If your cat is over that age and gets declawed, then there will be all kinds of emotional and health issues that the cat will not be able to overcome.
Cat Declawing In SummaryDeclawing your cat is your decision to make, its up to you what happens to your cat. There are several ways you can keep your cat's claws without having them destroy the house, but it takes a little more work and training.Are you going to go for the quick fix and risk the potential downsides? Or are you going to work on trying an alternative to declawing your cat?
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