Declawing
Cats
By John
Dow
Declawing cats is an often
discussed topic by new cat owners. If you have expensive furniture
it is very understandable that you don't want your cat
demonstrating they have claws. And many cats don't stop at just
furniture, they can claw walls, doors, curtains, and many other convenient
items.
In most cases the cat declawing
is only done to the front paws. The back claws are left in place
to allow the cat some ability to get traction when climbing and
running about. The front claws are the ones used in the most
destructive manner on furniture and belongings of their owner.
There are many cat owners who
consider declawing cats as cruel and unfair treatment of a cat.
And there are some very good reasons not to declaw your cat. Lets
take a look at why your cat may be clawing your furniture and
other areas first, then some less dramatic solutions.
Why Cats Claw Things
There are two main reasons your cat may claw things around your
house. The first is to sharpen and exercise their claws, the other
reason is to mark their territory. These are natural instincts and
it's doubtful you will be able to entirely eliminate the two acts.
Even cats with out claws still go through the motions.
Cats that are not neutered or spayed have a stronger tendency to
mark their territory (and also may spray the area with a foul
smelling version of their urine). This is due to natural instinct
to stake out a territory against other cats who want to compete
for food and spouses.
If you have a cat with a bad
attitude (doesn't like strangers), one good swipe will usually
convince most people (and other animals) to stay away. So having
sharp claws is a defense against other cats or anyone who fails to
give proper distance and respect.
Scratching to sharpen and exercise their claws is what cats do on
a regular basis. This can offer some great ways to redirect this
instinct, more on that in the suggested solutions below.
Reasons To Not Declaw Your Cat
The declawing operation requires that a cat undergo anesthesia
(puts them to sleep during operation) which can be harmful to some
small animals. Each paw that has the claws removed needs to be
bandaged which makes moving around during recovery difficult and
painful. And above and beyond the actual operation and recovery,
which can be no small thing, there are other valid reasons not to
declaw any cat.
The most often reason for not
declawing cats mentioned is you have just unarmed your cat in case
of the need to defend itself. Claws are a cat's number one weapon
against any enemy. Claws can be lethal in many confrontations and
cause even much bigger opponents to back off.
The second reason given is that
the ability of a cat to climb, jump, avoid predators, and etc is
taken away along with the claws. The cat without claws is less
able to use their speed and agility to escape harm.
Cats also often use the claws
when eating, grooming, and other ways. So you are essentially
changing the day to day uses of a cats favorite tool.
Reasons For Declawing Cats
In some cases where the cat will be an indoor cat, there is no
need to worry about most of the reasons not to declaw a cat. The
cat has no predators and there are not many trees to climb (well,
I have seen trees inside but it is rare). There still are the
issues of the operation and recovery but they are short term.
In fact many of the same folks
who are dead set against declawing any cat also recommend you
never let your cat out into the wild outdoors due to the risks
involved. Not coming into contact with other animals keeps the
possibility of disease down and also prevents exposure to common
pests like fleas and ticks. Not to mention the number one killer
of most pets, cars.
Things To Try Before You Go The Cat Declawing Route
Many cats are easily dissuaded from molesting furniture and other
indoor items used to sharpen claws. Especially if taught from a
very young age.
Here's a few things you can try
first:
- Place pre-made Scratching
Posts in common areas.
- Use Cat Away products from the
local pet store.
- Place aluminum foil on areas
to deter scratching.
- Use lemon juice spray on areas
(be careful, it might stain or discolor).
- Keep cats to areas without
valuable furniture and belongings.
- Scold or his at your cat if
caught in the act.
A lot of cats will catch on
pretty quick but there are stubborn ones, especially older cats
that are rescued, that will require some creative methods to stop
scratching.
The bottom line is up to you and
your particular cat. I've never declawed a cat but I have rescued
cats that were declawed. I've never seen much difference in their
behavior either way. And most of the declawed cats I've seen never
have any problems climbing anything. In the end it's a personal
choice.
Related Articles:
Our Website Resident Cats
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The
contents on this site are not presented from a licensed
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