The Truth about Declawing

I took my three foster kittens to the vet yesterday for their first exam and shots. While in the waiting room, I witnessed over 3 people come in to schedule declawing surgeries for their cats. Just the sound of it fills me with pain. I had to restrain myself from jumping up and giving a speech about the horrible procedure that is declawing. If I didn't have such wonderful self-control, this is what I would say:

1. Declawing is not like removing a toenail! It is literally maiming your cat. It's actually multiple amputations comparable to the removal of human fingertips at the first knuckle. Sensory and motor nerves are cut, damaged, and destroyed. Recovery from the surgery is a slow and painful process. This procedure can hamper the sensations and enjoyment involved in walking, running, springing, climbing, and stretching.
2. While declawing is a popular and lucrative practice in the United States, it is not practiced in European countries. It is, in fact, against the law, in many countries including England, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia.
3. Cat Owners who elect to have their paws declawed generally do so with the belief that they will never have to deal with fabric damage due to destructive scratching problems. However, paw sensitivity resulting from the declaw operation may result in litterbox avoidance and urine-soaked furnishings or carpeting.
4. Without its #1 defense system many declawed cats resort to nipping or biting with very little warning. They often use oral means to express their insecurity and this may also result in destructive chewing problems. If your cat is an outdoor cat or sneaks outside, he/she will have no defense against other animals.
5. For declawed cats, the activities of climbing, jumping, holding, grasping, and ability to balance are all affected and are never the same again.
6. Cats, like people, react differently to physical handicaps. Some appear to be unaffected and others become nervous and defensive. When a dramatic temperament or behavior change occurs, the cat owner often decides to take the cat to a pound or shelter or have it euthanized by a veterinarian.
7. Sometimes cats might act as if they are not affected after being declawed, but cats are one of the best creatures at hiding pain.
8. THERE ARE MORE HUMANE SOLUTIONS! If you don't want your cat scratching the furniture, there are more humane, comfortable ways to do so. Scratching of furniture and other things is 100% preventable without the use of declawing.

Alternatives to declawing:

• Soft Paws - lightweight vinyl caps that are glued to the cat's front claws.
• Provide a scratching post for you cat. Learn how to make your cat use/prefer the post.
• Visit Stop Cat Scratching to learn helfpul tips, hints, and tricks to make your cat stop scratching. These include objects to use to avert them and training techniques to stop them.

Information from Cats International, Declawing.com, CatScratching.com, & The Problem Cat.