We're Going There... The Issue With Declawing

Lately there has been a controversy brewing in the cat owner community... The issue of declawing. Some people can argue that declawing is a great thing for indoor cats and prevent them from destroying expensive furniture. However, declawing cats does more harm than it does good.

Declawing cats is similar to if a human were to have the tips of the fingers amputated up to the first knuckle.

The declawing process is a short surgical procedure that removes the cats nails by cutting off the cats nails and tips of their fingers.

Here are some reasons not to declaw your cats:

1. It can change the temperament of the cat, to make them more mean.

2. Difficultly walking after the procedure.

3. Possible infection.

4. They may stop using the litter box.

5. Lingering or phantom pain after the procedure

6. You’re taking away their protection mechanism.

7. Scratching is a natural behavior.

8. The cat needs to remain indoors for the rest of its life.

9. Potentially develop arthritis.

10. Could start biting.

Some other options, should you have issues with cats scratching includes (one of my fav's) cat caps, spray, routine nail trimming, and some new scratching posts with some catnip on it to draw cats to the post.

Another method, one I saw my grandmother use, would be to condition your cats to not claw the frames or furniture. Use a spray bottle filled with water and when you catch your cat clawing something that they shouldn’t, spritz them with the water. Just one spray will do, just enough to startle them. After enough times you should be able to condition them to not claw the desired furniture (or door frames in our case).

Leave a comment below if you have another method to keep your kitties from clawing things they shouldn't.

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