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Hey cat lovers. This week we’re covering a very serious topic: declawing. We know this topic is very controversial in the cat community. But we aren’t here to shame any cat owners or veterinarians who have declawed in the past. As we’ll explain later on, most people aren’t aware of the painful truth about declawing cats, and others feel like they have no other option. In fact, many cat parents think they are doing something harmless for their furry friend when they declaw. That’s why we are here to spread the word about this inhumane practice, explain humane alternatives, and hopefully prevent future cats from being declawed. Now, let’s dive into it.
First, what is Declawing?
Many people think declawing is just like a permanent manicure, which they see as a win-win scenario. They think it won’t hurt their furry friend, and they’ll never have to worry about being scratched or having furniture ruined. But the term “declaw” is misleading because the procedure is much more than simply removing a cat’s claws. The reality is that declawing is actually a serious surgery.
In order to make sure the claws don’t grow back, the end bone of each toe has to be amputated, which is 1/3 of a cat’s paws. To put things into perspective, this is equivalent to cutting a human’s fingers off at the first knuckle. I’m sure you wouldn’t want that to happen to you, so why would we do that to a cat? Needless to say, due to the pain and suffering it causes, this procedure is considered to be inhumane. Not only can it cause short and long-term pain, but complications from declawing do much more harm than good.
The Complications
Not only is the aftermath of this surgery extremely painful for cats, but the procedure can permanently affect a cat’s balance and reduces their ability to walk properly. Research has also found that declawing increases the risk of permanent lameness, arthritis, persistent pain, and other long-term complications. In fact, studies show that But if your cat doesn’t suffer from immediate complications, that doesn’t mean they’re in the clear. For some cats, the damaging effects of declawing don’t become obvious until many months or even years later.
As if those reasons aren’t alarming enough, a staggering one-third of declawed cats develop behavioral problems after the procedure. Some of these behavioral issues include aggression, biting, and urinating outside the litter box. Aggression and biting often happen to compensate for the loss of their claws. Remember that a cat’s claws serve as their primary form of protection. So when you take those away, the next best tool for them is teeth. Also, litter box aversions can develop because of pain in their paws. When that happens, it makes it very difficult to climb in and out of a litter box.
Experts Oppose
For these reasons, The Humane Society of the United States says they oppose declawing except for the rare cases when it is necessary for medical purposes, such as the removal of cancerous nail bed tumors. However, most of the time, declawing is a completely unnecessary procedure that is considered elective surgery. Needless to say, a rare circumstance like cancer or injury is much different than declawing for the sake of convenience for the owner.
Other cat experts agree, such as Dr. Jean Hofve who is an author, retired holistic veterinarian, and current veterinary consultant. Dr. Hofve says “When evidence is taken as a whole, declawing is clearly an egregious form of animal cruelty.” Just to name another familiar expert, Jackson Galaxy, cat behaviorist and host of Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell. Jackson has famously stated that “claws are a physically, socially, and emotionally vital part of every cat.”
Finally, the number of veterinarians who refuse to declaw cats is growing. The Paw Project even has a section on their website that lists vet clinics in each state that don’t declaw.
Why Do Cats Scratch Things?
Guys, contrary to popular belief, cats don’t scratch things to be jerks. Instead, scratching is their natural instinct, and they do it for their overall well-being. For one, scratching keeps their claws healthy because it removes the dead outer nail husks, keeping the nails healthy and sharp. Cats also scratch to mark their territory in a visual way. Their paws contain scent glands that release odors when they scratch things, which causes the cat’s “signature” to be left behind which is important to them. Finally, the stretching cats do when they scratch feels really good to them, and it allows them to exercise their muscles. So no, your cat is not doing it out of spite. They are doing it to stay healthy.
Is Declawing Illegal Anywhere?
Declawing has been restricted or banned in over twenty countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and more. The procedure has also been banned in a handful of cities in the United States. In 2019, New York became the first state to ban declawing. In recent years, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and St. Louis have also passed similar bans. Currently, other state lawmakers are working to introduce bills to ban declawing as well, and they’re slowly making progress. Earlier this year in 2021, Austin, Texas became the first city in the Lone Star State to ban this procedure “unless it is necessary for the cat’s own well-being.” In recent years, state-wide anti-declaw legislation has been considered in Rhode Island, New Jersey, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Nevada, and Connecticut.
Why is Declawing Still Legal Anywhere?
Now you may be wondering, if we know declawing is harmful, why is it still legal in so many places? For starters, you need to understand that when the surgery first became standard practice, scientists and veterinarians didn’t realize the consequences, because they didn’t have enough research. But with today’s findings, we finally have a much better understanding of both the short-term and long-term effects of declawing.
Another reason is that there’s a lot of myths about declawing that are still widely believed to this day. For example, one myth is that declawing keeps cats keeps them out of shelters. The thinking behind this is that owners would be less likely to give up cats that can’t scratch things. But ironically, it’s actually very common for cats to be surrendered due to the very same behavioral problems caused by declawing that we mentioned earlier. In fact, a survey by the Forgotten Felines and Friends of Caddo Parish in Louisiana found that 70% of cats surrendered to animal shelters for behavioral problems were declawed.
Another common myth is that declawing is necessary for cat owners with compromised immune systems. But the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) says that even for cats around vulnerable people, “declawing is not recommended” because “cats need their claws for a number of activities.” Instead of declawing, the CDC recommends vulnerable cat owners to “avoid rough play with cats and situations in which scratches are likely.”
Vets Don’t Enjoy Declawing
Finally, while there are inevitably vets out there who declaw for the sole purpose of money, we want to stress that the vast majority don’t do it out of greed. Instead, most vets declaw to save lives. Think about it from their perspective. If it comes down to two options: either euthanize the cat or declaw it, which do you think the vet is going to pick? But this is no easy choice by any means.
Dr. Steele, alternate delegate for the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) says, “I don’t know a single veterinarian that enjoys declawing a cat.”
Dr. Steele, also says that veterinarians, especially newer associates, are struggling with having to declaw. Results of an AAFP survey of 1,200 feline practitioners indicated 51% do not declaw cats and slightly more support legislative bans on the procedure. So, what does that mean? According to Dr. Steele, “What that tells us is they’re ethically opposed to declawing and they’re having to do it anyway.” Keep in mind that not all vets own the practice they work at, so they have to follow the rules of their workplace.
This is why vet clinics need to focus on teaching their clients humane alternatives to declawing instead.
What to Do Instead of Declawing
Instead of declawing, there are many humane ways to prevent a cat from scratching things. One very effective method is to strategically place scratching posts around the house. For example, if your cat likes to scratch the side of the couch, put a scratching post next to it. When your cat heads towards the couch, the scratching post will be a much more appealing option to them. Another trick is to use citrus sprays because cats have a natural aversion to citrus odors. All you have to do is spray the fabric surface you want to protect and reapply when needed. Just keep in mind that you should NEVER squirt citrus spray directly on the cat because they’re only meant to be sprayed on fabric surfaces.
A third method is to use nail caps. The caps cover each nail so that scratching causes little to no damage. Nail caps usually fall off after four to six weeks, at which time new ones need to be applied. Finally, another popular method is to put double-sided tape on the area you want to protect, which has a tactile feel that cats tend to avoid.
One brand of tape that we recommend is Sticky Paws by Pioneer Pet, because it’s affordable, easy to apply, and comes in different sizes and versions designed specifically for furniture or plants. Right now, Pioneer Pet is offering our viewers a discount. If you use the promo code: SUMMER15, you’ll get 15% off your purchase at pioneerpet.com. We are sharing this discount code with you because we think Sticky Paws is a very helpful product for cat parents!
Finally, If you are struggling with your cat scratching yourself or a loved one, then it’s time to immediately make an appointment with your vet, who will teach you strategies to stop this behavior. A vet appointment is also a great opportunity to learn how to trim your cat’s nails.
What Can We Do to Stop Declawing?
Spread the word: 75-90% of cat parents change their mind about declawing once they learn about the risks. Oftentimes, cat parents don’t fully understand the risks of the procedure or know about humane alternatives. This is why it’s crucial to share the truth about declawing. Finally, in order for more places to ban declawing, it’s important to contact local lawmakers to let them know how important it is to end this practice.
And look, guys, you don’t even have to make a phone call. If you’re not a phone person (and trust me, I can relate. I hate talking on the phone), you can always send your local lawmakers an email instead. If you feel stuck on what to write, here’s a format from Alley Cat Allies. PRO TIP: You can copy/paste that example into an email to your local representatives.
Final Thoughts
We hope that we enlightened anyone out there who was unaware of the consequences of declawing cats. We also hope that together, we can spread the painful truth about declawing, and can put this inhumane practice in the past.
DISCLAIMER: The Purring Journal is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn commissions, at no cost to you, by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I only affiliate with products that I truly enjoy or find helpful, and commissions help support this blog. In addition, this article is made for entertainment purposes only. This is NOT medical advice. All information presented is simply what we found online while researching the topic. With that said, use the information presented in this article at your own risk. ALWAYS seek medical advice from licensed veterinarians.
Resources
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/declawing-cats-far-worse-manicure
https://johnsoncountyanimalshelter.com/declawing-cats/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/declawing-is-good-for-veterinarians-but-bad-for-cats
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-york-becomes-first-state-ban-declawing-most-cats-n1033231
https://freeroamingfelineprogram.org/declawing-risks/
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
https://www.declawing.com/the-truth-about-declawing
https://www.avma.org/javma-news/2020-03-01/avma-revises-declawing-policy
https://getinvolved.alleycat.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=802
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/destructive-scratching
Disclaimer: The Purring Journal is not in the medical field. This post is made for entertainment purposes only. Use the information presented in this article at your own risk. Always seek medical advice from licensed veterinarians.
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