4 Things to Think About Before Declawing Your Cat
Onychectomy, generally known as declawing, is a major surgery whose aim is to remove the tip of each digit of the cat’s forepaws. It is usually carried out under anesthesia and there is a low probability of death during the surgery. Declawed cats are more prone to infections and may have discomfort in its paws for life. As such, onychectomy is not recommended for adult animals and in some countries is considered an act of cruelty.
The most common reasons people advance for declawing cats is to prevent them from damaging furniture and from hunting. Vicious cats are seldom declawed. Some landlords, especially in the United States, insist that tenants declaw their cats.
Generally, veterinarians are critical of declawing and sometimes, due to absence of claws in a cat, refuse to perform the procedure.
Declawing limits its main defense abilities such as climbing trees to escape from predators.
Leads to muscle atrophy due to impaired exercise and stretching habits;
Increased injury from falls caused by compromised ability to balance on thin surfaces like fence tops and railings; increasing insecurity and thus biting tendency.
In North America, this procedure is common. In some other countries, such as the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Finland, by the laws against cruelty to animals, it is forbidden. It is also forbidden in many European countries, under the terms of the Protection of Pet Animals, of the European Convention, unless “a veterinarian considers [such] non-curative procedures necessary either for veterinary medical reasons or for the benefit of the animal”. Animal shelters in Britain, subsequently euthanize imported cats that have been declawed, due to difficulty in placing them.
Blunt, vinyl nail caps, affixed to the claws with non-toxic glue, can be an alternative to declawing. This requires periodic replacement every four to six weeks ([when the cat sheds its claw sheaths). Capped nails are not as effective as claws and thus the cat will still experience difficulties.