Declawing: The Wrong Solution
I adopted my cat Raja at the ripe age of 6 weeks. She was bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and she automatically became the love of my life. However, I wasn’t completely blinded by the big eyes and fluff. I knew what bringing a cat into my life entailed.
Scratching is one of the many instinctual habits that cats possess. My cat uses her scratching posts every day. Cats use their claws to defend themselves, mark their territory, and navigate the world around them. When these behaviors lead to destruction some cat owners resort to declawing. Is it okay to punish an animal for doing something that’s in their nature? Taking care of an animal is a decision that should not be taken lightly. We have to adapt to care for the animal’s needs; not the other way around.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, declawing, also known as onychectomy, is a surgical amputation of all or part of a cat’s third phalanges (toe bones) and the attached claws. It is not simply the removal of the claws. If performed on a human being, it would be similar to the last knuckle being cut off.
The American Veterinary Medical Association also states that declawing is not a medically necessary procedure for the cat, unless it solves an underlying health issue, such as tumors and chronic infections, and should only be considered after every other attempt to stop the destruction has been made.
Declawed cats are more likely to bite and cannot live outdoors because their first line of defense is taken away. For example, when my cat feels threatened she always uses her claws first. They can also experience pain in their paws, back pain, and infection. Like any surgery, declawing has risks. Hemorrhaging and anesthetic complications are only a couple of possibilities.
According to Cats International, an organization that educates the public on domestic cats and their behaviors, a study published in the August 1994 Journal of Veterinary Surgery showed that 50% of 163 cats that went through a declawing procedure suffered from immediate postoperative complications, such as pain, hemorrhage, and lameness, also known as limping. Long term complications included prolonged lameness in nearly 20% of the 121 cats who were followed up in the study.
There are plenty of alternatives to declawing. Trimming their claws every two to three weeks, putting sticky tape on furniture to stop unwanted scratching, placing scratching posts all over the house, and placing temporary synthetic nail caps on the cat’s claws are all ways to solve the problem. They deter cats from scratching even the finest antique furniture in a way that won’t hurt the cat and will help you in the long run.
There are a few unique strategies that I use to help decrease the level of destruction in my home. I rub catnip, a nonaddictive plant that stimulates the cat’s brain, on her scratching posts to attract her to a positive place to scratch. When I catch her scratching furniture, I quickly lead her to her scratching post in order to help her identify which areas are good to let her claws out and which areas are a no-no.
Jackson Galaxy, a cat behaviorist, suggests putting scratching posts near the piece of furniture that your cat tends to sink their claws into, and go from there. Galaxy states that it is also useful to praise your cat when he or she scratches in the right place. For instance, I give my cat her favorite tuna treat when she uses her claws on the scratching post instead of the leather chair. Galaxy stresses that repetition is key and that these training strategies should be implemented daily.
These practices are easy ways to adapt to scratching and destruction. As pet owners, we have the responsibility to care for them properly and change our lives around in order to give them the best home possible. If you’re not sure you can handle cat behaviors, try fostering! Shelters are in need of foster parents that can take in animals temporarily. Fostering gives you the ability to give an animal a home while also giving you the chance to see what it would be like to have a true furry family member.
Most importantly, if you can’t adapt to the changes and behaviors that an animal brings into your home, don’t get one. Taking care of a cat is a huge responsibility as much as it is a huge joy. Lots of research and time should be put into the decision of adopting. Before welcoming a cat into your home permanently, think about the changes that the animal may bring, and then decide if you’re ready to take on the responsibility.
