Published by: Ingrid King. Last Updated on: June 28, 2023 by Crystal Uys
Declawing is a topic that can elicit strong emotions, with most people coming down on the side of opposing it. Declawing is considered either illegal or inhumane in 25 countries around the world, including England, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Finland and Brazil. The United States lacks sadly behind in establishing legislation to make declawing illegal, but thankfully, more and more cat lovers, cat welfare organizations and veterinarians are speaking out against declawing, calling it inhumane and unnecessary.
Top 3 Problems of Declawing a Cat
1. Declawing is extremely painful
Declawing is not just nail trimming. The declaw surgery involves amputating the last bone of the cat’s toes. If performed on a human, this would be the equivalent of having the last knuckle of each finger removed. Recovery from this surgery is extremely rough on cats, even with the use of powerful pain medications. Phantom pain may last for months following the surgery, if not for the rest of the cat’s life. Declaw surgery is mutilation, plain and simple.
2. Declawing leads to health problems
After being declawed, a cat’s gait changes, which may lead to joint problems, including arthritis in the elbows, shoulders and hips.
3. Declawing leads to behavioral problems
Declawed cats may avoid the litter box because digging in the box will be painful for sensitive paws. Cats may use carpeting or smooth floor surfaces to eliminate instead.
Declawing may change a cat’s personality. “My cat was never the same” is a common complaint heard after declaw surgery. A formerly happy, content cat may become fearful and withdrawn as a result of dealing with the pain following the surgery.
Scratching is a way for cats to stretch by digging their claws into a scratching post or carpet. This is an important way for them to keep their muscles and joints healthy. Once cats are declawed, they lose this natural ability to stretch.
What about laser declawing?
Laser declawing uses a small, intense beam of light to cut through tissue by heating and vaporizing it. This surgery causes less bleeding and swelling than traditional surgery, but it’s still an amputation, and the long term effects of the surgery remain the same.
Declawing is an unnecessary and inhumane procedure that provides no medical benefit to a cat.
The Paw Project
For more information on declawing, please visit The Paw Project. The Paw Project’s mission is to educate the public about the painful and crippling effects of feline declawing, to promote animal welfare through the abolition of the practice of declaw surgery, and to rehabilitate cats that have been declawed.
Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
About the author
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
