Let's talk about declawing your cat

I'm just going to start this off by saying.... don't. Don't do it.

I also want to say that I will not bash anyone just because you own a declawed cat. Maybe you didn't know what it does to a cat, or maybe it was declawed before you adopted it. Regardless of the situation, I'm not here to ridicule, only to educate so that hopefully more awareness can be spread and less cats can become subject to it.

Why declawing is bad:

Declawing a cat isn't just a nail trim.

Picture this; You wake up in the hospital and all your fingers and toes (& nails) up until the first knuckle is gone. That is a painful thought, let alone if it were to actually happen. That is what declawing a cat is like - not just nail removal, but an amputation of the last bone in each of a cats toes.

Some people think that declawing is fine since vets perform the surgery.

Some people think that once they heal up, everything is okay afterwards.

These are just not accurate statements.

What can happen after being declawed:

Chronic Pain - Many cats experience ongoing pain, nerve damage or bone regrowth issues that can lead to lifelong discomfort.

Complications - Common after surgery complications include infections and problems with balance.

Litter box issues - Due to the discomfort in their paws, it can become painful or irritating to walk in and dig around a litter box causing them to relieve themselves in unwanted areas outside of the litter box.

Depression - Cats more often than not become less active, more fearful and more anxious.

Increased aggression - Since they would no longer have nails to defend themselves, some cats resort to biting more often and when a cat is dealing with pain or discomfort, they can become more aggressive.

Left defenseless - Whether you have an outdoor cat, or an indoor cat that accidentally gets outside, being declawed means they've become even more vulnerable to predators with less to protect themselves.

Now let's talk about why you've thought about declawing your cat.

The typical answers range from preventing furniture damage, having the concern that young children or elderly family will get scratched or the assumption that declawing makes your cat more 'low maintenance'.

None of these reasons would be good enough to chop off your fingers if a human were to do these things, so I can't see a reason for declawing.

More humane alternatives:

• Nail trims - This isn't a 'fix' exactly, but regular nail trims are important. Some people say that cats never need trims because when they scratch, their nails get trimmed down naturally but that's only partially true. Scratching helps shed the outer dead layer of the nail and keeps claws sharp but it doesn't keep your cats nails from growing to a long length. If you're noticing your cats nails are curving close to and towards the bottom of their paw pads, you NEED to get them trimmed. Keeping them trimmed also helps your cat not get their nails stuck in fabric and causing more damage to your furniture.

• Scratching posts - Scratching is a natural behaviour for cats, this just can't be avoided. You can't stop your cat from scratching, but you can teach them where to scratch. Even declawed cats still attempt to scratch stretching their muscles, and to even relieve stress. Putting both vertical and horizontal scratching posts around where your cats hang out is great, especially if your cat has a spot on your favourite couch that it loves to scratch on. Once you have your scratch posts, continue to re-direct your cat to those spots when they start to scratch unwanted areas.

• Feliway - This is a type of pheromone spray that is meant to calm anxious cats and can reduce stress scratching, but they also have a spray specifically for scratching meant to be sprayed on scratch posts in an attempt to attract your cats to that spot.

• Routine playtime - This is a big one in lots of different factors. Your cats need to release their energy. Schedule certain times in the day for some good play to tire your cats out. Lots of times if their energy is burned, there's less destructive scratching. Especially if your cat is huge on attention seeking. End your playtime with a toy they can catch and a treat or a meal to finish off their hunt to feel satisfied.

• Soft covers or shields - I would never suggest permanently having covers on your furniture all the time. However, it is an option to add some protection while you're in the middle of redirecting and training your cat. That way you're avoiding the worst of the damage.

• Nail caps - This can be a controversial topic. People say that nail caps stop a cat from being able to retract their nails and causes injury. If you apply nail caps correctly, that won't be an issue as your cat will still have full extension and retraction. Nail caps are soft and made to grow with your cats nails - They typically fall off on their own and should be replaced every 4-6 weeks. These are not an ideal choice if your cat is outdoors, if they constantly chew them off or you don't have a regular grooming schedule. This does not replace nail trimming. You should be trimming your cats nails before you apply nail caps. With positive reinforcement and being properly applied, nail caps are a good option. Especially if your cat has a bad habit of playing more aggressively.

Even though declawing is still around with vets still willing to perform the surgery, more and more places around the world are banning it.

Thank you to the vet staff around the world that have spoken up, refused the surgery and continued to advocate for the well-being of our cats little murder mittens.

TL;DR

Declawing is not a nail trim - It's a surgical amputation of the last bone in each toe. It can lead to chronic pain, behaviour issues, and long term physical problems. Most vets and animal welfare groups strongly oppose it. There are humane alternatives like nail trims, scratching posts, and nail caps that keep claws (and cats) safe and healthy.