PAW

The Truth About De-Clawing Cats

The shocking reality . . .

Cemoka's Story

It's NOT a manicure - IT'S SERIOUS SURGERY

Before you make the decision to declaw your cat, there are some important facts
you should know. Declawing (Onychectomy) is not like a manicure. It is serious surgery. Your
cat's claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely
adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your the cat's claw has to be removed.

Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's "toes".

When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act.
It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember that
during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have
to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of
the pain it is experiencing. Wheelchairs and bedpans are not an option for a cat.

No cat lover would doubt that cats - whose senses are much keener than ours - suffer pain.
They may, however, hide it better. Not only are they proud, they instinctively know that
they are at risk when in a weakened position, and by nature will attempt to hide it.
But make no mistake. This is not a surgery to be taken lightly.

Your cat's body is perfectly designed to give it the grace, agility and beauty that
is unique to felines. Its claws are an important part of this design. Amputating
the important part of their anatomy that contains the claws drastically alters
the conformation of their feet. The cat is also deprived of its primary means
of defense, leaving it prey to predators if it ever escapes to the outdoors.

Scratching is a natural instinct for cats!

Psychological Side-Effects of Declawing

Some cats are so shocked by declawing that their personalities change. Cats who were
lively and friendly have become withdrawn and introverted after being declawed.
Others, deprived of their primary means of defense, become nervous, fearful,
and/or aggressive, often resorting to their only remaining means of defense,
their teeth. In some cases, when declawed cats use the litterbox after surgery,
their feet are so tender they associate their new pain with the box...permanently,
resulting in a life-long adversion to using the litter box. Other declawed cats
that can no longer mark with their claws, they mark with urine instead resulting
in inappropriate elimination problems, which in many cases, results in relinquishment
of the cats to shelters and ultimately euthanasia. Many of the cats surrendered
to shelters are surrendered because of behavioral problems which developed after
the cats were declawed.

Many declawed cats become so traumatized by this painful mutilation that they end up
spending their maladjusted lives perched on top of doors and refrigerators, out of
reach of real and imaginary predators against whom they no longer have any
adequate defense.

A cat relies on its claws as its primary means of defense.
Removing the claws makes a cat feel defenseless.
The constant state of stress caused by a feeling of defenselessness may make
some declawed cats more prone to disease. Stress leads to a myriad of
physical and psychological disorders including supression of the immune
system, cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

"The consequences of declawing are often pathetic. Changes in behavior can
occur. A declawed cat frequently resorts to biting when confronted with even
minor threats. Biting becomes an overcompensation for the insecurity of having
no claws. Bungled surgery can result in the regrowth of deformed claws or in
an infection leading to gangrene. Balance is affected by the inability to
grasp with their claws. Chronic physical ailments such as cystitis or skin
disorders can be manifestations of a declawed cat's frustration and stress."
- David E. Hammett, DVM

Anti-DeClawing Laws

Many countries are particularly concerned about animal welfare and have banned declawing as
abusive and causing unnecessary pain and suffering with no benefit to the cat.. One highly
regarded veterinary textbook by Turner and Bateson on the biology of cat behavior concludes
a short section on scratching behavior with the following statement:

"The operative removal of the claws, as is
sometimes practiced to protect furniture and
curtains, is an act of abuse and should be
forbidden by law in all, not just a few countries."

The following is a partial list of countries in which declawing cats
is either illegal or considered extremely inhumane and only performed
under extreme medical circumstances:

England - Scotland - Wales - Northern Ireland - Germany
Austria - Switzerland - Norway - Sweden - Netherlands
Denmark - Finland - Brazil - Australia - New Zealand

Many thanks and credit to the source for this page:
www.declawing.com