Cat declawing information
Cats are known world-wide as proud individuals with an attitude. They’re also known as the furballs that climb your curtains and rip them ever so nicely, or put their nails into the leather Chesterfield couch that has been in the family for generations.
"So what’s wrong with declawing? It saves my furniture!"
Declawing is only done in a few countries. Where ever it is not common practice, it is considered illegal. The explanation is simple. The procedure entails amputating the first joints of a cat’s toes. A human equivalent would be (As people rarely get the hind claws done as well), chopping off the tops of your fingers. Not just the nail beds, but the entire joints are surgically removed. Full amputation without any medical necessity is equal to mutilation, and in many countries this would mean the cat would be taken away by Animal Protection, and the owners fined.
The repercussions for the cat itself can include a variety of things. Some become insecure or depressed, others hide and feel vulnerable: after all, they cannot defend themselves! Also, it IS a painful procedure. A cat walks on its toes. It will walk on the wounds left behind, -which take away a part of it’s sensory skills - and make walking after surgery far from pleasant. Most cats will hesitate to run, jump, or play for some time, and some may never feel sure enough of themselves to act like what they are: cats.
"My vet would never do that to my kitty. He’ll just remove the nailbed!"
No, he won’t. The above operation is standard, for all veterinarians. Some do not declaw at all, because they too disagree with the usefulness of this procedure, but the vets who do, perform an onychectomy (The amputation itself). No buts, no exceptions.
"But... Then what do I do?"
A cat, stubborn though a feline may be, can be trained to leave your furniture alone. It takes a small amount of time, but then, so does litterbox training. One is no more of a hassle than the other, and both trainings can go on at the same time. Should your cat be an incorrigible one, there is still the option of clipping the claws. You can get this done by the vet, but once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to do it yourself. It is best to use a regular human nailclipper. Since it is curved, just one snip will leave a dulled nail behind.
If you gently press on the cat’s toes, a nail will appear. You’ll see the sharp tip, as well as a fine dark line within the toe. This is a vein and should NOT be cut , as the bleeding is hard to stop. (It is best to take the animal to the vet immediately –no delays- should you spring a leak in your precious feline friend.). All you want to snip off it the sharp, clear (transparent) part. That should keep you and your furniture, curtains and children safe from kittie's claws.
"Ah, okay."
Bottom line, if you don’t want claws in your house, and you don’t have the time to train your cat, nor clip his nails, then do not get a cat. What good is love for a pet if the first thing you do with it is amputate important parts of his/her sensory "equipment"? So... Enjoy your new little rascal, all in one piece.