Is Cat Declawing Right

Cat declawing in medical term is called onychectomy. This surgical procedure is very painful and complicated. This operation is performed on cats under anesthesia to remove the last bone of their fingers. It is the same as a man's fingers at the first knuckle. Cat declawing is an irreversible procedure and must be performed by a qualified veterinary doctor.

Cat declawing frequently affects the cat's behaviors. A lot of cats find that they it difficult to grasp with their claws and they can lose secure foothold with their claws removed. In some cats their entire personalities change due to the trauma of cat declawing. Without their claws cats feel defenceless and they end up being very timid and afraid of real life and imagined predators. If the cat declawing operation gone wrong the claws could be deformed claws or infection such as haemorrhaging or gangrene and even in some cases leading to death.

Studies have shown that a cat who is declawed will spray more often than one who is not. this is because a cat uses it claws to mark its territory. When the claws are gone, they will turn to whatever means that they can to make their mark. This is usually done with urine. The same studies have indicated that cats that are declawed will be less likely to use their litter box because of the pain that is caused by scratching the litter.

Those people who are supporters of cat declawing reckon that most cats continue to scratch after declawing proves that nothing has changed in their cats' behavior. They believe that declawing is a safe and inexpensive alternative to curb the destructive behavior of their felines indoors. The cats do not appear to suffer any adverse psychological effects. Their pets continue with their normal scratching patterns and the cats seem to be healthy and active as before declawing. The big difference is that the cats' scratching now causes no destruction on their furniture.

Since scratching is a natural instinct in cats, you will notice that your cat will continue to scratch even after being declawed. Many experts advise that instead of declawing your cat, purchase a scratching post and see if it does the trick. You should use declawing as the final draw. It can have such devastating effects that is should only be considered as the last choice.

To help your cat from damaging your furniture provide your pet scratching surfaces to modify and correct its scratching behavior to an appropriate location. You could get a chunky piece of log for your pet to scratch on. Another alternative is to trim the claws and nails of your pet regularly and then there is no need to resort to cat declawing.

New developments have made it possible to lengthen the span between trimming. Vinyl caps can be fitted over your cats claws to keep them blunt and it avoids all the pain the cat would have to go through during a declawing. Other ways to deter your cat from clawing your furniture is to set traps around your home. if you set a trap that sprays a harmless but offensive odor, your cat will learn not to claw the furniture.

Declawing your cat is a form of torture. It may even cause your cat to distrust you and the vet who does the procedure. It is inhumane, and if you can find a different method of training your cat, you should use it. You would not chop your child's finger off if he or she took a cookie, you should not declaw your cat for the same reason. Your cat is part of your family, and you should look upon him or her as another child. He or she depends on you for everything, and it is up to you to protect them as much as you would your own children.

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About the Author: Paulina Jenkins has information on Alternatives of Cat Declawing. See more about Cat Declawing at Cat Declawing

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