FELINE DECLAWING First, some words from folks in the know: "Declawing is an inhumane, unnecessary procedure that has many alternatives. It is never in the cat's best interest. With declawing, we are interfering with a species' nature because of our own whims, mis-conceptions, misinformation, and sometimes, laziness." --Neil Wolff, D.V.M. "Declawing fits the dictionary definition of mutilation to a tee. Words such as deform, disfigure, disjoint and dismember all apply to this surgeryin veterinary medicine, the clinical procedure serves as a model of severe pain for the testing of analgesic drugs." --Dr. Nicholas Dodman, author of The cat Who Cried for Help, and director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine What is declawing? Declawing is actually multiple amputations comparable to the removal of human fingertips at the first knuckle. Sensory and motor nerves are cut, damaged, and destroyed. Recovery from the surgery is a slow and painful process. This procedure can hamper the sensations and enjoyment involved in walking, running, springing, climbing, and stretching. While declawing is a popular and lucrative practice in the United States, it is not practiced in European countries. It is, in fact, against the law, in many countries including England, Germany, South Africa and Switzerland. What should I expect from declawing my cat? Cat guardians who elect to have their cat's paws declawed generally do so with the belief that they will never have to deal with fabric damage due to destructive scratching problems. However, paw sensitivity resulting from the declaw operation may result in litterbox avoidance and urine-soaked furnishings or carpeting. Without its #1 defense system many declawed cats resort to nipping or biting with very little warning and/or provocation. They often use oral means to express their insecurity and this may also result in destructive chewing problems. Are there any alternatives to declawing? Destructive scratching problems are 100% correctable. Providing the cat with suitable scratching targets to satisfy this instinctive behavior and encouraging appropriate behavior is generally all that is required. Also, consider a relatively new alternative...nail caps. Check them out at www.softpaws.com Still not convinced? When you take your cat to the veterinarian for his/her next visit, discuss declawing. Ask them these questions: 1. Can you guarantee declawing will not affect my cat's personality? 2. Can you guarantee that the cat will feel no pain, or post surgical discomfort for its lifetime? 3. Can you guarantee that a claw will never grow back? 4. Can you guarantee that the spinal column will not be affected in time, because of the cat being forced to walk on the backs of her 'heels' instead of her toes? Lastly, if you're considering adopting a cat, and you insist on having a declawed feline, please search your shelters for a cat that has already had this procedure done. Declawed cats are becoming more and more common in shelters across the country. Saving a shelter cat AND saving a cat from a future procedure like this makes you a two-time winner! |
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FELINE DECLAWING First, some words from folks in the know: "Declawing is an inhumane, unnecessary procedure that has many alternatives. It is never in the cat's best interest. With declawing, we are interfering with a species' nature because of our own whims, mis-conceptions, misinformation, and sometimes, laziness." --Neil Wolff, D.V.M. "Declawing fits the dictionary definition of mutilation to a tee. Words such as deform, disfigure, disjoint and dismember all apply to this surgeryin veterinary medicine, the clinical procedure serves as a model of severe pain for the testing of analgesic drugs." --Dr. Nicholas Dodman, author of The cat Who Cried for Help, and director of the Animal Behavior Clinic at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine What is declawing? Declawing is actually multiple amputations comparable to the removal of human fingertips at the first knuckle. Sensory and motor nerves are cut, damaged, and destroyed. Recovery from the surgery is a slow and painful process. This procedure can hamper the sensations and enjoyment involved in walking, running, springing, climbing, and stretching. While declawing is a popular and lucrative practice in the United States, it is not practiced in European countries. It is, in fact, against the law, in many countries including England, Germany, South Africa and Switzerland. What should I expect from declawing my cat? Cat guardians who elect to have their cat's paws declawed generally do so with the belief that they will never have to deal with fabric damage due to destructive scratching problems. However, paw sensitivity resulting from the declaw operation may result in litterbox avoidance and urine-soaked furnishings or carpeting. Without its #1 defense system many declawed cats resort to nipping or biting with very little warning and/or provocation. They often use oral means to express their insecurity and this may also result in destructive chewing problems. Are there any alternatives to declawing? Destructive scratching problems are 100% correctable. Providing the cat with suitable scratching targets to satisfy this instinctive behavior and encouraging appropriate behavior is generally all that is required. Also, consider a relatively new alternative...nail caps. Check them out at www.softpaws.com Still not convinced? When you take your cat to the veterinarian for his/her next visit, discuss declawing. Ask them these questions: 1. Can you guarantee declawing will not affect my cat's personality? 2. Can you guarantee that the cat will feel no pain, or post surgical discomfort for its lifetime? 3. Can you guarantee that a claw will never grow back? 4. Can you guarantee that the spinal column will not be affected in time, because of the cat being forced to walk on the backs of her 'heels' instead of her toes? Lastly, if you're considering adopting a cat, and you insist on having a declawed feline, please search your shelters for a cat that has already had this procedure done. Declawed cats are becoming more and more common in shelters across the country. Saving a shelter cat AND saving a cat from a future procedure like this makes you a two-time winner! |
