Cat's Claw

Popular consensus says there are certain guidelines to follow when adopting a cat into your household. First, the essentials: a collar, litter box, kitty food, and hopefully a comfortable little cat bed for Snowball to call her own. Next is the veterinary visit: shots, a test for feline AIDS and leukemia, and possibly a locator chip (in case the cat gets lost and brought to a vet, this implant will indicate who the cat belongs to). Then there are the surgical procedures: spaying/neutering and declawing. This is precisely where popular consensus has misled far too many American cat owners.

One of the leading causes of death for cats is Feline Immunodeficiency Virus and leukemia. It is easily spread and a painful disease to watch the loss of an animal to. Testing for these diseases is a must. To spay or neuter a cat is also in the best interest of your pet. Studies have proven that cats live a longer life if they have undergone this procedure. Spaying eliminates the chance of ovarian cancer in female cats, and neutering removes the possibility of testicular cancer in male cats. It also significantly reduces the risk of mammary cancer in both males and females. So far, so good.

Then there is the encouragement to declaw your beloved animal. It is all too common for domesticated cats to scratch at your sofa, your carpet, or anything it can comfortably sink its claws into. There are a couple of speculations as to why your cat will do this, the predominant explanation being that sinking her claws into a substantial surface allows her anchor herself while pulling back; this permits cleaning the claw and removing the old outer sheath. It is also a great way to stretch your cat’s muscles. As natural predators, all cats whether domesticated or not, still have keen hunting instincts, and they also are apt to prefer climbing to extended heights. Claws are pertinent tools in both of these engagements.

Contrary to many Americans’ beliefs, declawing is not a painless surgical removal of a cat’s claws, nor is it a simple permanent shortening of the claws. It is an amputation. This removal of the cat’s bone is equivalent to removing the last joint of every finger for a human. It is a sad oversight that leaves cats in pain for weeks and even months. Some cats never recover. There have been reports of suffering cats who change distinguishably after being declawed; biting more, walking differently, mood changes, constant pain, etc. This unnecessary amputation is animal cruelty and is not in the interest of your pet’s best welfare. As a matter of fact, declawing is prohibited in many countries outside of North America, including Europe, Australia, Japan, Brazil, and Isreal to name a few. It is more recently becoming banned in some parts of the United States also.

Because declawing is such a malicious practice, it is important that cat owners learn how to work around cat scratching without the extreme punishment of amputation. Patience and understanding goes a long way when teaching a cat to use a cat pole instead of the $3,000 leather sofa. A water gun will eventually teach right from wrong, as will a stern redirection of the cat’s instincts. In the meantime, one may consider double-sided tape or placing a blanket tightly around the sofa for added protection while the cat is learning what the open grounds for scratching are and where they are not. There is even a non-surgical procedure to adhere vinyl nail caps using a nontoxic glue (by brands such as Soft Caps or Soft Claws), and of course, nail trimming.

The point is cats are amazing, loving, vivacious creatures. They are perhaps the most popular pet alive providing us with comfort and joy, and a sense of companionship. These awesome attributes should not be welcomed home by a painful elimination of knuckles. Just as bringing a child into you home calls for major adjustments and preparations, along with new leniencies and understanding, so must we all adapt when it comes to our feline friends.