The Truth About Declawing Cats
Many people are wondering whether or not they should have their cats declawed. Admittedly, a cat’s claws can do much damage especially when the cat is difficult to train. Furthermore, if the cat is aggressive, its claws can bring much harm to people and to other animals in the home. If this is the case, then should you have your cat declawed?
Before you can make this decision, there are some things you need to know about declawing cats and the anatomy of the cat’s toes. The way cats walk is very different from most mammals. Instead of walking on their soles, they walk on their toes, with the back of their foot slightly raised. This attribute is referred to as digitigrade.
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The cat’s claws help it balance its body in such a way that its proper posture is maintained. Cats use their claws to climb and to exercise. They also use their claws to stretch their muscles. They do this by attaching their claws on a surface and then pulling their legs.
So what are the effects of declawing a cat? The cat’s claws are not the same as human fingernails or toenails. Instead, it is joined with the distal phalanx, or the last bone, of the cat’s toe. In order to remove the claw and keep it from coming back, the surgery involves taking out the entire distal phalanx, which means amputating the cat up to the distal phalanx joint. Declawing a cat is comparable to amputating the first joints of the human fingers. Some studies have reported that declawing has resulted in lameness of the cat. Other declawed cats have experienced a reopening of their wounds after some time.
According to some studies, the recovery period for declawed cats stretches from three days to two weeks. Pet owners have reported post-surgical discomfort in their cats. Others have observed that their cats tended to bite more often and more strongly after they were declawed. There are also cases wherein the declawed cats stopped using the litter box after the procedure, although this behavior has not yet been fully explained or understood.
Declawing cats has been banned in some countries like Brazil and a number of European countries. It is considered an inhumane act that shows cruelty to animals. Some countries allow declawing as needed for medical purposes only. In Australia, a bill is presently being passed about prohibiting declawing.
However, in the United States, declawing is somehow an accepted practice, and it is banned only in a few parts of the country. It was first banned in the state of California in 2004. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) followed suit in 2006 when it declared a ban on declawing exotic and wild animals owned by USDA licensees. And in 2007, declawing was also banned in Norfolk, Virginia. However, the subject has remained controversial in the United States to this day.
Alternatives to declawing have been made available, such as affixing vinyl nail caps on the cat’s claws. These nail caps need to be replaced every four to six weeks. A surgical alternative to declawing cats involves severing the digital flexor tendon, which results in the cat not being able to expose its claws. A cat that has gone through this procedure will not be able to groom its claws on its own and will need to have its nails trimmed regularly.