Declawing is a surgical procedure involving removal of
claws and should not be mistaken for pedicure. Declawing puts
the pet in great pain not only during the surgery but also after
it. Although it is practiced widely in many countries, it is
still considered as an unnecessary mutilation and is illegal in
some countries. Another drawback is that this surgical procedure
isn’t reversible.
Before getting this surgery, owners should understand many
aspects of it. The claw is very different from a toenail as it
is attached to the bone. The last bone and the joint are removed
along with the claw, during declawing. Nature has designed the
body in a way such that everything is used to balance its
movement, agility and grace. The main purpose of claws is to
defend an enemy and to get proper grip while walking. By
amputating the joint, the whole walk is altered. Other than
walking, even other behaviors like eating, hunting, grip, etc.
also gets changed. They can no longer enjoy climbing trees and
tall objects which also means that they cannot jump from
heights. Declawing changes the life of a cat. Some owners have
even sworn that the whole personality of the animal is changed
after the procedure. Although medical science hasn’t reported
any side effects, but there are physical and emotional
complications in the animal. The recovery is also full of pain
and the pet can aggravate the situation by walking and
scratching the litter box.
Unlike other animals that walk on their paws, cats step on their
toes. And when the last bone and joint are imputed, the animal
steps on its hind quarter, which can make them lose balance. The
shift of weight can also affect the front quarter muscles. The
imbalance can be very disturbing for the cat. Some cats even
develop secondary contracture of the tendons. Claws are the
primary defense for animals. When they loose the claws, they do
not go outside a lot because of the possible threats and the
feeling of insecurity. And even if they do, there are chances
that they will hurt themselves or even get lost. It will develop
a tendency of biting. It can get distressed and not only bite
strangers but also familiar people and even owners.
As a natural instinct, cats have a tendency to scratch after
they pass urine or stool. When the claws are missing, they get
an uneasy feeling, making them to pass on rugs, soft furniture
and filling the house with odor. Another thing which actually
aids this habit is the fact that it experiences pain when it
scratches the hard litter box, so it will choose to do it on a
softer surface.
There are many options to declawing. Firstly, the owner should
understand that scratching is a natural instinct of cats. The
act of scratching is nothing but exercise for the animal. It
exercises the front quarter muscles and they also gain pleasure
out of the whole act. Nail caps are available in the market,
which need to be filled with adhesive and slipped on the claw.
The structure of these nail caps is very soft and animals can
hardly feel the foreign object. The home furniture can be saved
from further cat scratches. The claws can also be trimmed, but
it should be done carefully. Only the tips should be clipped and
not the whole claw especially the opaque part, as those are the
tissues and cutting them can lead to bleeding and pain. In the
market, many different types of nail trimmers are available
depending on the animal and its size. Before trimming the claws,
the animal must be made comfortable by massaging its paws so as
to not to raise suspicion.
Also the animal can be provided with a scratching post and there
are many options available at the local pet stores. But the
animal should be trained to use it and it should be done from an
early age. Usually animals like rough surfaces which it can
shred to pieces. A tree stump can do a great job, but scratch
posts are available with a familiar texture.