Years ago, I declawed my cat, Belle. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. However, over the years I have learned the very opposite to be true. My choice to declaw her was wrong.
While it seems like just a simple procedure, it is way more than that. The reasons why you should never declaw your cat are simple and will save your cat a lifetime of suffering.
Why You Should Never Declaw Your Cat
1. Cruel Procedure – Years ago, I thought the procedure was simply removing the nail. Reality, however, is very different. It is not only removing the claw, but also removing a portion of the last bone in each digit. That is our equivalent of cutting off part of a finger. Nothing good can come from it.
2. Loss of Balance – A cat depends on its sense of balance everyday. The claws play a large part in that and by removing them, you are handicapping your cat.
3. Protection – For a cat, claws are a form of security. It allows your cat to react appropriately in situations deemed dangerous. For instance, outside cats need to be able to escape at a moment’s notice. They need their claws to sprint and climb to safety. No claws can mean a death sentence.
4. Stretching – Every cat owner has witnessed their kitty cat stretch. It is a how your cat stretches their muscles. They do this several times a day. Picture your cat on a carpet trying to stretch without claws. No grip. No stretching. This creates a health issue for your cat.
5. Mental and Physical Trauma – The procedure is painful. Your cat will suffer physical pain. Not to mention the mental trauma of living without capable claws. Your cat was created perfectly and taking away from that wreaks havoc on your cat as a whole.
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Jo-Anne Pfoh says
I hope one day they ban this practice as they did in the UK. Love this post.
Kristen says
I can’t agree with you more Jo-Anne!
Kamira G says
Such a great post! I like you didn’t know this at the time I had my first cat. We had her front claws semi-declawed. I say semi because at the time the vet said standard declawing was inhumane however there was a way to nick off the tips and super glue the ends so the nails don’t grow back. (I’m paraphrasing) So it would be less invasive and just as effective as declawing. It wasn’t until many years later I learned how bad declawing was to cats. 🙁 I felt awful however considering the options I had at the time that I was aware of , I choose what I thought was the better option (superglue option). If I knew then what I know now, I would just get nail caps. Overall my first cat lived a happy life, although she had her b*tchy moments! Such a diva, but my first love. LOL
NJ Nowoselski says
Totally agree!
Suggestion or Just a thought: Train Kittens to love getting there nails trimmed aka, love having their paws handled and the clip sound daily. If you don’t know how, what or where to trim. I am hoping examples are on utube. or ask a Vet. Having nails trimmed may help with some reasons people are getting nails removed.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
I can understand that declawing a cat is horrid, just imagine what it would be like for us humans if we had to have all our nails removed!
Debbie White Beattie says
I’ve seen there’s a movement in Canada to ban declawing but there’s a couple of provinces that have already banned it. I’ve also signed petitions to get other provinces on board too. So hopefully all of Canada will have a ban soon !