Cat stealing is a very controversial topic! It is a decision that every pet owner must make for themselves after speaking to their cat’s vet.
Our friends at the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) say the following: ” The American Animal Hospital Association is opposed to domestic cats being declawed unless all other attempts have been made to prevent the cat from destructively using its claws or when claws are broken pose a significant health risk to people in the household. “
At Pet Health Network, we agree to the AAHA. It should be a last resort. However, if a cat poses a threat to humans or other pets and crime is the only way for a cat to remain in a household, we support a pet parent’s right to choose that option. This is certainly better than a cat ending up in a shelter and risking euthanasia.
First of all, remember, a scratched cat can NEVER be left outside, ever. You are defenseless.
Here are some facts to help you decide.
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Why do people declaim?
The most common reason for declawing a cat is to keep it. This solution may tempt some pet owners after encountering a guilty cat in front of tattered furniture, carpets, or curtains a couple of times.
If a cat is constantly arguing or scratching other cats in the house, scratching is considered a quick fix rather than training to correct the behavior.
In some cases, cat owners have medical care for their own reasons calling for declawing a cat. For example, people with weak immune systems, such as the elderly or the chronically ill, cannot be scratched. The bacteria on a cat scratch can be dangerous to them.
Do cats need their claws?
Yes, and for several reasons. An important reason is protection. Cats not only use claws to nudge predators (including neighborhood dogs that might hunt them) in self-defense but also to climb trees and escape danger.
Claws are also an important part of cat anatomy. Most mammals walk on the soles of their feet, but cats are different. They are “digitigrade,” which is another way of saying they walk on their toes. Your entire body is designed for walking with your toes: your back, shoulders, paw and leg joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments are designed so that a cat’s weight is distributed across its toes.
Cats also use their claws for many things: balance, movement, and stretching. When a cat is stiff, it will lower its claws into a surface to create an anchor to stretch the back, legs, and neck. This is the only way for a cat to train many of its back, leg, and neck muscles.
Q: Many people are against stealing. Why?
A: Some people find it unnatural to remove a cat’s claws. This is done for the owner’s good and not for the cautious can make many other arguments for this – the pain they go through, the complications after declawing a cat. But I think it boils down to cats being born with claws, and they should keep them.
Q: Are there good reasons for declawing a cat?
A: There are a couple of good reasons. In medicine, sometimes a claw needs to be removed if the claw is irreparably damaged or has a tumor.
Sometimes it is also a trauma to the owners. There are people whose immune systems are suppressed or the elderly on blood thinners that cannot be exposed to the bacteria on the cat’s claws.
Q: Can declawing cats cause medical complications or problems?
A: As with any surgery, infection is possible, especially because it is not sterile. You cannot sterilize this area. And if it’s not done properly, the claw can grow back. But it doesn’t grow back properly, and that can lead to abscesses.
Q: So is it better to declawing a cat than getting rid of it?
A: If that’s the only option, absolutely. If the cat is given up, the lesser of two evils will scratch the cat. There are no two options. And if you start leaving your cat outside because it is a destructive cat, it is probably better to scrap it and keep it indoors, as a scraped indoor cat will live much longer than a clawed outdoor cat.
Q: Are there other solutions to the scratch problem? What are you?
A: One is training that is primarily for kittens. When someone brings us a kitten, that’s one of the things we talk about – how to train them to use a scratching post. It’s very effective. However, this is far less successful in adult cats.
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There are also these vinyl nail caps for cats (also known as soft claws). We can use them successfully. Surgical glue is applied to the caps, and cats usually get used to them within a day or two. However, we must apply the glue correctly. People glued a few toes together. And the hardest part is, you have to trim your cat’s claws before putting them on. Most people cannot trim their cat’s claws. They last about a month. They are particularly suitable for cats that need to be kept indoors for a short time. But it can be done in the long term if done right.
Cutting your nails weekly can help the problem is scratching people, but it doesn’t stop a cat from damaging furniture. Think about the reasons cats scratch: stretching and sharpening their claws. So if you cut their claws, they want to sharpen them more.
What happens when a cat is scratched?
The medical procedure used to declawing a cat is called an onychectomy. It requires general anesthesia, which comes with its own risks.
Removing a cat’s claws is similar to cutting off the last knuckle at the end of each finger on a human hand. The claw isn’t just cut off. In fact, all of the bone, including the ligaments and tendons, is removed. With five claws on each paw, stealing a cat is the same as performing ten separate amputations.
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After the procedure
Although not every cat will have some effect after surgery, there are a few things to look out for:
- Back and joint problems. Removing the claws means removing a cat’s ability to stretch the back’s muscles and change the way the feet hit the ground. This can lead to back problems such as pain and muscle wasting. Think of it like wearing the wrong shoes on humans.
- Pain. Declawing a cat can be very painful. Some cats can experience nerve damage and bleed (blood loss). And while it is rare, some long-term problems include deformed claw regrowth in the paw.
- Litter box problems. After clawing, cats get really tender paws, and cat litter doesn’t feel very good when you walk on them. As a result, some cats may associate the litter box with pain and refuse to use the litter box. It is recommended that pet owners provide a paper litter box immediately after surgery to avoid this problem.
- Personality changes. Claws profoundly transform some cats. You may become more nervous or anxious than before, and this can lead to aggression. Because they cannot mark with their claws, cats sometimes use their claws to spray urine instead.
- Scratched cats can never go outside. If you do, you are in danger because your first line of self-defense is now gone. Besides, they cannot climb trees to avoid danger. Scratched cats should stay indoors for the rest of their lives.
If you have any other questions about stealing, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about it. While it is an option for some, it is important to be aware of the procedure before deciding that it is right for you and your furry friend.
Always see or call your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns – they are your best resource for keeping your pets healthy and well-being.
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