Declawing Cats

Declawing Cats - Is it Necessary?

There's more than a little controversy out there related to whether we should or shouldn't be Declawing Cats. The benefits of Declawing Cats for our homes are obvious, whereas the drawbacks are specifically related to your cat.

Benefits

• Savings on reupholstering/buying furniture due to a cat's need to scratch their claws on couches, chairs, etc.

• Declawing Cats make them less dangerous around children, other pets, etc.

• Most cats will become more docile over time after they have have had their claws removed. The reason for this isn't clear, but it's a pleasant benefit many cat owners have realized over the years.

Drawbacks

• The cat will always need to be a house cat, since they will be virtually defenseless without their front claws around other cats and animals (their front claws are how they keep predators away from them).

• Some breeds are known for being well-behaved and will keep their claws retracted, unless they need to protect themselves.

• Your cat will have to learn to readjust their balance with the removal of the claws. All claws are a means of balance for cats, since they walk on their toes -- rather than their paws as other four-legged animals do.

What should you do?

When you weigh the pros and cons; declawing cats comes down to necessity. If your cat claws at your furniture and won't take to a scratching post, then it will be inevitable they need to be declawed. The same goes for cats that don't learn how to keep their claws retracted while playing with you, your other pets and your children. On the same note, you don't want to haphazardly decide to declaw them because it seems like the thing to do, or a friend says it has to be done.

Find out more on declawing cats and read many interesting articles on pet health.

The AVMA's Policy on Declawing Cats (quick-upload version)

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