Why declawing cats is cruel

Larry - who shares a home with whoever is prime minister. The man who watches thousands of cat videos 16 things you never knew about cats Secret life of the cat. Are indoor or outdoor cats better off? Indoor cats tend to live longer - but need a suitable environment. Indoor cats tend to have longer lifespans, because they are less likely to get hit by cars or encounter feline viruses. However, indoor cats need good environmental enrichment - otherwise they are much more likely to develop psychological problems Indoor cats in multiple-cat households are more likely to experience stress-related disorders if they don't get on, because cats are naturally solitary animals Outdoor cats can express their inherent behaviour more readily, such as hunting and playing with bugs Vets say outdoor cats can appear braver, and more psychologically balanced, as they are challenged multiple times a day However in rural parts of the US outdoor cats are much more likely to encounter predators.

Why is declawing so controversial? This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Shakes-purr-rean cat at Stratford-upon-Avon cafe. Are there situations where declawing should be permitted? Cats like using long, wooden objects as scratching posts. Are things changing in the US?

How can I train my cat not to scratch the furniture? Related Topics. New York Cats United States. Published 17 March Claws protrude from the cat's feet and help keep her stable as she walks. Removing them throws her off balance and forces her to find a new way to keep herself from stumbling around. Without her claws a cat must alter the way her foot touches the ground to avoid pain. Declawing cats has shown to lead to an increase in eliminating outside the litter box. The rough litter on their sore paws is painful and leads them to look elsewhere for a place to go.

Cats dig their claws into things to stretch and strengthen their muscles. Without them, they're no longer able to work the tissue properly, causing it to degenerate over time. This leads to chronic issues like arthritis as they get older. Cats use their claws to defend themselves against predators. Taking away their claws leaves them without any method to protect themselves. Imagine if your kitten got outdoors and couldn't defend herself! Cats may also urinate inappropriately following declaw surgery because they experience pain from their paws when they get in the litter box and paw around.

These litter box problems may follow a cat throughout his life, causing him to be at risk for abandonment or worse. Cats are digitigrade walkers. This means that cats walk on and balance with their toes rather than the bottoms of their feet, like plantigrade walkers such as humans.

When a cat is declawed, his balance is disrupted , and this can cause him to be more prone to falling injuries. Declawing cats removes a big mechanism of defense. If a declawed cat goes outside or ever escapes to the outside, he will be much less able to survive if he is attacked by another animal. Declawed cats also have a higher tendency to bite humans because they feel insecure knowing they are unable to defend themselves with their claws. So if declawing is inhumane, how can you protect your belongings from cat claw damage?

Luckily, there are several things you can do to ensure that your cat's claws can exist in harmony with your furniture and other household items. These include:. Providing enough cat scratching surfaces that have the qualities that are important to cats is one of the most important and effective ways for you to minimize cat scratching damage to your home. Medical drawbacks to declawing include pain in the paw, infection, tissue necrosis tissue death , lameness, and back pain.

Removing claws changes the way a cat's foot meets the ground and can cause pain similar to wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes.

There can also be a regrowth of improperly removed claws, nerve damage, and bone spurs. For several days after surgery, shredded newspaper is typically used in the litter box to prevent litter from irritating declawed feet. This unfamiliar litter substitute, accompanied by pain when scratching in the box, may lead cats to stop using the litter box.

Some cats may become biters because they no longer have their claws for defense. If you are worried about your cat damaging your home, or want to avoid unwanted scratching, start with these tips:. Sticky Paws on Amazon. Nail Caps on Amazon. Declawing and tendonectomies should be reserved only for those rare cases in which a cat has a medical problem that would warrant such surgery, such as the need to remove cancerous nail bed tumors.

Scratching Posts on Amazon. Declawing cats: Far worse than a manicure. Instead of declawing your cat, try our effective, humane methods for resolving scratching issues.