Onychectomy, or declawing, is a surgical procedure to remove cat’s claws, usually for reasons convenient to the owner. Many people support the declawing of cats for the protection of their furniture and children. Cat claws can quickly tear up furniture and scratches often make people sick. Because scratching is a deeply ingrained instinct in cats, if there is no appropriate spot or post for them to scratch at, they will be forced to substitute furniture or other objects. However, declawing is a dangerous and inhumane practice that is unnecessary for cats.
Most people believe that during the procedure only the cat’s claws are removed, but sadly this isn’t the case. Declawing is a series of bone amputations and is more accurately described as “de-knuckling”. In humans fingernails grow from the skin, but in prey animals, the claws grow from the bone so therefore, the last bone is amputated so the claw cannot re-grow. The last bone of each of the
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Cats deprived of their front claws may begin biting and avoiding the litter box. Their paws remain sensitive from the surgery, so they avoid scratching in their litter and may begin using the restroom around the house instead. Declawed cats with these behaviors are more likely to go to the pound, where about 70% of them will be euthanized. The pain of declawing sometimes causes cats to be unwilling to walk or play, and as a result, owners may neglect or mistreat them. Sometimes these behaviors are brought on by other health problems but in the majority of cases these behaviors started after the declawing due to physical and psychological trauma.
Declawing is essentially done for the convenience of the owner — to the disadvantage of the cat. You are working against your cats if you force them to undergo needless pain and put them at risk for developing negative behavioral and physiological side-effects of the