Pros And Cons Of Declawing

Declawing, a Pet Catastrophe There are twenty-eight countries across the globe that declare declawing, also known as onychectomy, illegal or inhumane and can only be performed under extreme circumstances (Schelling, “Places Where Declawing Is Illegal”). With so many countries banning this procedure, it becomes clear that there is something wrong with the practice of declawing. Declawing cats has become highly controversial and discussed in the cat community. Supporters of onychectomy argue that the removal cats’ claws is a better alternative to owners abandoning cats due to destructive scratching (Stregowski). However, the process of declawing is brutal, has only negative effects on cats, and does have better alternatives that must be known …show more content…
In some cases, cats can be so shocked by the removal of their claws that their entire personality changes. Other cats can become fearful, skittish, or aggressive when their main defense is taken away, causing them to bite more often (Schelling, “The Truth About Declawing”). Cats are also known to sometimes stop using the litter box after being declawed. This is partially due to shredded newspaper typically being used instead of cat litter for several days after the surgery to prevent irritation, which causes uncomfortability and confusion. The strange substitute, along with pain associated with digging in the box, can lead to cats rejecting the use of the litter box (“Declawing Cats”). Another reason for refusal of the litter box is that cats use their claws to mark their territory and without them some might resort to using urine. It is important to realize that there are alternatives to declawing (Schelling, “The Truth About Declawing”). With all these negative outcomes, it is time for cat owners to deal with destructive scratching in new …show more content…
Since declawing is so harmful to cats, many cat owners have found other ways to deter their cats from scratching. One substitute for an onychectomy is soft nail caps. Nail caps go over a cat’s nails and are secured with a non-toxic adhesive and usually go unnoticed by the cat. The caps fall off as the nail grows and must be replaced around every six weeks. Just like a declawed cat, it is not advised for cats to go outdoors with nail caps because they are blunt and make it difficult for cats to climb as well as defend themselves. A simpler and more obvious option is scratching posts. Numerous cat owners find that scratching posts do not stop their cats from demolishing their furniture. The reason it can be tricky to use scratching posts is because people often do not get the right post for their cat. A scratching post should be tall enough for a cat to stretch all the way out and be completely stable. If a scratching post does not meet the correct criteria, a cat will choose furniture over a scratching post. Another replacement for declawing is double sided cat tape and is helpful for people who want to save money, or want an easy way to protect their furniture. All a cat owner has to do is stick the tape on any objects they want to protect from their cat. Cats have a natural aversion to sticky objects so the tape discourages them from scratching, but a scratching post should still be provided in the home.