Is It Really Inhumane To Declaw Cats?

The cat is tearing up the $2,000 plus sofa, and not only is the cat scratching up the couch, but the chairs and carpet too and it has to stop. Some of my friends tell me to get it declawed and others tell me it is inhumane. I want to know why some consider it inhumane when it's just the claws; it's no real big deal.

What is declawing really like?

The closest thing that comes to mind in human terms is having your fingertips or toes cut off at the first joint under your nails. Not a very pleasant visual and it makes my hands and feet hurt just thinking about it. What it really amounts to is amputation, and it's extremely painful to cats. Cat claws are not attached the same way that human toenails are attached. They are very closely adhered to the toe bone and to remove the claw you need to cut the toe off at the first bone joint behind the claw. After you cut the claws off you also need to worry about the side effects.

What are some of the side effects of declawing?

One of the first and most obvious effects is right after the claws are removed. Your cat will have to shift their weight from the front paws to the back ones and, when a cat walks, over half its weight is supported on its front paws. The weight shift will continue from five to seven months during the healing process and can cause stress on all of the joints in the front of the body, including the spine. After the healing time your cat will be able to walk a little more normally, but not quite. This is due to scar tissue and the paw no longer being in its natural position. One of the long term side effects could be your cat developing arthritis.

Other types of side effects deal with sanitation and safety. There is a good chance that after the surgery your cat will stop using the litter box. So, instead of scratching your sofa, your cat will be urinating on it, or in other places around the house. Emotional stress and pain is a big cause for cats to stop using the litter box. What about your cat's safety? Will you make your cat an indoor cat from that point on? Because, when you let them out, you are leaving them without the ability to defend themselves or a means to escape. Claws are not used just for hunting; they are used for climbing and fighting. If your cat gets into a situation where it's attacked and needs to escape but has difficulty climbing a tree or a fence, then it will be forced to turn and defend. Your cat will be at a serious disadvantage and likely get injured or even killed. These are some strong reasons not to have your cat declawed.