Cat declawing – yes or no? This has been a debate for a longer period of time. Some cat owners believe this act is inhumane and painful for their pets, while others think there’s nothing wrong with it.
What Is Cat Declawing?
First of all, let’s clear this out and learn the definition of this procedure and what’s included.
This operation is called onychectomy, and it means surgically removing a cat’s claws through amputation of all or part of the animal’s toes. It sounds pretty painful, doesn’t it?
Well, it is. People usually do this to their cats because they want to keep them from scratching their furniture or ruining it with their nails. However, there is a downside to this – after this surgery, cats start to exhibit different undesired behaviors. For example, when they are using the litter box, they are in pain while digging, so they may stop using it and make a mess on the floor.
This is why many veterinary groups and animal rights associations are fighting to make this procedure illegal.
After several years of fighting, the bill bans cat declawing in New York is now passed.
This bill outlaws several types of cat declawing surgeries, and it’s approved only in cases of medical necessity. Linda Rosenthal, a Manhattan Democrat, pointed out that some people think that their furniture is more important than their cats. Ms. Rosenthal, a proud owner of two cats fully clawed, says:
“It’s unnecessary, it’s painful, and it causes the cat problems.”
This surgery is illegal in several other cities, such as Los Angeles and Denver, while other states, including Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California, are still considering it.
Alternatives to This Procedure
If you are still not convinced that this is the only way to protect your furniture and still have a cat, you should know there are alternatives. You don’t have to put your cat through this painful procedure; this is how you can avoid it.
There are soft nail covers that you can put on your cat’s nails that are not sharp. In this way, you won’t see any scratches anywhere.
One of the harmless alternatives is getting your cat a scratching post. Also, you should pay more attention to your cat and play with her. If you play games and keep her busy longer, she won’t have the need to scratch your furniture or make a mess in your house.