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Declawing cats a serious and controversial issue
Declawing cats today is a very hot button topic. Many people consider it to be
cruel and a form of mutilation. Others feel that in certain situations, the procedure
is a possible solution to problems that may be present.
Declawing is a procedure in a cat that removes the very last bone on the toes
that produces the nail. There are several ways to do this procedure, which you
can find more information about in the links below. The ethical and moral
implications of removing a portion of a cat’s toe to inhibit what is essentially a
normal feline behavior is a quagmire of opinions mixed with facts and figures.
The facts—it is an irreversible surgery that can be incredibly painful and cause
permanent nerve damage even if done in the hands of a very skilled practitioner.
Also, a majority of the time, declawing does not stop furniture destruction or
undesirable scratching behavior. Ask anyone what they think of declawing an you will most likely get a range of emotions
from indifference to violent abhorrence.
The bottom line is this—declawing is NOT a routine procedure and should not be a general part of a cat or kitten’s health
care. A situation that would lend itself to declawing would best be discussed with your veterinarian as to why it needs to be
done and the potential complications. And in most cases, it should be done only as a last resort (ie, the cat will end up
turned outside or in the shelter if not declawed).
Having said that, IF a person decides that declawing is what is best for them and their cat in conjunction with their
veterinarian, then it needs to be done properly—with the least amount of pain and trauma to the cat to hopefully ensure a
complication-free recovery.
Learn More:
Declawing and alternatives: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=568
AVMA Policy: http://www.avma.org/issues/policy/animal_welfare/declawing.asp
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