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Why shouldn’t I declaw my cats?

Above All, Do Not Declaw.

Declawing is the removal of a cat’s claws through surgical amputation.

Unfortunately, many people believe that removing a cat’s claw is the equivalent of removing a human’s fingernail. What they don’t realize is that a cat’s claw is closely adhered to the bone and it is, therefore, impossible to only remove the claw – the last joint of each of your cat’s “toes” must also be surgically removed. In comparison, this would be the equivalent of each of our fingertips being surgically amputated at the last joint.

It is also important to note that declawing actually provides no benefit to the cat – it is a painful surgery with a painful recovery period. There can be physical, emotional and behavioral complications. It removes a cat’s primary means of defense, can affect their balance, may lead to infections and can change their personality. They could become biters. They may become insecure and distressed. Insecure and distressed cats often urinate outside their litter boxes. No good can come from declawing your cat!

The good news is that there are safe and pain free alternatives to declawing

  • Provide your cat with a sturdy scratching post, preferably sisal or rope, that won’t tip over when they go to use the post. Do not use the carpet covered scratching posts as this will confuse them and they may scratch your carpeting.
  • You can clip your cat’s nails yourself! The majority of cats are perfectly fine with you clipping their nails, although, it may be easier to have help with this task. Nail clippers can be bought for a few dollars and can often be found in the pet section at the grocery or any pet store. A JerseyCats representative would be happy to show you how to clip a cat’s nails… don’t be afraid to ask!
  • You can apply Soft Paws® to your cat’s nails. These are lightweight, vinyl caps with rounded edges that go over your cat’s claws. Because of the rounded edges, your furniture stays safe!

For more information about declawing, click here.

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Resources

  • Ten reasons to adopt an adult cat
  • Two are better than one!
  • Bringing home a new cat
  • Introducing a new cat to resident cats
  • Introducing cats and dogs
  • What should I feed my cat?
  • Why should I keep my cat indoors?
  • How can I avoid or resolve litter box problems?
  • How can I keep my cat from scratching my furniture?
  • Why shouldn't I declaw my cats?
  • What about allergies?
  • Disaster planning and your pets
  • What is the FVRCP vaccination?
  • What is FIV?
  • What is FELV?

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