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Many cat owners believe that declawing cats are a quick fix and a simple method to prevent scratching. But what are the pros and cons of declawing cats?
People are worried about scratches, especially those who suffer from immunodeficiency or bleeding disorders because scratches can cause infection and complicate medical problems. Often, people are told that declawing is the ultimate solution to prevent being scratched.
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However, this is not true! The risk of scratching is far less than pet bites, litter, and fleas carried by cats. Lets us explore Pros And Cons Of Declawing Cats…
12 Pros and Cons of Declawing Cats
As this is the main focus of today’s guide, let us dive straight into the major pros and cons of declawing cats. In the first section, we will be sharing the advantages of declawing cats while in the second section, we will be looking into the 7 disadvantages of declawing cats.
So, let the guide begin!
5 Pros Of Declawing Your Cat
1. Protection of our property:
Cats are famous for scratching furniture, and they can cause severe damage to it. If you are thinking of declawing your cat, then this might be the first benefit of it on your mind.
2. Improved interaction:
Declawing your cat might enhance your interaction with them. Occasional scratching your skin or destruction of your belongings not only creates nuance, but it can also cause resentment. Your interaction with your cat can be improved if you declaw them. Some researchers suggest that there is a perceived improvement in the relationship between you and your pet after onychectomy.
3. It can prevent physical damage:
Cat scratches other people due to various reasons, which include problems during socialization and other sources of aggression. Declawing a cat can reduce this damage. Your cat may try to swipe at you, but it could inflect no damage. This can be particularly important for people who suffer from health conditions and fear infections.
4. Declawing prevents abandonment and euthanasia:
When nuance caused b damaging property and inflicting physical damage to the owner becomes too annoying, people often abandon their pets in shelter homes. Aggression makes coexistence untenable. In some cases, the result is euthanasia due to lack of sufficient resources to care for such cats.
5. Declawing Doesn’t Disable a Cat:
If the procedure of declawing is done correctly, the cat would not be disabled as a side effect. The cat would be able to carry on normal functions such as walking, climbing, and pad sensations.
7 Cons of Declawing Your Cat
1. Self-defense becomes weak:
A declawed cat feels extremely threatened because its primary source of defense is gone. This level of hostility can make them panic. They may act out even more than before due to this particular reason.
2. Behavioral Issues:
The pain and hostility caused by this procedure can cause many behavioral problems. The cat may stop using the litter box because the litter box can make their pain worst. They will develop a habit of not using the litter box at all, and this will create problems of cleanliness.
3. It’s Painful:
The entire process of declawing a cat is excruciating. This amputation can make them suffer a lot. This practice is a hard choice to make, especially if you love your pet.
4. Arthritis:
The cutting of tendons during medical surgery of declawing can lead to the development of arthritis in paws. This will make your cat lethargic. Its joints would swell, which will cause increased inactivity.
5. Side Effects:
The bones that are left in paw dig deep into the skin. This digging is not only extremely painful, but it can also lead to infections.
6. It can be Avoided:
Declawing a cat is not the last available option. Other available options are more feasible than extreme measures like these.
7. Complications:
This procedure can cause hemorrhaging, reopening the wound, and temporary paralysis. It can also cause nerve damage and back pain.
As we have gone through the Pros and Cons Of Declawing Cats, now let us talk about some alternatives that can be opted for instead of declawing.
Four Effective Alternatives to Declawing Cats
1. Claw Trimming:
If your cat is mostly spending time indoors, then long nails are not that needed. You can trim your cats’ claws. But make sure you know how to trim claws properly. If you don’t know how to cut correctly, then you can contact a groomer or vet.
2. Nail Caps:
There are several companies that design nail caps for pets. These nail caps fit individual nails. Wearing nail caps would still allow your cat to relieve stress through scratching but without any harm.
3. Deter:
Scratching is a healthy behavior for cats. You can only use deterring methods if there is a scratching post available for your cat. Once a scratching post is introduced to your cat, you can use double-sided tape to cover undesirable spots. They should feel uncomfortable enough to deter paws.
4. Feliway:
Excessive scratching is a sign that your cat is stressed out. In houses where there are multiple cats, cats scratch places to mark their territory. It is both visual as well as through scent glands situated in their paws. Feliway is diffusers that use a synthetic version of pheromones that cats use to mark things that they declare safe and comfortable. Using a diffuser to will trick your cat into feeling happy and stop scratching.
Here are some other tips which will help in the reduction of cats’ stress. This will help create a comfortable environment and reduce scratching and aggression.
Why Cats as a Pet?
Cats are the most popular choice as pets. People having cats as a pet is an ancient practice. Ages of living together with humans have domesticated cats too much extent. Cats possess a unique personality. Cats have many positive effects on kids. We all know how much kids and cats adore each other!
Benefits of Cat as a Pet!
According to scientific research, owning a cat can teach us social skills and help us to cope up with traumatic experiences. Not only cats can cost less than dogs, but they are also feasible to keep in small apartments. They are probably the most intelligent house pet. They are also eco-friendly due to their low carbon footprint.
Cats have a playful aura, and they are abundant in energy. When high on energy, they often scratch people in excitement. Cats are tending to have mood swings, which serve as another reason why they scratch people
Is Declawing Cats Banned/Illegal?
Many countries have banned declawing pets except for rare medical conditions like the removal of cancerous nail bed tumors. If you are considering declawing your cat, we are here to present you with possible Pros And Cons Of Declawing Cats.
How is the declawing procedure done?
It is often perceived that declawing is a simple surgery for removing cats’ nails. It is considered as the equivalent of having your nails trimmed. But this perception is not accurate at all! Declawing involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe.
It is similar to cutting fingers at last knuckle. The standard method of declawing is using a scalpel or guillotine clipper. Wounds are closed through surgical glue or stitches. They are bandaged afterward. There is another way that consists of using a laser beam to cut through the tissue by heating or vaporizing it.
As we have analyzed the procedure of declawing, now it’s important to weigh down its potential pros and cons. Here is a list of 12 Pros And Cons Of Declawing Your Cat.
How to Reduce the Stress of Your Cat? – 8 Effective Tips
The following are the effective tips that you can use to reduce the stress of your cat as a pet:
- Buy quality cat food. Take special care of its diet.
- Try putting up some perches.
- Create a special scratching area
- Create some isolated and comfy spaces
- Play with your pet more often
- Cuddling with the pet is very important to reduce their stress.
- You should avoid changing anything suddenly in the environment.
- You can use stress-reducing products.
Considering all the Pros And Cons of Declawing Cats, now it is up to you to decide for your pet. We suggest that in the presence of better alternatives choose less risky options as mentioned above.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions on Pros and Cons of Declawing Cats
Is declawing a cat really that bad?
These Cats are known to gnaw at the stubs of their paws, and may experience the ill effects of interminable agony. What’s more, numerous proprietors find that their felines become progressively forceful after the medical procedure.
What are the benefits of declawing a cat?
The demonstration of scratching fills some needs; it conditions the hooks by evacuating matured fingernail skin, fills in as a visual and fragrance regional marker, gives resistance from assault, and stretches the muscles of the appendages, thorax, and back. In the wake of declawing cats keep on indicating a similar recurrence of scratching conduct.
Why is it bad to declaw cats?
Cats delve their hooks into things to extend and fortify their muscles. Without them, they’re not, at this point ready to work the tissue appropriately, making it degenerate after some time. This prompts ceaseless issues like joint inflammation as they get more seasoned.
Is it okay to declaw an indoor cat?
No, it’s not suitable for evident reasons. Letting your cats outside after they’ve been declawed would be coldblooded in light of the fact that they can’t guard themselves appropriately. In this way, proprietors must be resolved to keep the cats inside for an amazing remainder or to discover a family that can do as such.
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