4 Things to Think About Before you Declawing your Cat

Removing the irregularities is a major surgery known as a chin resection, and it is performed under anesthesia, which removes the tip of each finger (from the first knuckle) from the cat's front. There is a small chance of death in surgery, and cats without claws may have an increased risk of infection and lifelong discomfort in their paws. This surgery is not recommended for an adult animal and is considered an act of animal cruelty in some countries (see below).

Cats are usually claws removed to prevent them from hunting and damaging furniture. Wicked cats' claws are rarely plucked. In the United States, some landlords require their renters' cats to have their claws removed.

Veterinarians generally criticize the procedure and some refuse to perform it due to the cat's lack of claws:

1. It deprives it of its main defensive capabilities, including escaping from predators by climbing trees.

2. It impairs your stretching and exercise habits, resulting in muscle atrophy.

3. Undermines its ability to balance on delicate surfaces such as handrails and fence surfaces, resulting in injury from falling;

4. It can cause insecurity and a subsequent tendency to bite.

This process is rare outside of North America. In Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, claws are prohibited by laws prohibiting cruelty to animals. [17] In many other European countries, this is prohibited by the provisions of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless “the veterinarian considers that [these] non-therapeutic procedures are necessary either for veterinary medical reasons or the (animal’s) benefit”. [18] In Britain, animal shelters find it difficult to place imported cats that have had their claws removed, and therefore most are euthanized.

An alternative to claws is blunt vinyl nail coverings that are glued to the claws with non-toxic glue, which requires periodic replacement when the cat sheds its claws (about every four to six weeks). However, the cat will still have difficulties because covered nails are not as effective as claws.