Cat declawing is a serious decision that should not be made lightly. Cats use their claws for much more than destructive scratching; they are a natural part of the cat’s defense system, and an important part of his natural mobility and balance. Surgical removal of the claws not only leaves a cat defenseless against would-be attackers, but causes cats a great deal of pain as they recover from the surgery. There are alternatives to cat declawing that should be considered.

Cat declawing is a surgical procedure that removes the entire claw, preventing it from growing back. Since cats’ claws are actually part of the last bones in the paws, not at all the same as fingernails on a human, declawing actually involves amputation of the bones, nerves, ligaments and tendons on each of the five claws on each paw.

Cats use their entire paws, including the claws, for balance and mobility. Cats are known as digit grade animals, meaning essentially that they walk on their toes. The structure of the muscles, joints, ligaments and tendons in their legs and backs are designed to distribute their weight across their toes, not the flat part of their paws. Cat declawing removes the claw (along with bone, tendon, etc.), making the natural walking stance of the cat painful to say the least. Without the entire claw intact, a cat’s balance is also severely affected.

Cat declawing is usually encouraged, or at least accepted, as a way to prevent destructive behavior. Scratching is a natural behavior that is intrinsic in cats. Giving your cat appropriate outlets, including a special place to perform this behavior, will keep her from scratching in a destructive manner. There are a variety of commercially available products to discourage your cat from scratching furniture or other items. These include puncture-proof protectors, sticky pads that discourage cats from touching furniture, and sprays that deter cats. Providing your cat with a scratching post gives her a place she is allowed to vent her normal scratching behavior in a safe and non-destructive way. Select a sturdy and stable cat scratching post. If your cat tips the post over, it will likely frighten her away from it for a very long time, possible forever.

Nail clipping or capping are also preferable to cat declawing. Although your cat may not be very accommodating about nail clipping when you first start, she will likely become used to it over a short period. Using very sharp nail clippers, lots of praise, and perhaps a few treats, trim off just a small amount of the tip of each claw. This may take a good deal of time, patience, and practice in the beginning. Since cats do not actively scratch with their back claws, trimming on just the front claws should be sufficient for most cat owners. Most cats will need their nails clipped every ten days to two weeks, on average. Applying small caps to cover your cat’s claws are another alternative to cat declawing. These soft caps are placed over each claw with a small amount of adhesive to hold them in place.

Cat declawing, while often considered minor and routine surgery, is actually a serious issue that should be very carefully considered. This surgery and its recovery are very painful for cats, and leaves them without a very integral part of their natural defense and balance systems.