subject: Don't Declaw Your Cat! A Humane Alternative to Declawing Your Cat [print this page] One of the largest negative aspects to being a cat owner is the damage they can do to furnishings and drapes. Cats love to climb and they will need to scratch. Scratching serves not only to keep kitty's claws in good shape, it also provides exercise for his forelegs.
If you have experienced the frustration and anger of coming home to discover a ruined couch or recliner chair, you've most likely been tempted to think about having your feline friend declawed. Stop! Declawing is cruel for several reasons. The truth is, unlike the large majority of animals, cats walk on their toes, not the soles of their feet. A cat's claws are in fact attached to the last bone on its toe.
What this means is that when you eliminate your small friend's claws, you're also removing the last bone and joint in every one of its toes. It would be just like amputating the last bone in every single one of your fingers! It can make walking hard and it takes away his normal defense if he gets himself outdoors. There's also possibility of nerve injury, infection and extreme pain.
Declawed cats frequently become distant, fearful or aggressive. The truth is, declawing is illegal in a number of countries. But there is great news! There's a normal and humane strategy to save your furniture, your draperies and your sanity.
Offer your feline friend with a cat tree or condo. Make it sturdy and tall enough to give your little buddy a place to climb and look down on his domain. Include a scratching post of sisal rope or some comparable material. Cats climb and scratch automatically. Give kitty a place to do it and you'll both be happier.
Don't Declaw Your Cat! A Humane Alternative to Declawing Your Cat
