Is declawing cats cruel or inhumane??
By kari_lynn222
@kari_lynn222 (35)
Romania
February 23, 2007 4:22pm CST
I made an appointment to get my kitty spay & declawed and my boyfriend just told me that he totally disapproves!! He thinks it's mean to get a kitty declawed, even though I think it's no worse than cutting them open to spay or any surgery for that matter! He wants us to continue buying "Soft Claws" at $20/package and use those. I want her declawed because we won't have to keep buying and applying those, plus it calms them down a little bit. I can't understand what is cruel about it?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@kari_lynn222 (35)
• Romania
23 Feb 07
Well I can't see it being any worse than spaying and to spay them isn't just acceptable, it's encouraged. When they are spay, they are cut open and I am sure have a painful recovery, so why are people against declawing and not spaying?
@chaygylmommy (2470)
• United States
23 Feb 07
Your cat's claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your the cat's claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's "toes". When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember that during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing.
In many European countries, it is actually illegal.
I have worked in vet hospitals and animal shelters for years and it is so sad to see the problems that declawing can have on your cat. The vet will not tell you this because they like the money. They will tell you that it will be ok and it's an easy surgery, but it really is not.
