Declawing Cats

Cats need to scratch because scratching is a natural part of cats' instinctive grooming habits. Unfortunately, scratching can also be annoying for cat owners because cats often damage furniture, curtains or other property. Additionally, many cat owners worry that their cat's claws may carry germs – and it is true that a cat's claws can be a great medium for bacteria and viruses.

Some people address these issues by declawing their cats, which is the removal of the cats' claws. However, most people who elect to declaw do not realize the seriousness of the procedure: Cats' claws are directly attached to muscle, so declawing can be compared to the amputation of the half of the cat's toes.

Cat's claws are an essential part of the animal's anatomy:

- Claws help the cat walk, run, and spring

- Claws are cats' main protection when they feel threatened

- Removing its claws is very tough on a cat, and it may find it hard to resume its normal activities after being declawed

- Declawing renders cats defenseless in the face of attacks

- Declawing is very painful

- Declawed cats may develop infection and bleeding problems.

So, before you decide to declaw your cat, think about it very carefully and think about alternatives:

- Scratching may be resolved through scratching posts

- Your cat's claws can be made less dangerous with plastic covering

- You can also enroll your cat in a cat training school, especially if your cat is young enough.

Declawing is very extreme measure. It will hurt your cat more than you can imagine.

First published at http://www.guide2pets.com/p1_articles_cats_declawing.php

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