Declawing a cat is a controversial topic and appears to stem from owners that are looking for a means of preventing their cat from scratching furniture. Is that enough of a reason to remove an intrinsic element of your cat? All cats are born with retractable claws for a reason.

Removing them simply as a means of protecting your table legs does, for many, appear nothing short of inhumane, not to mention irresponsible ownership on the part of the owner.

Declawing A Cat

Declawing a cat is known as onychectomy and involves a far more complicated operational procedure than many owners may realise. It’s half-way around the world from trimming overlong claws and even further away from filing your nails.

You may be surprised to know the procedure actually involves the removal of the cats’ lowest toe joint. In short – a noteworthy part of the foot is amputated. Think of it like this: look at either one of your hands. Now imagine you’re going to remove the part of each finger from the last knuckle to the fingertip.

Consider yourself declawed.

Bear in mind that your cat hasn’t been gifted with claws as a means of ripping your carpets to shreds or carving his signature along the bottom of your lounge furniture.

His claws are there to create balance, protect him, allow him to live his life with grace and the ability to leap and climb – all things he’d struggle to do if you decide that your life would be a happier one if he was declawed.

And note I said ‘your life’. It certainly wouldn’t make his life better. You can bet your hat on that.

Declawing Cats Is Cruel

Maybe someone could argue that their cat doesn’t need his claws, he lives indoors. No trees, no possibility of territorial skirmishes and so on. True.

I can’t remember the last time I walked into an apartment and bumped into a Maple in the lounge. Or had to squeeze around an Oak tree to wash my hands in the bathroom.

And generally I’d agree that the only time a strange cat shows its face inside a home it doesn’t belong in is when its lost its marbles. But that’s not the same as a reasonable argument, is it?

I’d call that an excuse.

All Cats Scratch

In a nutshell, declawing a cat is rather inhumane and selfish to boot. If there’s no medical reason for separating your cat (any cat?) from its claws then it shouldn’t become an option. Bemoaning the fact that your cat is shredding your prize pot plants or turning your curtains into confetti is a little like trying to convince me that you didn’t realise that cats don’t bark.

Cats generally come equipped with what amounts to flick knives on the end of their soft, pretty little paws. They are there for a purpose. And anyone supposing that they can wander out - and then back in again with a bundle of kitten that won’t grow into a fully fledged scratching machine – is either incredibly dense or they’d set their hopes a little high.

Cats scratch. Period. Some more than others. Instead of considering declawing a cat … sorry, amputating the ends of his toes … why not consider this: train your cat. They're incredibly intelligent creatures and very responsive to edification. Of course, training your cat will be a little harder once they’ve reached adulthood but the saying ‘can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ doesn’t apply to cats.

They’re not dogs for one. And for two, its’ easier than you think. Invest in a cat scratching post. Or two. Encourage your cat, through play, to use them. Discourage your cat from using previously preferred scratching posts – such as your furniture – by removing their scent and placing citrus type plants close by. Alternatively buy a citrus spray and use it. On the wood/carpet etc. Not the cat.

Positively reinforce your cats’ good behaviour. The older a cat, the more habitual it’s become for him to shred whatever whenever, the more patience you will need. But you can re-educate your cat. Instead of taking the route that ends in declawing and disfiguring him.

Don't Declaw Your Cat

And, in future, consider this: trying to stop a cat from scratching - full stop - is like trying to educate carrots. No matter how hard you try, your carrots will never learn the alphabet.

And thinking about declawing a cat to try and combat his scratching is about as much fun for your cat as ripping your nails out would be for you.

Alternatively, next time you have an urge to avail yourself of a family pet, consider a fish. Unobtrusive, relaxing and absolutely guaranteed not to scratch.