should i declaw my cat or not

There are both great benefits and drawbacks to having a cat declawed. Cat Product Reviews TOP 10 Cat Trees Standard Premium.

7 Negative Side Effects Of Declawing Your Cat Petmd

If he is lost outside he will not be able to defend himherself or catch food.

. Cat claws grow directly from the bone so the last joint of his or her toe must be removed in order. If you declaw your cat it should remain indoors for the duration of its life. The cat is less able to escape from dogs raccoons and coyotes.

The cats claws provide protection from the elements. There is a big debate about whether you should declaw your cat or not. Richardson says that declawing cats irreversibly physically alters a cat for the purposes of changing its natural behavior most often.

Its a life-altering surgery for your pet so its important you have all the facts before making your decision. Should I Declaw My Cat. If you choose to alter your cat you are choosing a path that makes you responsible for that being for its life which ranges from 12 to 18 years on average.

Ad Find Deals on cat declawing alternatives in Cat Supplies on Amazon. The recovery time is much quicker when cats are young. There are a few things you need to know before you strongly consider this option.

Even though I changed Skeeters name it was Jeeter they remembered him coming in with a stomach issue and that he had been adopted and returned prior to me adopting him. Dec 9 2007 13 B. People often mistakenly believe that declawing their cats is a harmless quick fix for unwanted scratching.

Declawing also can cause lasting physical problems for your cat. Thomas Faull Getty Images. If you are going to declaw your cat it is best to do it when it is young.

Declawing is not like trimming your cats claws too close to the paw. Even some of the major associations for cats in the country will be against this type of procedure including the American Academy of Feline Practitioners while the American Veterinary Medical Association asks owners to be educated about this procedure and some of the safer alternatives that you can use. Be sure to discuss pain control options with your our doctors and be prepared to baby your pet for a while.

Get them cat scratching things you dont pull a. Declawing also known as onychectomy is a procedure performed on a cat by a veterinarian to permanently remove the. Should I Declaw My Cat.

Without his claws a cat is less able to defend himself against dogs and other dangers and has a harder time climbing to safety if attacked. You may be thinking about declawing your cat for a few reasons. After my initial visit I realized my parents loved them because they are amazing with dogs but with cats not so much so I decided to give the Cat Clinic a try.

Older cats seem to experience more discomfort and heal more slowly after surgery. Declawing a cat goes against its natural behaviors and instincts. It is a very unpleasant experience for the cat despite appropriate pain medication.

Typically our veterinarians suggest you declaw your cat at spay or neuter time. If your kitten is already spayed or neutered we may perform the declaw surgery earlier. My friend has rescued a 10 yr.

Outdoor safety for cats Indoor cats can be trained to scratch on a post. What age should I declaw my cat. It is important to provide cats with outlets for them to scratch in an appropriate manner like scratching posts.

The most important consideration to make before you declaw a cat is to realize that a cats claws are other than its teeth the only form of defense against predators it has. The American Animal Hospital Association strongly opposes the declawing of domestic cats and supports veterinarians efforts to educate cat owners and provide them with effective alternatives. Many countries have banned declawing.

Old declawed cat and he cannot jump up properly because he had not used his front body muscles properly and they are underdeveloped. Its a huge lifelong the cats life decision that is not to be made lightly. Declawing or onychectomy is the amputation of the third phalanx.

If you are thinking of declawing a cat or a veterinarian suggests declawing at the same time as neutering you may want to consider these arguments against the procedure. Perhaps heshe is clawing the couch you and other people or maybe even the family dog. You can save money on declawing your cat by training.

My own cat now is not declawed and I have no intention of ever declawing any cats in the future however personally I remain a little skeptical of the horrors of declawing simply because of my own experiences. Our veterinarians wont recommend that you declaw your indooroutdoor cat. If you do adopt a declawed cat remember that while its safest for all cats to be kept indoors its essential for declawed cats.

They dont realize that declawing can make a cat less likely to use the litter box or more likely to bite. Alternatives to declawing cats. Between 3 and 6 months of age is ideal.

According to the Humane Society of the United States declawing amputates the claws at. For many cats thats around 5 or 6 months of age. You should not have a cat if you want to declaw it.

There are several alternatives to declawing cats although effectiveness may vary. It also helps to avoid any trauma or pain for your cat. Scratching is a normal feline behavior.

Joined Sep 22 2007 Messages 5299. Learn more about declawing cats. Before we answer the question of whether vets still declaw cats or not lets examine the reasons the procedure is considered detrimental to our furry friends.

Whatever your reasoning may be we are here to support you and ensure that the best interests of your cat are a priority.

Want To Declaw Your Cat Think Again Vets Advocates Say Daily Paws