Kittens or cats are considered to be the most loveable and popular pets all over the world. It has become somewhat of a common practice these days, especially if your kitten or cat is an indoor pet to have them declawed.
If you already have a kitten or cat then you are well aware of the pain you can experience from being scratched and how destructive to your furniture and woodwork their claws can be. Unfortunately, it is in their nature to scratch and claw things but there are some things you can do to solve the problem.
Kittens Cats
With training and a lot of patience on your part, they can be trained to stop scratching furniture and woodwork all together or at least to a lesser amount. If you provide them with a scratching post and show them where it is located, most generally they will use the post from then on with only a few forgetful times on their part. At those times a little squirt from a bottle of water will remind them quite quickly that they are not supposed to scratch and claw there again.
Their scratching place doesn't exactly have to be a post, you can cover a piece of wood with carpet and that will work just as well. They just need something to be able to scratch on and exercise their muscles.
4 Reasons Not To Declaw Your Kitten Or Cat.
1. Hunting. If your cat is an indoor cat, of course this really doesn't apply because they will not need to be hunting. But if the cat happens to get out of the house for any length of time, they would need their claws to hunt and catch something to eat. Just think if your cat got out of the house and had no way to find anything to eat until you found them or even worse if you never find them; they would starve to death.
2. Self-defense. Indoor cats would not have any reason for self-defense. But again if the cat gets out of the house, they will need their claws for self-defense and protection. Imagine a scared and lost cat that is used to living indoors all of the time is suddenly confronted by something and they have no way of protecting themselves or getting away. With no claws, they cannot climb a tree to escape the danger they are in.
3. Climbing, kneading and extra traction. Cats need their claws for climbing, kneading and extra traction. What good is a scratching post or platform if they have nothing to climb on or knead with? Training the cat not to climb in the house is also another part of the patience and training you have to go through. Kneading is a cats' way of showing love and devotion to you. Now wouldn't you miss that? Traction is one of the most enjoyable reasons for owning a cat in the first place is to watch them run through the house and play.
4. Cruel and painful. This is the most important point of all of the 4 Reasons Not To Declaw Your Kitten Or Cat. Declawing a cat is one of the most painful things they can go through. It is basically amputating the last bone of the toes, along with tendons, nerves and muscles being removed times 10. In comparison to a human, it is like cutting off the last joint of each finger. Thinking in terms of your own fingers, how could you want to put an animal through that much pain and torture?
Trimming the claws does take time, patience and sometimes a little strength to hold them and may take several sessions but it is definitely preferable to trim the claws, versus declawing the cat. Wrapping your cat in a large towel can help in holding them while you are trimming their claws and also prevent injury to yourself. Be sure to do this in a well lit area so you can see where you are cutting. Do not cut too far down into the pink area of the claw. This will cause the cat pain and bleeding.
I wish you many years of fun and unconditional love between you and your cat.
4 Reasons Not to Declaw Your Kitten Or Cat