The truth about declawing your cat

   Cats usually have five toes on each paw, but sometimes, they may have an extra toe or two, which is called “polydactyl.” Before you decide to have your cat declawed, let me explain, what declawing actually does to your cat.

Polydactyl Cat

  It is a mistaken belief, that declawing your cat is just like you getting a manicure, but that is not the case at all. Take your hand and lay it on the counter. Look at your fingertips and go down to your first knuckle. Now imagine your first knuckles being cut off, one by one. That is what it is like for your cat getting declawed.

   Now sometimes elderly people think if they get their cat(s) declawed it will prevent the cat(s) from injuring them, but that’s not the case. When cats no longer have their claws, they are more likely to start biting, which can cause more harm than scratching.

   My pet advice is to start playing with your kitten’s paws and toes right away, so they get used to having their paws touched. This will enable, the owner or veterinary professional to trim your cats nails, without having it be a stressful experience. In my personal experience, this is the best way to make trimming nails, an easy fast experience.

   I trim all of my cat’s nails, including family member’s cats, by myself. I can do this, because I am a certified veterinary technician with a lot of experience trimming nails, but you as an owner can do it too. It takes a lot of practice, and you have to be consistent. It is hard to explain in just words how to properly trim your cats nails, so if you are interested, you should ask your veterinary technician to show you.

   In addition, to nail trimming every two weeks, try getting cat tree houses and scratching posts. Put some cat nip on the tree house or cat post, and your cat should start scratching.

 

   This not only deters scratching of furniture, it will also file down your cats nails and decrease nail thickness, by helping the shedding process. If your cat(s) does not want to scratch it, take their paws and show them that it is okay to scratch here.

 
  If you still feel like declawing is your only option, please find a veterinarian that performs the declawing with a surgical laser. I have seen all three methods, and the surgical laser is by far the best way. Cats recover much faster and seem to be in less pain, when the surgical laser is used.

   As always, feel free to ask any question you may have in the comment section below.

   Please return next week to learn more about keeping your pet(s) happy and healthy.