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There has always been a big debate on whether declawing your cat is humane or inhumane, because traditional declawing is done by removing the tip of the cats toes where the claw grows from. The most common way is with a nail clipper that cuts through the bone just behind the claw. The vet will stitch the toes up and put surgical glue on to prevent the cat from chewing the stitches off. The cat will be required to stay at the vets for at least 2 days to make sure there are no serious complications. After going home, your cat will be sore for a few days but will then recover. Most cats won't even notice that their claws are gone.
Declawing, although convenient, isn't always an option for everyone. Some find this procedure to be unnecessary and inhumane. If you feel this way, there are other options to try before resorting to surgical declawing. For people who live in rental houses and apartments, some landlords won't accept your cat unless it is declawed. The reason is because some people just don't take the time to train their pet and the cat destroys carpeting and woodwork.
Other alternatives to declawing are training. Build or buy a good scratching post for your cat. Try putting catnip on the post to attract him/her to the post. Reward your cat when he/she uses the post to scratch and not the furniture or walls. If the cat uses the furniture a good stern "No" and a squirt with a water bottle will point kitty in the right direction. Cats are trainable if you have the time to spend doing it. It takes time and consistency, but it can be done.
For those who have tried and failed, or who work during the day and can't take the time to train, there are other options. Tendonectomy is where the tendons that allow the cat to move their claws in and out are cut so the cat can no longer use his/her claws. Because the claw is still intact, you will need to still trim the claws periodically to prevent the cat from having pain as a result of their claws over growing.
Another newer option is having acrylic nail caps applied to your cat's claws. These caps prevent your cat's claws from damaging things because the claw is covered. The do need to be reapplied because they do fall off over time, and they must be replaced after nail growth. The caps are supposed to make the nails dull enough so the cat can't damage things with their sharp claws. Trimming claws without applying caps would more than likely work just as well.
After weighing the options, some people opt for declawing. There are fewer hassles in the long run, and it's permanent. If you should decide to go this route, make sure that you plan on keeping your cat indoors the rest of his/her life. A declawed cat has no first line of defense. Only you as the pets owner can decide which option is best for your living situation.
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