Declawing is a deplorable practice which no cat should ever have to endure. Some people may think declawing is a simple procedure involving removal of the end of a cats claw. This is completely inaccurate! The truth is that declawing is a painful and permanently crippling procedure where the first joint of each toe is cut off! Declawing involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. If performed on a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle!
There are cat owners who think they can protect their furniture and skin from the cats claws via a painless declaw surgery. Reality is far more devastating! Declawing a cat can have a number of adverse side effects, including pain in the paw, lameness, infection, dead tissue, nerve damage, bone spurs, and back pain. Psychological side effects often occur as well. Declawed cats are also more likely to exhibit behavior changes such as increased aggression and biting.
One other side effect of declawing that is not uncommon is the increased vulnerability to stress and anxiety, as the procedure and removal of body parts can be traumatic for cats. NOTE: Cats that have been declawed can NEVER BE ALLOWED TO ROAM OUTDOORS, as they are unable to defend themselves against predators.
