Urgent - An Inside Look At the Horrors of Declawing - Don't Do It!
I
worked for 3
veterinarians, more than 30 years ago, and had the unpleasant
experience of
assisting in one de-clawing procedure. Like many, I had assumed that
the
practice was a simple surgery, and that the cat would awaken in
basically the
same body, only now unable to shred furniture.
What I watched stunned and sickened me. The vet was a wonderful, compassionate man, who truly believed that this was a justifiable and only alternative to putting the cat to death. The owners probably didn’t even investigate options, honestly unaware of what their cat was about to live through, and how her life would change forever. When I realized that a good deal of her paws had to be amputated, I had a hard time assisting with the surgery. But perhaps the worst part was when she awoke from the anesthetic, sitting up like a frightened raccoon, waving her bandaged paws in the air and howling non-stop. I had worked at a Children’s Zoo for 5 years, raising and healing all types of injured and orphaned wildlife. I had never heard such a plaintive cry from any creature.
The cat’s eyes were wide and frightened, and she tried to stay off of her throbbing paws as much as she could, in spite of the lingering effects of the anesthetic. It was apparent that she was in exquisite pain but also, that she was intensely frightened.
The cat had owners that loved her and no doubt thought they were doing the best thing for all. They had not researched the long-term effects, nor did they have any idea what type of terror and pain their animal would go through. Like a circumcised infant boy, had this victim a voice, shewould have insisted, loudly and clearly, on her birthright. Surgery to correct disease or to sterilize animals saves lives and in the process, does not inhibit inherently important behavior. But surgery that takes away important body parts such as protective ears and tails that express communication in dogs, or claws that are as vital to cats’ lives as fingers are to humans’, needs to be addressed.
We live in a society that views animals as a commodity; easily discarded when no longer convenient. Science now has evidence of what animal lovers have always known; they have the same chemicals coursing through their brains that we do. These chemicals show that the emotions of fear, love and grief are very real for non-human animals. Just as a human will grieve amputated limbs, so too does the cat. However, we have technology to help us regain the mobility and security that we lost. De-clawed cats do not.
At the veterinarian's office, the family proudly smiled at their newest addition to the family. But the cat didn't smile back; it was still groggy from the anesthesia. That was just as well; blood was seeping through two of the four bandages covering his little paws.
The children were eager to cuddle him, but the vet patiently explained that the cat needed rest, and soon he'd be good as new. The vet tech who held the cat pondered that. "Good as new? How could that be? He's just been mutilated, for goodness sakes. And once the anesthesia wears off, the secondary trauma - the long-term trauma- begins."
The little boy asked,
"When will Tommy-Cat be able
to play again? We just bought a new, extra -wide scratching pad for
him."
The vet looked confused, as he gently explained, "Oh no, little guy, he
won't be able to use a scratching pad. Tommy-Cat doesn't have claws
anymore." The little boy said, "What do you mean, he has no claws
anymore? Where'd they go?"
"Well, " the vet said uncomfortably, "we cut them off." The
little boy persisted, "but they'll grow back, right?"
The vet looked up to the family. Didn't they explain to the little boy
what
just happened?
The family meant well. They were afraid that the cat would scratch their furniture, maybe ruin a curtain, so they did what they thought was a solution. They declawed.
Like most well-intentioned people, they didn't understand the extent of declawing- it's not just a manicure. The entire claw, tendon, bone and ligament to the first knuckle of each joint is amputated. It is a major trauma, with long-lasting repercussions.
During the procedure, the cat's paw is extended. Large nail clippers, similar to pruning shears, crunch through the joint. Hemostats- clamping scissors- help tear the joint away from the paw. The bloody stump is cleaned, and an adhesive is squeezed into the gaping hole where the cat's toe had been. Pressure is applied to stop the bleeding and the paw is bandaged.
Examine your own hand, palm up. Look for the crease at your first knuckle. That's where the clippers crush down to amputate. Imagine having all ten of your fingertips chopped off. If they were your fingers and toes, there's no one on earth who could possibly tell you that "...soon you'll be good as new."
People who think declawing will solve one problem, are often surprised to learn this: Declawing often starts a chain reaction of medical and psychological disasters. Please don't declaw. The possible benefits rarely outweigh the probable negatives. These include:
Declawing
has absolutely no health benefits to the cat.
It's done for human convenience, not feline consideration. Many
veterinarians
recognize that declawing is inhumane, and won't perform the surgery. In
Australia, England, Finland, Norway, Spain, Portugal, New Zealand, and
many
other countries, where it is considered inhumane, declawing is illegal.
Educate-don't
mutilate.
HERE ARE EASY, AVAILABLE OPTIONS TO
CONSIDER:
1.
Scratch
Pads- Ever cat
household needs at least two. Flat rectangular ones that sit on the
floor,
sisal ones that hang from a door- these are available at pet supply
stores and
through catalogues.
2.
"Scratching
Post"- Get a sturdy one, tall enough for a full length body stretch.
3.
"Sticky
Paws"
is a double sided tape that you apply to upholstery that keeps the cat
from
scratching, since they don't like the sticky surface.
4.
"Feliway"
duplicates the scent of the 'cheek-smell' produced when cats rub their
face
against something. Because the 'cheek-smell' scent is a 'feel-good' one
that
basically tells the cat to 'chill and calm down,' when cats rub up
against
furniture sprayed with Feliway, this applied scent reduces the stress
that
often prompts scratching.
5.
Kittens
scratch because
they just don't know how to retract their claws. Once older, like adult
cats,
they can be re-directed against such claw action.
6.
Attention
- an essential
substitute. Cats are mistakenly considered to be so aloof and
independent, but
the truth is they crave attention. Are you spending enough playtime
daily with
your felines? Create brief, specific play times, twice a day. Even if
each one
is for only four minutes, it's focused attention.
7.
"Soft
Paws" -
vinyl claw sheaths that cover the tip of the claw- they don't eliminate
the
behavior, just reduce the potential damage. Usually applied by a
veterinarian.
8.
Distractions-
keep a
small water spray bottle handy. A quick squirt - at their furry tail,
not face-
will help discourage the act of scratching. Or shake an empty soda can
with a
few pennies in it - the tinny noise is uncomfortable to a cat's
sensitive ears.
Once you interrupt the scratching behavior, direct your cat to an
acceptable
scratching area, and be sure to reward your cat with praise and
petting.
9.
Frequent
'Tip of the
Nail' Clipping sessions are easy to do- ask your vet how. Then clip the
tips
every month- more if necessary. Give your cat a treat when done.