Yellow Jacket Times - Jefferson County Public Schools

De-Law The Declaw
By: Kaylee Bealmear
Did you know that declawing cats is illegal in almost
two dozen countries, including Europe, Australia, and Japan, due to it being considered inhumane and an
unnecessary form of mutilation? Catalonia, Spain also prohibits it under their Law of Animal Protection. As a
cat owner, I am strongly against declawing.
Cats’ claws are not simply just a toenail; they are very closely adhered to the bone. For them to be
removed, the last bone of a cat’s claw must be severed. By declawing your cat, you are amputating the last joint
of their “toes.” Just imagine having someone amputate your fingers at the first joint against your will. A long
and painful recovery time ensues after this serious surgery, during which your cat will still have to walk, jump,
play, run, scratch in the litter box, and everything else a cat does in order to live its life. Not only is this torture
bad enough, but the procedure causes lifelong crippling results. Cats’ claws help them balance, and without
them, the cat’s leg, shoulder, and back muscles will begin to weaken.
This is a picture showing the structure of a cat’s claw, and what their paw looks like after amputation of
the bone.
Whenever I argue the topic of
declawing a cat, someone always has the
rebuttal of, ‘But my cat will tear up my
furniture, I have to have him declawed.’ Which
brings me to my second point; has no one ever
thought that are ways around that? Train your
cat; it is a very simple thing to do. Fill a spray
bottle with water and spray your cat every time they try to claw your furniture. It worked for me; cats are smart
and will quickly learn to stop clawing the wrong things unless they want to get sprayed. It also doesn’t hurt to
buy a scratching post, which you can find at just about every pet store. These are far better alternatives as
opposed to uncalled for disfigurement.
Most people don’t even know why cats use their claws; they think it’s just a bad habit. Well, these
people are wrong. Cats need their claws; they are a necessity. Grooming, for one, is very important; it maintains
health and cleanliness. Scratching and licking prevents fur from tangling, removes dead skin and hair, and helps
waterproof their coat. Cats’ also require a lot of sleep, which is another reason claws are important. Cats need to
stretch and exercise their muscles, which they always do after taking a nap. Clawing is a part of stretching, and
exercises the muscles in the cat’s toes. Claws are used to mark territory, too; if they are taken away, cats may
urinate to replace them.
There are various complications
that could occur with the operation, such
as: adverse reaction to the anesthetic,
gangrene (which could lead to limb
amputation), hemorrhaging (serious
blood loss), permanent nerve damage,