{"id":16721,"date":"2016-03-29T00:10:36","date_gmt":"2016-03-29T04:10:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/?p=16721"},"modified":"2017-07-19T12:06:54","modified_gmt":"2017-07-19T16:06:54","slug":"safe-alternatives-to-declawing-your-cat-for-declaw-awareness-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/safe-alternatives-to-declawing-your-cat-for-declaw-awareness-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Safe Alternatives to Declawing Your Cat for Declaw Awareness Day"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Rev-Declaw-poster\"<\/a>

March 29 is Declaw Awareness Day – Please take a moment to read and share the facts on declawing.<\/p><\/div>\n

Cats are declawed for a variety of reasons \u2013 primarily to prevent them from sharpening their claws on furniture and household items. What many people might not realize is that declawing is actually an invasive procedure that involves the amputation of each of the ten front toes of the cat\u2019s paws (something that would be equivalent to us losing the entire tip of every finger at the first knuckle) and can cause serious, lifelong changes to the cat.<\/p>\n

A cat has claws for a reason – without them it affects their health, well-being, personality, and behavior. Removing the claws changes the way a cat’s foot meets the ground, so walking for them would be comparable to the painful “pebble-in-the-shoe” sensation we feel when they stand or try to walk. This condition can lead to abnormal posture and movement and may even produce arthritis in the legs, which, in turn, may cripple the cat further and cause it more suffering. Since cats tend to hide symptoms of pain, much of the pain is masked by behavioral tendencies that could unfortunately lead to litter box problems, which often lands them in a shelter as a result.<\/p>\n

\"decl1\"<\/a>

This diagram makes it very clear why declawing is so invasive.<\/p><\/div>\n

There are alternatives to such drastic steps. With some behavioral and training corrections, such as a few well-placed scratching posts, declawing does not need to be an option. I know at our house we have a simple mindset to declawing that was born of the everyday joy, love and companionship our cats give us \u2013 if you can\u2019t take it to the grave with you, does it really matter in the long run? And I know in my case, I don\u2019t plan on taking any couches to the grave with me\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Providing<\/a>

One the best ways to deter your cat from scratching your furniture is to provide them with lots of scratching options. This multi-level cat condo that we use in our house is sturdy and has lots of vertical posts that allow the cats to stretch their muscles while scratching.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Providing<\/a>

If your cat doesn’t immediately take to a scratching board like Kizmet, try sprinkling it with catnip to entice him.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"softpaws\"<\/a>

Another alternative to declawing is Soft Paws. Soft Paws are vinyl tips that are designed to prevent cats from harming furniture or humans when they scratch. Photo courtesy of Pet Radio Show.com<\/p><\/div>\n

I think my friend and fellow cat advocate, Jackson Galaxy<\/a>\u00a0from Animal Planet’s “My Cat From Hell” sums it up the best in this video he did to help spread the message about the inhumanity of declawing in conjunction with the Paw Project<\/a>, an organization devoted to ending the inhumane practice of declawing through education and legislation. It’s informative, easy to understand, compelling, and the best argument I have seen to help illustrate why declawing should be banned.<\/p>\n