Thinking about this procedure makes me cringe! Poor kitties!!! I feel very strongly that declawing your cat is a very cruel and inhumane thing to do. I have spoken with many people about declawing and there is a big misconception of what really happens when a cat is declawed. When a cat is declawed, the last digital bone is amputated which does include the nail bed and the claw on the front toes. I can’t even imagine the pain that these poor kitties go through when this is done. It makes me sad to think about it.

Let’s talk a little bit about why cats like to scratch on things. Cats like to pull their claws over and through surfaces that have resistance. Cats natural tendency to do this helps them exercise muscles that they would use while hunting and mouse chasing. This is also a way for them to relieve stress, mark their territory and remove worn pieces of nails. There really is a logical reason that cats scratch. Yes, it’s so frustrating when your expensive furniture gets ruined due to a scratchy cat. I do get it. My cat tries to sneak in a few scratches here and there on our couch.

There are things you can do to lessen this tendency with your cat. Trim your cats nails, provide scratch posts and cat toys, use deterrents such as double sided tape on furniture or there is a brilliant product called Soft Claws that can really make a difference. My cat responds very well to me clapping. When I see her start to scratch on the corner of the couch, I clap loudly and say “NO.” She doesn’t it at all and usually will run away all ticked off at me, but she didn’t scratch. Get creative. Be patient and love your kitty. Please save the paws! Don’t get a cat before researching cat behavior so that your not resentful toward your pet about behavior that is a natural instinct for them. I know that people will disagree with me on this topic and I just beg that before you go through with declawing your cat you talk to your vet and do your research. Let me know your thoughts!