To Declaw or Not to Declaw

Declawing has probably become the most controversial of all the elective surgical procedures commonly performed by veterinarians. While it is normal for cats to scratch things, this behavior can destroy the bond between an owner and his pet cat. Cats, especially adolescent cats, have a tendency to "play rough" scratching their owners sometimes violently in play. This can be especially dangerous if there are small children in the household.

The declaw surgery represents a permanent solution to these problems, however you first have to make a commitment and determined if you are able to keep your cat indoors.

Declawed cats should strictly be indoor pets, because their most important defense mechanism (their claws) are also used to climb up trees to avoid being pursued by another animal.

For more information on declawing, see our sections on Myths About Declawing & Declawing Options.