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Scratching is one of the bad behaviors that many cat owners find troublesome. The solution many people turn to for help is to have their cat undergo a nail resection, also known as claw removal. Paw removal is performed by removing the third part of the cat’s toe bones up to the joints. The operation is performed in this way because the claws are fused with the bone, which is different from a human nail (Schelling). It is equivalent to cutting everyone's finger at the last joint. Although paw removal is illegal in different parts of the world (Shojai), paw removal is still a very common practice among cat owners across the United States. According to a 2011 poll by the Associated Press, 55% of American cat owners agreed to cheung their cats, which is about 17 million cat shelters in the United States (American Veterinary Association). Unfortunately, many of these cat owners are unaware of the many complications that can result from removing a cat's claws. Cat owners should not remove claws from their cats, as this can cause unnecessary pain and behavioral problems, thereby reducing the animal’s quality of life. 

The first disadvantage of de-clawing cats is the risk of infection, tissue death, nerve damage, and unnecessary growth. According to data from the National Geographic Society, approximately 25% to 50% of depaw procedures cause some form of complications (Andreassi). After the operation, painful inflammation, growth and drainage may occur, causing great pain to the animal. The infection may become so severe that tissue necrosis or tissue death may eventually lead to amputation. In the process of removing the paw, the nerve may be damaged. Direct damage to the nerves can cause neuropathic pain, and damage to the cat’s nerves can not only cause pain and restricted mobility, it can sometimes lead to unnecessary nerve regeneration. Other types of growth that may occur include abscesses and regrowth of bones and paws (American Humane Association)

The second disadvantage is that it may affect the cat's gait and walking. Cats walk on their toes instead of on the soles of their feet like humans. If the toes are deformed, the cat's gait will be negatively affected. Since the paws are fused with the last joint of the toes, they are necessary for the cat to maintain balance while walking. After removing the paws, the cat will walk on the soles of the feet unnaturally, and the walking will become unbalanced. If the cat's gait changes, the cat's musculoskeletal system will also be affected, which makes smooth and relaxed movements more difficult to perform. Cats especially need this because they are such agile creatures. All of their limbs need a lot of exercise, especially the forelimbs. Cats exercise and stretch these muscles by grasping the surface with their paws and pulling back to counter their grip on the surface (American Veterinary Association). This is very similar to the human body isometric exercise (Schelling), which can also exercise and stretch muscles. By keeping muscles healthy, cats can walk normally. 

The third and final disadvantage is the negative behavior issues involved. Paw removal is a painful and stressful process, so it's no surprise that cats may behave strangely. Stress can be a major problem when dealing with cats that are recovering. Cats may often bite, kick, flap, hiss and hide when under stress. It is not advisable for cat owners to have to experience and deal with these symptoms. Another factor that contributes to stress levels is the lack of self-defense. If the cat loses its primary means of self-defense, it may become fearful and aggressive and cause many problems (Schelling). This has the greatest impact on outdoor cats, because they rely more on paws than indoor cats. Self-defense is essential to the health of outdoor cats. Defensiveness as well as climbing, striding and balance are important for outdoor cats (Shojai). Insecurity and defenselessness can greatly affect cat behavior and cause greater stress. 

Cat owners should seek alternatives instead of removing claws, which can also reduce scratches and damage. The American Humanitarian Association has proposed four techniques to reduce scratching. The first is to trim the cat's paws regularly. Cats can still scratch furniture, but due to dull claws, the damage is minimal. The second trick is to provide scraping posts and plates. There are many different styles and materials available for these. If catnip and toys are used, cats may be more inclined to use scratching posts. The third tip is to use vinyl fingernails for cats. These fingernails are soft and safe to use. Their function is to stick the fingernails on the cat's paws. Cat owners can wear fingernails themselves, or if the cat is resistant, they can also ask the vet to wear them for them. Because the nails fall off and grow, they need to be replaced every six weeks. The fourth and final technique is to stick double-sided tape on the furniture to prevent scratches. Most cats find that sticky surfaces are undesirable and irritating, which prevents them from scratching furniture. These four techniques will provide a safe and effective alternative to claw removal. 

In short, the complications after depaw surgery are not worth the risk. Paw removal surgery is for the benefit of humans, not to benefit cats that have been declawed. Due to the risk of pain, infection, and behavioral problems, cat owners should avoid paw removal surgery and should use alternative methods that are beneficial to both the cat and the owner. There are still a large number of American cat owners who support de-paws, and they need to be aware of its possible effects and alternatives that should be used. If countries in other parts of the world have banned this inhumane practice, then American cat owners should strengthen and stop the inhumane practice of de-clawing to provide their pets with a better quality of life.

"Clawing cats: worse than manicure." humanesociety.org, American Humanitarian Association, 2021, www. humanesociety.org/resources/declawing-cats-far-worse-manicure. Visited on November 2, 2021.

"De-clawing of domestic cats." avma.org, American Veterinary Association, July 23, 2019, www. avma.org/sites/default/files/resources/declawing_bgnd.pdf. Visited on November 2, 2021.

Schelling, Christian. "The truth about declawing." declawing.com, Declawing.com, www. declawing.com/the-truth-about-declawing. Visited on November 2, 2021.

Zhang, Helier. "Cats go claws: should they be banned and why does it happen in the United States?" bbc.com, BBC, June 6, 2019, www. bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48528968. November 2021 Visit on the 3rd.

Shoy, Amy. Cat Facts: A-to-Z family care encyclopedia for pet parents. First edition, Furry Muse Press, 2015.

Andresi, Katia. "The new documentary condemns cats' de-clawing; who is right?" nationalgeographic.com, National Geographic Society, September 14, 2013, www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/article/130911-declawing-cats-paw-project- vets-pets. Visited on December 2, 2021.

"Statistics on pet ownership in the United States." avma.org, American Veterinary Medical Association, www. avma.org /resources-tools/reports-statistics/us-pet-ownership-statistics. Visited on December 6, 2021.

I wrote this article because, as a cat owner, I firmly believe that paw removal is unnecessary and inhumane. Anyone can use many alternative de-claw methods to replace this painful procedure. 

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