What is declawing?
Contrary to common belief, cats' claws do not grow like a human's nails. A cats claws grow directly out of the last bone of the toe, so removing the claw requires the amputation of this bone from each toe.
What is The NOAH Center's position on declawing?
The NOAH Center denounces declawing cats wholeheartedly.
Why is declawing bad?
More and more American veterinarians are refusing to perform declawing surgeries on cats, citing that there is no benefit to the cat and can cause long-lasting effects such as physical and psychological trauma resulting in behavioral issues more difficult to manage than scratching ever would have been.
- Pain in the toes can lead to litterbox avoidance
- The inability to exhibit instinctual scratching behavior can cause disturbing behavioral and personality changes
- Claws are an important element of a cats ability to defend themselves, which without can lead to aggressive behavior including biting
- Permanent lameness, arthritis, and other long-term complications are associated with declawing such as shifting the way the cat supports his or her weight
Visit The Paw Project to learn more about declawing: https://pawproject.org/
