Declawing cats is the amputation of the last digit in their toes in order to remove the claw. Cats need their front claws as their first line of defense. They also need their front and back claws in order to climb to get away from a potential threat. It is also a way to stretch the shoulders and back.

Declawing is never in the best interest of the cat. Declawing a cat is mutilation, unethical, unnecessary and inhumane. No matter how the surgery is performed, declawing is an unnecessary cruel and permanent procedure.

Declawing is known to lead to acute and chronic pain, in fact, it is listed in veterinary pain management textbooks as causing severe pain. As a result of declawing, many cats will have permanent or intermittent lameness and other surgical complications. 

A recent peer-reviewed journal article on declawed cats showed 

• chronic back pain
• increased biting
• litter box aversion
• aggression
• over-grooming

Current data also shows that declawed cats have higher levels of cortisol in their tissues. Increased cortisol is the measurement to indicate chronic stress.

Declawing cats does not protect human health. Scientific studies have found that declawed cats bite more often and harder than those with claws. A bite wound is unquestionably more dangerous to people than a cat scratch. Major health authorities including the CDC, NIH, the US Public Health Services all agree that declawing cats to protect humans is “not advised.”

There is no scientific evidence that shows declawing cats protects them from relinquishment, abandonment, or euthanasia. Declawed cats are often found in shelters and rescues, or even outdoor colonies. 

DECLAWING DOES NOT SAVE CATS LIVES!