Only the cat’s owner can make the decision to kill her cat because of scratching problems. He or she can also make the decision to let him keep his toes. Unlike neutering, this does benefit the cat, both healthwise and behavioralwise, declawing simply does nothing positive for the cat. Declawing Robs a Cat of His Chief Weapon of Defense a typical counter-argument is, “My cat is indoors-only.” Even indoor cats sometimes manage to escape. A declawed cat does not stand a chance against a large dog, a bigger cat, or a predator. Although he still has teeth, by the time he gets in close enough to bite, it may be too late. Declawing is Painful Surgery Think of it as 10 amputations (if only the front feet are declawed). Pain meds may help initially, but phantom pain may last for weeks or months, as nerve endings heal. Dr. Nicholas Dodman describes the pain following surgery: “Unlike routine recoveries, including recovery from neutering surgeries, which are fairly peaceful, declawing surgery results in cats bouncing off the walls of the recovery cage because of excruciating pain.” Declawing May Lead to Litter Box Problems Declawed cats often associate the pain when digging in litter with the litter box itself, and will avoid it, choosing softer carpeting instead. Declawing Sometimes Leads to Biting Problems When cats lose their ability to scratch.

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