The human equivalent would actually be to remove the top joint of each finger.
We think that the owner should have an understanding of this often unmentioned fact before making the decision to have their cat declawed.

The post-surgical pain the cat experiences is significant and can be exacerbated
by instinctive litterbox digging, creating a litterbox aversion in some cats. There is also an increased risk for musculo-skeletal problems as a result of declawing.

It is our strong conviction that cats should never be declawed.

As cat sitters we of course meet many cats. Although it has been our experience that many cats personalities do not seem to be adversely affected by the declawing, we can say this: Of the shy and scared cats we deal with, a disproportionate number have been declawed. Furthermore, the shy cats that have their claws still intact are much more likely to warm up to us over time. The declawed cats often are the ones that will not. With the first line of defense (claws) gone, they feel much less secure, and do not have the confidence to take a chance on getting aquainted.

Also, when a cat is deprived of it’s first choice of defensive equipment, biting can become more prevalent. In the few instances where we have been bitten by a cat, the cats were invariably declawed.

Based on general surveys, it has been found that about 1 in 5 cats develop a behavior problem after the declawing, such as biting or going outside of the litter box. This statistic does not take into account the medical complications that sometimes occur.

The American Humane Association and the Humane Society of the United States are opposed to the practice of declawing.

Please feel free to call and discuss this with us any time!

Refer to the links below for more information on the issue.