I don’t have a cat so don’t come at me please. I see pretty much every cat person in this sub absolutely destroy anyone who would even consider it. I know it’s awful for the cat, a terrible recovery process, and can cause life-long complications. So I was just curious if there’s any reason you can think of where it would be necessary? Maybe like an uncontrollable cat that you don’t want to euthanize? Please shed some light on this for me! Thanks!
There are some medical reasons for declawing that are necessary, like recurring infections in polydactyl cats or deformities that make the claws grow into the pad. It’s usually a last resort and done for health reasons, not convenience.
@Hart
Wow, I didn’t know that! So it’s more of a health thing than a behavioral thing in those cases?
Phoenix said:
@Hart
Wow, I didn’t know that! So it’s more of a health thing than a behavioral thing in those cases?
Exactly! Declawing for health reasons is different from doing it to prevent scratching. In rare cases, it’s necessary for the cat’s comfort and well-being.
I had to get one of my cat’s claws removed because he couldn’t retract it, and it kept causing infections. But we didn’t declaw all of them, just the ones causing the issue.
Skyler said:
I had to get one of my cat’s claws removed because he couldn’t retract it, and it kept causing infections. But we didn’t declaw all of them, just the ones causing the issue.
That sounds like a really tough decision. Did your vet suggest declawing right away or after trying other treatments?
@Phoenix
We tried trimming and medication first, but nothing worked. It was only done after those options failed, and he’s been much better since.
One of my friend’s cats had to be declawed because of severe arthritis in her toes, and the claws would get stuck in things. It was a tough decision, but it improved her quality of life.
Denver said:
One of my friend’s cats had to be declawed because of severe arthritis in her toes, and the claws would get stuck in things. It was a tough decision, but it improved her quality of life.
That’s interesting! I always thought declawing was only about stopping scratching. Didn’t realize it could help in cases like arthritis.
@Phoenix
Yeah, it’s rare but sometimes necessary. It’s definitely not something you do unless you really need to for medical reasons.
My cat had a deformed paw, and the claws were growing inwards and causing pain. We had to remove them for his comfort, and he was so much happier afterward.
Niko said:
My cat had a deformed paw, and the claws were growing inwards and causing pain. We had to remove them for his comfort, and he was so much happier afterward.
Glad to hear your cat is better! It’s reassuring to know declawing can sometimes be the right decision when done for the right reasons.
Declawing for convenience or furniture protection is definitely wrong, but for medical reasons, it’s sometimes necessary. You should always work with your vet to explore all other options first.
Flynt said:
Declawing for convenience or furniture protection is definitely wrong, but for medical reasons, it’s sometimes necessary. You should always work with your vet to explore all other options first.
Thanks for the info! Sounds like vets would only recommend it as a last resort for medical issues.
@Phoenix
Exactly! It’s always a last resort, and there are so many alternatives to manage behavior that don’t involve declawing.