Is removing cat's claws humane?

Question

People say it is painless and it is okay for indoor cats. But I can't imagine any animal having it's claws taken out without having pain. Are claw covers better?

Answer 1

No matter how many undereducated people will answer after me, the commonly accepted answer by rescue groups, cat lovers, and vets is that it's inhumane.

Many breeders will not sell to anyone who will declaw.

Many rescue groups require a contract that says the cat will NEVER be declawed.

More and more vets are refusing to perform this operation.

Declawing is illegal in certain parts of the US and in NUMEROUS countries around the world.

The ASPCA is completely against declawing cats. However, if the owner would be forced to dump the cat, they say that declawing them is better than having them killed in a shelter or being dumped outside.

Claw covers and scratching posts never worked with my now deceased Bengal cat. He was a destructive little brat who would sit and pull each claw cover off within minutes of me gluing them on.

But, I knew that owning a cat meant that they claw things. I wasn't going to put him through a needless and painful surgery so that my life would be better. My other cat religiously uses his scratching box and a bamboo doormat that we have. I also keep his claws trimmed.

Answer 2

Yes it is humane depending on the circumstances.

If a cat is going to be an outdoor cat then I wouldn't remove it's claws so that they still have the ability to climb and fight. However if you are going to only keep them indoors and they prove to be destructive, then I would get them declawed. I have gotten kitten declawed before and they are perfectly all right after a week after surgery. An older cat has a much harder time recovering and I wouldn't recommend doing it on a cat older than one year old. But, if your cat refuses (after many attempts and discipline) to use any of its scratching posts and uses your $5000 italian leather sofa or your $3000 silk rug and is going to be an indoor cat, then yes I would say it is humane to declaw.

If a cat is going to keep its claws and be destructive then what would most owners do? Get rid of it. Honestly that is what 98% of owners would do. So which is more fair declaw and keep or not declaw and dump?

Vets put the cats under to declaw and then prescribe painkillers for the following week until the wounds heal. Home humane can you get? Spaying and neutering hurts too but there is nothing stating that those things are inhumane.

Answer 3

NO!! In no way, shape, or form is removing cats claws humane!! Having their claws removed is the equivalent to having your fingers chopped off up to the first knuckle!
As for pain . . . wouldn't you think it would hurt having that done to you? And then, have to walk on severed knuckles until the wounds healed? Or even better, using a kitty litter box with open knuckles?
Also, a lot of cats are allergic to anesthesia. I work a a Cat Shelter, and one of our cats was adopted, yippee. The adoptive parent then decided that she didn't want a cat with claws. She took the cat into the vet to get the claws removed, and the cat died from an allergic reaction to the anesthesia.
It is much more humane to use Claw Covers. And if your furniture is too nice for an animal to claw, DON'T GET AN ANIMAL!

Answer 4

If you went to the Vet you would know that there is a new procedure. Instead of doing a big surgery to take out the cats claws, they put the cat to sleep and snip the part that make the claws come out. The cat still has the claws and the only pain the cat will have is from the needle to put him to sleep. If you have more questions email me at [e-mail]. thanks

Answer 5

I used to work at a vets. It was explained to me (and I saw the surgery) that removing the claw also removes the first joint on the paw. The Vet said in kittens who will only be indoor cats its recommended. But for older cats or for those who will be outdoors at any time it is not humane to declaw them. Older cats have a hard time adjusting to losing part of their paw- balance and such. For outdoor cats they need protection. He also said many people will only take cats if declawed. So if the only option is for it to be declawed and have a family or to have its claws and be a stray or in a shelter than to definately side with declawing. I have never had any experience with the claw covers, but I have heard of them and there are many varieties.

Answer 6

I have two declawed cats, but if I knew when I did it what I know now, I would never have done the declawing. It is the equivalent of us having our fingers cut off at the first knuckle. I'm usually into over-researching such things before doing them, but in this case, I knew so many people with declawed cats it never occurred to me to look into it further, and I was horrified when I found out later.

There is a product called SoftPaws that you can get to put on their claws. It has many happy customers, so maybe you could check into it.

Answer 7

I love animals and would never do anything to hurt them and I have two cats, both of them declawed, they can remove them with a laser now which is virtually painless, with almost no beeding and no side effects. They are sedated also so its not like they feel it while its happening. my cats were totally fine the day they came home. but I did have it done with the laser wich is much faster and heals almost instantly. It is perfectly fine, especially if you have leather furniture like me. Both my cats are totally fine and happy as could be. Their claws are basically like finger nails are really only needed in self defense which shouldn't be necessary if they are kept indoors.

Answer 8

I would suggest the nail covers over getting your cat declawed just because I can't admagine some one cutting half of my fingers off. I would say it is very painfull but the amount of pain differs from cat to cat. Some can take the pain better then others. Here is a site gives you a better idea of how a cat is declawed and if its painfull as well as complications the cat can incounter

http://www.pawproject.com/html/faqs.asp

Answer 9

No..it's not painless. It's not just the claws that are removed, it's the joint as well. It's like having half your finger removed and it is very painful for weeks after it's done.

Answer 10

Whether you remove the claws or use claw covers are your own preference. Myself, I would use claw covers so my cat has the ability to defend itself if the need ever arises.