CAT’S CLAWS ARE NO BIG DEAL
by Ruth
(England)
I really can’t understand why some people make such a big deal out of cats claws.
Someone goes out and gets a new puppy, they don’t immediately worry that the puppy has claws. They accept the fact that for all of that dog’s life they will need to take him for walks on hard surfaces to keep his nails in good shape, or that they will need to trim them regularly instead.
The puppy may leap excitedly about and accidentally scratch with his claws, but no one whips him off to the vets to have his finger/toe ends removed to be rid of those ‘nasty’ claws.
Dogs need their claws to walk as dogs walk and cats need their claws to walk as cats walk !
But cats need their claws for many other things too, exercise, grooming, playing, climbing, self defence.
So why focus so much on what to do about a new kitten’s claws ? How very easy to go out and buy scratching posts and pads in preparation for bringing that kitten home and to show him how to use them. How very easy to ask at the vets when the kitten goes for his inoculations, how to trim his claws.
If declawing was illegal world wide there would be no option for people but to do that, if they wanted the pleasure of a cat in their lives.
So everyone should focus on the fact that claws are as much an essential and beautiful part of a cat are as his whiskers, his ears, his tail etc.
Everyone needs to stop making such a big deal out of the fact that cats have claws. They also need to remember that it’s not compulsory to have a cat and that it’s not fair on the cat if he can’t be accepted as he comes, claws and all !