STOP AND THINK ABOUT DECLAWING
by Ruth
(England)
The above Collage by Ruth
If you saw your child scribbling on the wall would you immediately grab the telephone and book her in for the ends of her fingers to be amputated? Surely not!
Yet that is the reaction of some people if their cat uses the wall for exercise and for marking his territory.
What is an indoor cat to do if he is in the wrong for using the wall or the furniture?
He needs to use his claws somewhere, scratching is NOT bad behaviour, it’s necessary behaviour to keep him healthy and happy.
Although indoor/outdoor cats need scratching posts too, they can at least scratch outdoors, on trees and fences, as is natural to cats.
Who can blame an indoor only cat for following his natural instincts and using whatever is available for scratching?
Just like children, cats can be very easily taught by patience, kindness and distraction what is acceptable behaviour in their home. So please, anyone thinking about having your cat declawed
STOP
and think that instead of causing your cat pain and a lifetime of disablement, how much kinder it would be to give him what he needs to be a contented member of your family.
That surely isn’t too much effort, to have a happy healthy cat!