The Declaw Debate Cats use their claws to climb and scratch, to defend themselves, and to hunt. Displaying their claws and scratching objects are also considered by many to be a social behavior of our feline friends. Outdoor cats may scratch trees to mark their territory and to remove frayed or worn outer layers from their claws. Unfortunately, this can pose a problem when indoor cats choose their owners' furniture or curtains as tree substitutes. Declawing is controversial, as it provides no health benefit to the cat and is done strictly for human benefit.
Opponents say it is unnatural and cruel, and can result in psychological damage to the cat.
Proponents say that declawing has no more negative effects than does any other surgical procedure, and that by ridding unwanted behavior, it could increase the chances for a cat to enjoy a safe, permanent indoor home. Your options To help caring cat owners decide the best option in their situation, we've provided some facts on declawing and on alternative methods that address the problem of destructive scratching by house cats. Declawing is an irreversible surgical procedure performed by a veterinarian while the cat is under general anesthesia. Hospitalization for 1-2 days may be required. As the back feet are rarely used for scratching, the front feet are usually the only ones declawed.