Declaw??? or better

A revolutionary product that solves the problem of scratches and destruction caused by your cat’s claws

The SPCA Laurentides-Labelle has always been uncomfortable when faced with declawing. Not because we do not understand your desire to protect your belongings, but because, for us, the first concern is the well being of the animal and declawing is not the best thing for the cat.

This is not an attack on those that do it, believe me, many of our employees and volunteers at the adoption center are surrounded by many cats at home and yes, we are conscious of the damages that cats can cause. Oh yes! Many of them have seen their wood hand railings lose weight, and where it concerns me; I built a large room in the basement where they could escape the pestering of my dogs, a little safe haven just for them. The room, after 3 years, is in need of some repair. The 2 X 4’s are now 2 X 2’s in certain places.

Thank god they chose their room to do most of their clawing.

Let us introduce to you a solution ‘SoftPaws” and a few realities of declawing. The following information has been taken for the web site « Aequo Animo »

THE ETHICAL ASPECT OF OUTLAWING DECLAWING

The practice of declawing is a North American tendency. Even though this practice is current and legal in North America, it is illegal in over 24 European countries since May 2004.  Condemned from all veterinarian practices, it can only be justified by serious medical reasons (mentioned below). The outlawing of this practice is based on the EUROPEAN CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF DOMESTICATED ANIMALS created in Strasbourg in 1987 and approved in 2003 by numerous countries that agreed the declawing of cats was unacceptable. This is what the act states:

”Surgical interventions destine to modify the appearance of domestic animals or for other reasons not related to the well being of the animal shall be prohibited, in particular: cutting the tail, cutting the ears, removing vocal cords, removing claws and teeth“.

 

WHY ARE SO MANY VETERINARIANS AGAINST THIS SURGICAL PRACTICE?

• Because cat’s claws are an integral part of the cat’s anatomy and are essential to its mobility and survival.
• Because declawing is a practice that goes against nature and does not respect the integrity of the animal. Declawed cats are disqualified from participating in cat shows.
• Because clawing is a part of a cats normal behaviour:
  • To maintain the claws in good condition by eliminating the damaged exterior shell and also to be replaced by a new layer (feline manicure).
  • To mark its territory in a visual and olfactory manner (by depositing its pheromones secreted by the glands found under the paws).
  • To stretch its muscles and spinal cord, and to relax.
  • For pleasure, for amusement, to provoke and to communicate.
  • It is a necessary ritual to maintain its physical, emotional and mental balance
• Because there are many efficient alternatives to declawing.
• Because declawing is done under anaesthesia and is an irreversible and painful surgery that can produce serious (physical, emotional and behavioural) complications that can remain for life.
• Because declawing should only be performed on subjects where scratches cause serious health problems for the owners.
• Because declawing should only be considered if the cat shows destructive behaviour to its environment and only if, after numerous attempts, all alternative solutions have been exhausted.
• Because declawing should be the last and final solution that will keep the owners from giving away or euthanizing the cat and not being able to educate the cat.
• Because no owner can guarantee that their cat, without the ability to defend itself, will never escape, will never need to hunt to survive and that it will never have to defend itself if put in a hostile situation.
• Because no veterinarian can guarantee that de-clawing will not leave physical scars or pain and will not affect the character or temperament of the cat.

DECLAWING IS AN OPERATION THAT MUTILATES

Declawing is not just the removal of the nail from the toes of the cat. It is the amputation of the entire final articulation of the cat’s toe where the claw has its root. To compare it to a human, it would be like taking off the tip of your finger from the final knuckle in order to remove the nail.
Pictures of the de-clawing procedure

P.S: Tenectomy, is a new method of declawing, consisting of a removal of part of the tendon responsible for the extension of the claw. This practice is not recommended by the Canadian Association of Veterinarian Medicine as a solution to declawing (Onyxectomy).

POST OPERATORY COMPLICATIONS.

According to an American study, 12% of cats subjected to declawing suffer serious complications. Amongst those complications are:

• Complications due to general anaesthesia.
• Haemorrhaging. 
• Infections.
• Limping due to damaged nerves.

In the worst cases:

• Abnormal and/or partial re-growth of the claws, mostly remaining invisible.
• Necrosis of the appendages (death of the tissue because of lack of blood circulation)

LIFE LONG CONSEQUENCES

« With the loss of its claws, the cat finds itself without defences and makes awkward movements because of the amputation of the last segment of the toes.  The contact of the appendage is no longer made at the end like normal, but at the tip of the first knuckle which does not have the same autonomous motion. The angulations of all the members and the biodynamics of the entire body are transformed by this mutilation which manifests amongst other things with tension in the tendons, ligaments, and muscles. As a result, the cats (especially obese ones, and there are many) suffer for the rest of their lives. »
Dr. Charles Danten (Veterinarian)

• Difficult re-adaptation. The cat does not have the same contact on the toes and therefore needs to learn how to walk all over again. 
• Neurological problems
  • Continuous ghost pains with the sensation of tingling at the extremities of the amputated members. In reality it is an inflammation of the dissected nerves
  • Tendinitis caused by excessive tension on the tendons of the legs, compensating for the loss of the third section of the toes
• Progressive weakness of the front shoulders, and muscles of the back causing loss of equilibrium (especially in obese cats)

PHSYCOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS

The main cause of problems is INSECURITY since the cat can no longer able to defend itself. After declawing the cat can:

• Develop an aversion to using the litter box because it becomes painful to scratch.
• Suffer from urinary incontinence
• Begin biting as compensation for the loss of its claws
• Become aggressive towards humans and other animals, because of the fear and doubt of being able to defend itself without its claws in the event of danger. It puts itself into a permanent state of survival.

The entire process of the surgical intervention (traveling, hospitalization, amputation, etc…) contributes to the psychological trauma that often goes unnoticed to some owners, which are more or less sensitive to the well being of their cat.
 
All the possible outcomes of declawing can even sadly result in the abandonment or putting to sleep of the cat that is simply the victim of its owners doing.

A miraculous solution « Soft Paws »

Invented by a veterinarian in the early 1990’s, these claw protectors SoftPaws are actually soft plastic caps that are placed over the claws of indoor cats or dogs. They are recommended by numerous veterinarians and associations for the protection of animals, worldwide.
SoftPaws protectors:

• Protects your furniture from claws: sofas, carpets, curtains, railing, wood floors, etc.
• Protects the members of your family from scratches. SoftPaws is recommended for haemophiliacs as well as pregnant women.
• Prevents your pet from opening healing wounds due to scratching.

Re-gain your peace of mind!!!!
Simple and easy to apply, after trimming the claws, simply apply a few drops of glue into the nail tips (supplied in the kit), and slip it onto the claw. The claw protectors SoftPaws are discrete, totally inoffensive, non toxic and pose no danger. They do not cause discomfort to the animal and fall off naturally within 4 to 6 weeks. Just keep your eye on the animal and replace any fallen caps. The kit includes 40 caps as well as the special glue. Most people apply the SoftPaws to the front feet only, making the kit last almost an entire year.

Most cats get used to the new claws rapidly. A good way to make them forget the caps is to give them a little treat when they focus on them, in order to distract their attention.After a short period the animal will forget that they are even there and will return to normal. Your cat will behave like a cat and continue its stretching without causing any damage.
« SoftPaws » are completely safe and non toxic. If your cat swallows a cap it will not suffer any effects as the caps and the glue are non toxic.

« SoftPaws » are available in many colors as seen on the included chart.

« SoftPaws » should only be used on indoor cats, as they can still extend and retract their claws, giving them a false sense of security, however the ability to hunt and defend itself are greatly reduced.

Even though SoftPaws were created for cats and dogs, they can be used on other animals, such as ferrets, rabbits and even iguanas.

You can now get your set of « SoftPaws » at our adoption center
SPCALL
355 Demontigny
Sainte-Agathe des Monts
819-326-4059

Keep your animal intact and enjoy your CAT without having to deal with the damages.

Your comments are welcome:

Check out this «YouTube»  video for an easy how to guide. You can also see other videos, related to the subject on the same site.