ELEVEN REASONS NOT TO DECLAW YOUR CAT*

MAIN REASON:  Because a declawed cat is a maimed cat.

10 other reasons:

1. Paws come with claws, just as fingers and toes come with nails!

2. Declawing is illegal in just about every other country in the world, as it is considered mutilation and animal abuse.

3. Declawed cats often become biters as their main form of self-defense has been taken away and they become anxious, afraid and depressed.

4. There are many easy ways to deal with the cat's natural need to stretch and clean its claws that are not harmful to the cat.  For example, claw clipping and providing a scratching post or scratching board.

5. Cats walk on their toes so removing or altering their natural clay structure can cause them to become crippled.  Declawing can impair a cat's balance and cause muscle deterioration.

6. Declawing is amputation--cutting off the third bone of the toe.  How would you like to have your toes and fingers shortened?  Recovery is a long and traumatic experience for the cat, as it would be for you. Excessive bleeding and pain are common.

7. Even with the new, less invasive surgery call Tendonectomy, cats have often displayed the same personality and physical changes that they do after a standard declaw procedure.

8. If a declawed cat needs to defend itself or if it gets outside (even by mistake) it is defenseless and has no way to climb trees when chased by a dog or other creatures.

9. Claws can grow back, necessitating additional surgery that usually cripples the cat even more excessively.

10. But mostly you are a responsible, caring and a loving pet owner who would not put an animal through this pain.

* Thanks to Cat Adoption Team (C.A.T.) of Sherwood, Oregon for this information.