Declawing cats or kittens (onychectomy) is major surgery. Find out if declawing is bad, if declawed cats can be happy, and learn alternatives to declawing.

Pros of Declawing Cats. Owners choose to declaw cats for several reasons. This can be done in rare medical cases, such as severe injuries, infections, tumors, chronic pain, or deformities that can ...

Declawing is a life-altering surgery for cats; many veterinarians consider the procedure to be unethical and unnecessary, and they encourage cat owners to opt for safer alternatives to prevent ...

Whether or not to declaw your cat is a hotly debated topic. People can be very passionate about how they feel about declawing. Some cities, states, and and even countries have banned it. While it ...

While declawing a cat might seem like a routine procedure for a veterinarian, it is not a routine experience for a cat. Unlike trimming one's nails, a cat's claws are embedded deep in the skin; ...

DR. FOX: I’ m 87, and have always declawed my indoor cats on their front paws with no problems. Last year, I got two ginger kittens. Ron Gaskin of Shakopee, Minnesota.

Declawing is not only painful for a cat, but it can trigger unwanted behaviors. Declawed cats may avoid using the litter box as they depend on their claws to maneuver the litter.

Sometimes, cat declawing leaves cats with pain that can contribute to behavioral issues that lead families to chose to surrender their cat, according to the MSPCA-Angell.

Amid complaints from animal welfare activists that declawing cats is cruel and often unnecessary, Illinois lawmakers have been debating for more than two years whether to ban the practice.

Local News Cat declawing could be banned in Mass., making it the third state to pass such a law The legislation passed the Senate unanimously, a victory for animal welfare groups and some vets.

A measure under consideration by Illinois legislators would put a ban on declawing cats for nontherapeutic reasons. Skip to content. All Sections. Subscribe Now. 71°F. Wednesday, July 2nd 2025 ...

Declawing can lead to behavior problems and medical issues. Kseniya Ovchinnikova / Getty Images Cat declawing—the removal of a cat's claws—is a controversial medical procedure. Leading ...