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The answer is yes, removing a cat's nails is of no benefit to the animal. Retractable claws are part of their nature and need them to hunt, play, climb, walk, etc. In other words, they need their nails to have a normal life.
Nail amputation convert the animal into an invalid for many of the normal activities. If your pet causes problems at home because it scratches furniture or climbs through the curtains, you can find solutions to stop doing it and, in turn, continue to be a happy cat. And you can even cut your nails so they aren't so sharp.
If you want to know if removing cats' nails is bad, keep reading this PeritoAnimal article and clarify your doubts.
What is Nail Amputation?
It is a surgical process in which the first phalanges of cats are removed. The Feline Medicine Study Group of Spain (GEMFE) indicates that it is a very painful intervention and that in 50% of cases complications may appear.
In addition to the intense pain that cats experience when their nails are removed, which may not even disappear and become chronic, they can have serious problems after the operation such as bleeding, infections, cysts, fistulas and the cat may even limp. Furthermore, there is the possibility that they will grow again.
Health consequences
Removing the cat's nails has no health benefit to the animal, on the contrary, all consequences are negative. More than 10 years ago it was a common practice, but nowadays there is more information and there are almost no veterinary clinics where they accept this practice. And in some places it is even prohibited by law.
Check out why it is not good to remove the cat's nails, in addition to the health complications that surgery can cause:
- Nails are the cat's protective weapon. Without them they feel insecure against possible predators.
- Usually their games involve the use of nails. They play and fuck with them and, not having them, they can develop anxiety.
- Scratching an object with your nails is a way to relax.
- They also use their nails to scratch themselves, without them they cannot alleviate the itch they feel.
- Because they cannot develop normally, it is common for cats without nails to develop attitude problems such as aggression, anxiety or depression.
What is the solution to not removing cat's nails?
Cats like to scratch and this is the main reason people want to have their nails removed. However, it's part of your nature and everyone who wants to adopt a feline companion must adopt it.
There are solutions for cats not to destroy the house, such as teaching them to use scrapers to sharpen their nails and they can fight stress by scratching without problems. In addition, it is advisable to educate the animal to avoid scratching other objects in the house.
If you don't have time or don't know how to educate your cat, you can always ask a professional for help. Remember that cats need their nails to live happily.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.