Declawing is a cruel and inhumane practice banned in the UK, and many owners who do it don’t understand what it’s actually like for their pet.
Now an expert has taken to TikTok to say that declawing a cat is “way more invasive than you may think,” explaining what it would be like if the process was done to a person.
Shockingly, Doctor Dana – who regularly shares little-known medical facts online – said: “It’s the human equivalent of cutting off all your toes,” which sounds horrifying.
The Anti-cruelty Society warn: “This surgical process can be very painful for your cat and could permanently alter your cat’s behaviour.
“Declawing your cat is not a necessary procedure and there are ways to live harmoniously with your cat and her claws. Scratching is a normal and necessary behaviour for your cat.”
Dana then went on to explain what the procedure actually entails, leaving some mortified. “Basically they go in and sever the ligaments and the tendons to completely remove the distal phalanx and the claws”.
She said this process can be “very painful and uncomfortable for the cat”. “After this, they may even have mobility and balance issues”, she said.
They can also have “other long-term health consequences”, which isn’t fair for your cat.
She said it was “so sad” that people get their cats declawed, as when you adopt a cat, you know their claws are an integral part of them.
In the comments, people were fuming. One wrote: “I never knew this, this is so sad. Why do they even do this as an option.”
Another said: “This breaks my heart, 100% true.. our Blaze was declawed by her previous owners and it caused so many issues. We miss her so much”.
Someone raged: “If you can’t own a cat cus they have claws, then you can’t own a cat. It’s that simple.”
“I had no idea it was that bad”, a TikToker admitted.