Declawing cats is a more nuanced issue than I’d thought

Fanny, my cat, is perfect. That she scratches the furniture doesn’t take away from her perfection. Scratching is just being true to her feline nature.

It would be dishonest to claim, however, that her scratching has not bothered me or been destructive. For evidence, there are the new living room chairs that are shredded at the edges.

I would never have Fanny declawed, however, because I’m persuaded that declawing, which amputates the last bone of each toe, can cause lasting harm to cats. That message has been out for some time, so I was surprised that some animal advocates are not in favor of a bill in the Illinois legislature to ban the declawing of cats.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Veterinary Medical Association note that there are cases when declawing could make the difference between a cat’s being kept or returned to a shelter where it might be euthanized or caged for months. 

“Legislation to make declawing illegal, while well-intentioned, can be problematic because in rare cases the procedure may be justifiable as a last resort to prevent euthanasia,” says the ASPCA.

The AVMA recommends that a cat be declawed only when all other remedies have failed or scratching presents a health risk to people who have diabetes or compromised immune systems. 

When the issue is presented in life or death terms, it’s hard to argue against declawing. Yet the whole discussion makes me wonder about what people expect when they adopt a pet. Pet ownership is not effortless and problem-free; even easy pets eventually have health problems. 

Finding a remedy for Fanny’s scratching took nearly two years. I tried the usual recommendations such as behavior modification, Sticky Paws tape, and nail caps.

Behavior modification means training a cat to use its scratching post or pad instead of upholstered furniture. Fanny didn’t need coaxing to use her scratching posts, but she went to whatever was closest when she felt like scratching.

Sticky Paws is a double-sided tape that you put on surfaces where your cat scratches. Cats supposedly don’t like touching it. Fanny scratched right through it and even chewed it.

Nail caps are plastic covers that you glue over your cat’s nails. It would be hard to apply them without help. I held a howling Fanny as my friend Shawna applied the caps. Fanny tolerated wearing them, but they did not all stay on for the six weeks they are supposed to last. 

Having exhausted the expert advice, I decided to try covering the upholstered furniture with fabric that cats don’t like to scratch — smooth fabrics without loose fibers. I bought a velvet slipcover for the sofa. Success! Fanny doesn’t scratch it, but even if she did, I’d hardly care; the slipcover cost just $26 and can be replaced.

The two chairs that Fanny damaged may get slipcovers someday, but for now they’re covered in clear vinyl because I like their colors. I intended to remove the vinyl when company comes, but the only visitors have been friends who know and understand why the chairs are covered.

The solution isn’t perfect — the sofa slipcover doesn’t fit perfectly or stay in place, and the vinyl on the chairs looks tacky. I’d be distressed if I cared more about how my place looks. I’m not trying to appear saintly but to say that pristine homes and pets don’t mix.

As for the bill to ban declawing: Maybe declawing ought not be a legislative decision.