Declaw Debate

History The domestic cat has a history unlike most other domestic species, and one that is also comparatively recent. Whereas dogs have been domesticated for at least 10,000 years, cats have only been domesticated for around 5,000 years (Beadle 66). Juliet Clutton-Brock describes the cat as ‘an exploiting captive’ and ‘a carnivore that enjoys the company of man.’ Unlike the dog, a manmade species, or a captive animal domesticated for utilitarian purposes, like the elephant, the cat has been said to have domesticated itself (Bradshaw 6). Domestication probably began around 4000 BC, as remains of ancient cats Felis silvestris and Felis chaus were found in the Egyptian tombs of the period. The first tangible evidence of the domestic status cat comes from ancient Egyptian paintings and sculptures dating back to 1600 BC, in which cats are shown eating and hunting with man (Bradshaw 6). “From about 1450 BCE onwards, images of cats in domestic settings became increasingly common in Theban tombs, and it is likely that these animals were fully domesticated. The cats are usually illustrated sitting, often tethered, under the chairs of the tomb owners’ wives, where they are shown eating fish, gnawing bones, or playing w

With the advent of laser technology and use in the medical field, many veterinarians recognize the positive attributes of the laser and use it exclusively in performing onychectomy. The extension and retraction of a cat's claws is accomplished by a complex of a dorsal ligament, extensor tendon, and flexor tendon (JAAHA, 74). Declawing is outlawed in many European countries including: England, Scotland Wales, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Portugal, Belgium, and Spain (Amby). Attitudes towards cats changed though, with the extinction of Egyptian pagans and the rise of Christianity. The second necessity is that it must be completely secure. In order to better protect those high-risk owners, and employing the principles of utilitarianism, the family cat is usually declawed. It would also take more time to explain viable alternatives to the cat owner than to actually proceed with the operation, explains Dr. Postoperative tenderness ranged from one to three days, but twice it was a week. Performing either the tendonectomy or onychectomy frustrates this aspect of the cat"tms natural behavior pattern. 4 of intact cats bit family members. As mentioned, the wounds are either sutured closed or, more recently, a tissue adhesive is used. A 1994 study by the department of veterinary clinical sciences at Washington States University College of Veterinary Medicine found that out of 163 cats that endured declaw surgery, 50 had one or more complications immediately after surgery. If the cat scratches an undesired object, simply move the cat from that object to the nearest scratching post and make scratching motions towards it with her claws (Schelling, sec. Barring the normal risks of any surgery, such as the body"tms intolerance for anesthesia, sutures, skin tissue glue and other medications and chemicals, other events can occur.