To declaw or not to declaw, that is the question. In reality, it’s not a question at all. Responsible cat owners should know that declawing your feline friend is never a viable option. Occasional scratch marks on your hands is a small price to pay for your cat’s most important asset. If you’ve been considering declawing your cat, read about the many reasons why declawing is never the best option.

Declawing is a serious surgery. A cat’s claws are held together not just by the claw, but by bone and cartilage, as well. Ten separate amputations must occur, and usually require an anesthetic to prevent extreme pain. With a surgery this extreme, there are many possible side-effects, including a reaction to the anesthetic, gangrene (which can lead to limb amputation), permanent nerve damage, skin disorders, chronic pain and more. After surgery, a cat will lose their balance which claws help provide, making walking a newly challenging task. Cats may experience extreme pain for weeks, months or years after a declawing surgery.

A cat’s claws are more than just a balancing agent. In the wild, a cat’s claws are its first line of defense against a predator. Many people argue that indoor cats have no need for claws, then, but consider this. Has your cat ever escaped? Dug a hole under the fence? Snuck out the front door when you were carrying in groceries and couldn’t stop him? Cats are let loose accidentally all the time, and once they are, they are practically defenseless without their claws. Cats will also become more aggressive inside of the house to make up for their lost claws. Declawed cats tend to bite and hiss more due to their lack of defense.

Nearly two dozen countries have banned declawing, and many veterinarians refuse to perform the surgery, describing the surgery as the equivalent to amputation. For those pet owners who feel that the constant clawing of furniture and skin is unbearable, there are several non-invasive alternatives that can help you manage your cat’s claws.

Frequent nail trims are an easy solution to your cat clawing problems. When a cat’s nails get too long, they feel the need to file them down, like a human would, and the best way to do so is to claw furniture. By helping your cat keep up with his or her nail trimming, you can protect your furniture.

Scratching posts are a great way to deter your cat from scratching up furniture around the house. Posts with a tightly woven burlap are the best material for an effective scratching post, and they should be tall enough that your cat can stretch out while using it. Cats like to scratch and stretch when they first wake up, so placing a post near the area that they sleep, as well as the area that they usually scratch, is a good bet.

Cardboard scratching areas are also an inexpensive way to deter clawing of furniture, and they are small enough to be place around several areas of the house. Whenever your cat uses any form of scratching post, be sure to praise him or her with treats and affection. If you are having trouble initially getting your cat interested in using the post, consider placing treats on or around the post, or adding cat nip to the carpeted area. Imitating the clawing action on the post yourself will also help the cat understand its purpose. Filling a spray bottle with water and lightly squirting your cat’s back when he or she engages in scratching on off-limit areas is a good technique that will reinforce your teachings.

Soft claws are another great alternative. These are nail caps that blunt the nail so that cats are unable to cause damage to furniture or scratch you when you’re playing together. If you feel that scratching posts and frequent nail trims just aren’t doing the trick, you might want to consider investing in soft claws for your furry friend.

When you adopt a cat, you are taking on the responsibility of providing this animal with a long, healthy, happy life. Claws are a part of a cat, just like drool is a part of a dog. These are things that humans might find as less than desirable traits, but we learn to adapt to these qualities to ensure our furry friends have the highest quality of life possible.