BEFORE DECLAWING YOUR CAT IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW Many people have their cat declawed because they assume it is the only way to prevent scratching and damage to home furnishings. If you are considering declawing your pet, please be aware of the effect it may have on your pet. Short-term effects include moderate to severe postoperative pain that may continue for anywhere from one to three days after surgery. Long-term effects may include prolonged or chronic tenderness of the paws as well as lameness in a small portion of cases. Early onset of arthritis and more tendencies towards biting are also possible. Training your cat to use a scratching post, locking the cat out of the room with the expensive furniture, and if necessary, applying soft paws may be your best bets if you want to keep your furniture unscathed. Regular trimming of the nails is not a difficult procedure and can achieve the same result as declawing without all of the side effects. Your veterinarian can show you the proper way to trim the claws. For more information on this visit www.catscratching.com. ------------------------- Source: Lakeville Veterinary Clinic