The New Wave of Cat Upbringing

15 years ago it was OK to declaw your cats.  We declawed three, keeping one with a set of backs to give her an advantage in fighting. We declawed to prevent damage to our home. At the time we thought we were doing the right thing. Not thinking about the consequences, the declawing had some negative impacts on our cats. For one, clawing allows a cat to engage their whole abdominal muscles as they work at sharpening and clawing. The exercises are naturally built in. Two of our cats lost their muscle tone through the stomach, fore paws, and back paws. It is like the cat does yoga with extremely good grip and balance on their mat. As I saw the losses in their fitness, I wondered.

Then, over time, the cats became very dependent on us for grooming. Not that I don't build that habit, I do. I like grooming my cats. What I mean here is that for our long hair cat, she really needs her claws to pull out and groom her neck. Snarls build up and she could not deal with it. So, I became more aware of these issues and did the grooming she would do herself for her. We keep her neck finely groomed. Then, I thought, if she can't groom her neck, what else can she not do? She can't scratch an itch. The small cat with the claws used her back set to resolve itches. The other cats needed us. I am starting to not think the declawing was such a great idea.

With the acquisition of our kitten 2.5 years ago, we were informed there is a new way. They now recommend cats keep their claws. I had built my home cat friendly. I decided to give it a go. The cat came home with severely clipped claws for his acclimitization period. This was good. The situation worked out. For one, my floors wear down my cats claws. Good. Second, he was amalgamated into a great cat culture of not using claws. Martius learned that it was not socially acceptable to use his claws in fighting and in interactions, including play because not any of the others used their claws on him.

As a kitten, I did not expect him to have complete control over his claws. I expected him to make mistakes. So, I adapted. I put covers and furs over things which needed temporary protection. As he grew, I noticed he could control his claws more and not mark things. At that point, the protection aids intended to solely prevent harm were removed. Those I grew used to as comforts stayed. For a fully clawed cat, he does not use them excessively in a harmful way.

Having claws has allowed Martius to interact with his environment in different ways than the other cats. For example, Thomas has tried to claw the scratching post like Martius, but it does not work the same way for him. He will still paw it and scent it. However, I can see he does not get the same cat satisfaction from the deed. As well, Martius can use his claws to interact with his Dad. He reaches up and claws or attaches his claws to say Hi. As a kitten, he would just climb up his leg and into his arms. As he grew, he would just come up occasionally to say Hi and pull his claws out after or he would pull a little harder to signal he planned a climb. As a bigger cat, he attaches and then hangs waiting for his Dad to pick him up. Once up, Cat Dad and Martius would do a tour of the house. Cat Dad would teach Martius about all the upper level belongings in the home.

We noticed Martius has some unique digital movement with his clawed paws. He can pick up a piece of spaghetti off the floor. I can't. I sweep it up. I think it is because he has a bit more "hand" by having the extra paw tip knuckle.

Martius has remained a very fit  cat. He is strong and lean. I can't help wondering if keeping claws and the opportunity for exercise which results is the reason. We would not have evolved into different behavioural activities with this cat if we had not been open to trying out keeping a cat with claws. It may be we found a cat who was very kind and patient. It has been cute to see how he uses his claws for unique purposes. I support the anti-declaw movement at least from the perspective of seeing this cat's story.