Veterinarian Shares TikTok Highlighting Pain Caused by Declawing Pets

@theswiftiekittens

Senior cat came in for exam and pain management. His family didnt declaw him, they adopted him that way. #veterinarian #cat #declaw #pain

♬ original sound – Dr. Jessica, Veterinarian

In a plea for the cessation of cat declawing, Portland-based veterinarian Jessica Thompson recently posted a heartrending video on TikTok of an 18-year-old cat, declawed as a kitten, walking painfully on the backs of its feet. “His family didn’t declaw him, they adopted him that way,” Thompson explained, highlighting the long-term suffering cats endure from such procedures, typically carried out for human convenience.

Declawing is a barbaric procedure involving amputation of the claws, forcing cats to relearn walking without using the front of their paws. This not only affects mobility but also disrupts balance and climbing abilities. A 2017 study revealed that declawed cats had higher risks of back pain, biting, and excessive licking. Alarmingly, 63 percent of declawed cats still had residual bone fragments, leading to increased back pain and aggression.

Despite discouragement from the American Veterinary Medical Association, declawing is currently banned in only two states and select cities. Thompson hopes the viral video, which has garnered over 682,000 views and 57,000 likes, will deter people from pursuing this procedure, as it significantly compromises the quality of life for cats. “Changing how they walk causes them to shift their weight onto their hind legs, pelvis, and back,” Thompson explained, leading to a lifetime of discomfort.

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Related Content:

• D.C. to Pass Bill to Ban Declawing, Dog Fighting Equipment and More in an Effort to Prevent Animal Cruelty
• Petition: Tell Virginia to Finally Make Declawing Cats Illegal
• Maryland Becomes Second State in the U.S. to Ban Declawing
• Petitions Work! Quebec Will Ban Declawing and Other Cruel Animal Cosmetic Procedures
• Madison, Wisconsin Bans Cat Declawing

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