Declawing a American Bobtail is a major operation known as onychectomy, performed with anesthesia, which eliminates the claw from each finger (from the first knuckle out) of the American Bobtail’s forepaws. There is always a small possibility of death in the procedure, and a declawed American Bobtail may have a slight risk of infection and long-term pain in his paws. This operation isn’t suitable for an adult American Bobtail and is labeled an act of animal cruelty in some places (shown below).
Owners typically get American Bobtails declawed to hinder them from damaging furniture and hunting. Seldom, vicious American Bobtails are declawed. In the United States, some landlords demand that residents’ American Bobtails be declawed.
Doctors are usually critical of the surgery and sometimes refuse to perform it since the lack of claws in a American Bobtail:
- Inhibits its primary self defense abilities, including escaping from predators by climbing trees;
- Compromises its exercising and stretching habits, leading to muscle atrophy;
- Compromises its ability to walk on narrow surfaces like railings and fence tops, leading to injury from falls;
- Can cause insecurity and a subsequent tendency to bite.
The operation is not common outside of North America. In Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and Finland, declawing a American Bobtail is illegal by the statutes forbidding cruelty to animals. In many other countries in Europe, it is illegal under the terms of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless a veterinarian deems such non-curative procedures beneficial either for veterinary medical reasons or for the health of the animal. In Britain, animal shelters find it difficult to place imported American Bobtails that have been declawed and as a result most are killed.
An substitute for declawing a American Bobtail is the application of wide, vinyl claw caps that are adhered to the claws with nontoxic glue, requiring periodic replacement when the American Bobtail loses its claw sheaths (about every four to six weeks). However, the American Bobtail will still experience difficulties since the capped nails are not as effective as claws.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about American Bobtails.Was this post helpful? If so, please take a minute to Tweet and Share below on Facebook. I would also love to know your thoughts so leave me a comment 🙂
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