Declawing the Turkish Angora is a major operation called a onychectomy, performed under anesthesia, which eliminates the claw of each digit (from the first knuckle out) of the Turkish Angora’s paw. There is always a remote possibility of death during the surgery, and a declawed Turkish Angora might experience a slight risk of infection and perpetual pain in its paws. This procedure is not suitable for a mature Turkish Angora and is deemed an act of animal cruelty in some countries (as shown below).
People usually have Turkish Angoras declawed to impede them from hunting and from damaging furniture. Seldom, vicious Turkish Angoras are declawed. In America, some landlords demand that tenants’ Turkish Angoras are declawed.
Animal doctors are typically critical of the operation and some refuse to perform it since the lack of claws in a Turkish Angora:
- Inhibits its primary defense abilities, like running away from predators by climbing trees;
- Reduces its exercising and stretching habits, which leads to muscle loss;
- Compromises its ability to balance on narrow surfaces like railings and fence tops, which could lead to injury from falls;
- Can cause insecurity and as a result a biting habit.
The surgery is not common outside of North America. In Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland, declawing a Turkish Angora is prohibited per the statutes forbidding cruelty to animals. In many other European countries, it is prohibited under the terms of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals, unless a vet considers such non-curative procedures beneficial either for veterinary medical reasons or for the health of the Turkish Angora. In England, animal shelters find it difficult to place imported Turkish Angoras that have been declawed and as a result most are killed.
An alternative to declawing a Turkish Angora is the use of wide, vinyl nail caps that are applied to the claws with harmless glue, requiring periodic changing when the Turkish Angora sheds its claw sheaths (about every 4 to 6 weeks). Yet, the Turkish Angora will still experience difficulties because the capped nails are not as effective as claws.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Turkish Angoras.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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