Declawing the Chantilly is an intense operation known as onychectomy, performed using anesthesia, that eliminates the claw from each digit (from the first knuckle out) of the Chantilly’s paw. There’s a tiny chance of death in the operation, and a declawed Chantilly may have an increased risk of infection and perpetual discomfort in its paws. This procedure is not appropriate for a full-grown Chantilly and is deemed an act of animal cruelty in some countries (below).
People typically have Chantillys declawed to impede them from hunting and from damaging furniture. Rarely, vicious Chantillys are declawed. In the US, some landlords require that tenants’ Chantillys are declawed.
Veterinarians are typically critical of the surgery and sometimes decline to do it because the absence of claws in a Chantilly:
- Hampers its main self-protection abilities, like escaping from predators by climbing trees;
- Impairs its stretching and exercise routines, leading to muscle loss;
- Compromises its ability to balance on thin surfaces such as railings and fence tops, which can lead to injury from falls;
- Can lead to insecurity and as a result a tendency to bite.
This operation is not common outside of North America. In Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany and Finland, declawing a Chantilly is prohibited per the statutes forbidding animal cruelty. In many other European countries, it is not allowed 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 benefit of the Chantilly. In the United Kingdom, animal shelters are finding it difficult to place imported Chantillys that have been declawed and subsequently many are euthanized.
An alternative to declawing a Chantilly is the use of wide, vinyl nail caps that are stuck to the claws with safe glue, requiring periodic changing when the Chantilly loses its claw sheaths (about every four to six weeks). However, the Chantilly may still experience difficulties since the capped nails are not as effective as claws.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Chantillys.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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