Declawing a Toyger is an intense procedure called a onychectomy, performed under anesthesia, which removes the claw from each toe (from the first knuckle out) of the Toyger’s paws. There is always a small possibility of death during the operation, and a declawed Toyger might have an increased risk of infection and long-term pain in its paws. This procedure is not advised for an adult Toyger and is called an act of animal cruelty in some places (as shown below).
People typically have Toygers declawed to impede them from hunting and from damaging furniture. Rarely, vicious Toygers are declawed. In the US, some landlords require that tenants’ Toygers be declawed.
Veterinarians are generally critical of the procedure and sometimes decline to perform it since the lack of claws in a Toyger:
- Hampers its main defense skills, like running away from predators by climbing trees;
- Reduces its exercising and stretching routines, which leads to muscle loss;
- Hampers its ability to balance on narrow surfaces such as fence tops and railings, leading to injury from falling;
- Can lead to insecurity and a subsequent tendency to bite.
The operation is not common outside of North America. In Germany, Finland, Switzerland and the Netherlands, declawing a Toyger is not allowed per the statutes forbidding animal cruelty. In many other European countries, 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 benefit of the animal. In the UK, animal shelters find it tough to place imported Toygers that have been declawed and as a result most are killed.
One alternative to declawing a Toyger is the application of dull, vinyl nail caps that are attached to the claws with safe glue, sometimes requiring replacement when the Toyger sheds its claw sheaths (about every 4 to 6 weeks). Although, the Toyger may still experience difficulties because the capped nails are not as effective as claws.
Don’t forget to check out these other articles about Toygers.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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