Image from the net, text from ’Voices of the Animals’ by Laura Stinchfield, an animal psychic. I’m quoting portions of her 2009 article to detail exactly what declawing our companion animals does to them. It is painful, cruel and barbaric:

“They were in excruciating pain. It hurt to walk. They felt mutilated, traumatized, and upset with their person. The other cat was so frightened about what would happen to her the next day that she wouldn’t come out from under the bed.

“What I learned that day is that declawing a cat means the vet amputates part of the cat’s paw! They cut off the last bone of the cat’s toes! They actually cut off bone and nerves so that they don’t scratch your furniture!

“Do you understand? Do you know cats can feel pain and have emotions? Often vets send these cats home without painkillers. What? How is that legal and not animal abuse?

“These cats are then in so much pain that they walk on their toes. I was sick for days, and, unfortunately, I could not convince the owner to stop declawing the other cat. It was one of those times that I could not “meet a person where they are” or have compassion for her. I felt she was abusive, and I found it hard to forgive her for getting the third cat declawed.

“I wanted to take all three cats away from her. I felt she didn’t deserve them. I am still brought to tears at the memory of that session.

“Dottie: “I was declawed because I ripped my person’s favorite chair. I have never been in so much pain. I survived a coyote attack, and being in its jaws was nothing to the feeling I had when I woke up and noticed that I didn’t have part of my paws.

“I hated my person so much afterwards that I ran away and found a new family.”

“Magic (recently declawed): “I couldn’t swallow for weeks after my surgery. I was in so much pain that it was hard to breathe. I didn’t understand it. I need my claws to climb. I think that, because I don’t have my claws, my body doesn’t work right. I can walk and play, but it feels different. My neck hurts a lot, and so does my back. I never thought people could be so mean. I hated my people so much that I kept biting them.

“They have been talking about giving me away to someone else. But then you came over and told me they didn’t know any better – they didn’t know it was cruel.

“You kept telling me how sorry you were for me. That made me feel better because you understand how terrible it felt. I knew that, if I were your cat, you wouldn’t have declawed me.

“I wish you’d told my people earlier. I am learning to trust and love them now. I don’t bite anymore, and they are going to keep me. I am learning to forgive them.”

“Susan (declawed the day after I told her people how the other cats felt about being declawed and how scared Susan was): “I felt so blessed that you came over and talked us all through it. I hate my person more than anything now. I can’t stand to look at her. I try to throw up on her things as often as I can.

“I have a good life with my other cat siblings, but I hate my person so much that, at times, I wish she would stop breathing.

“Before this happened, I loved her more than anything. I would comfort her when she was upset, and I would try to be perfect. It didn’t mean anything to her. If I had enough courage, I would run away. I feel like half a cat without my claws. I don’t know if I could survive outside. I wish I had a different life. I wish I was brave enough to run away.”

“The animals’ voices in this article are just three of so many that feel this way. Since this article was written, I have spoken to hundreds of other cats that have been declawed. Many had behavioral issues such as aggression, biting, and attacking as well as peeing and pooping outside the litter box and severe paw and back pain.

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