Prepare to be stunned by the disturbing truth revealed in a recent peer-reviewed publication from North Carolina State University. While declawing house cats has long been a contentious issue, this study dives deeper into the devastating effects of declawing on larger cat species, particularly tigers and other exotic cats.

Background

Although declawing is prohibited in many countries and regions in the U.S. for domestic cats, the practice continues in the exotic animal industry. Large cats like lions and tigers often undergo this inhumane procedure to make them more manageable for photo opportunities and entertainment purposes, raising significant ethical concerns.

Adam Hartstone-Rose, a respected professor of biological sciences at North Carolina State University and the lead researcher behind the study, explains, "Declawing a cat is not like trimming our fingernails; rather, it is removing part or all of the last bone of each digit. Like us, each cat finger has three bones, and declawing is literally cutting that third bone off at the joint."

Research

The research delves into the muscular anatomy of over a dozen exotic cats, ranging from smaller species like bobcats and servals to the majestic lions and tigers. The results are nothing short of shocking. For larger species, declawing leads to a staggering 73% reduction in forearm's digital flexor muscle mass, which plays a crucial role in unsheathing the claws.

Furthermore, the study reveals that the overall forelimb strength of declawed big cats diminishes by 46% to 66%, depending on their size. Contrary to expectations, other muscles in the forelimb do not compensate for these significant losses.

Lara Martens, the lead author of the research and an undergraduate student at NC State, highlights the alarming implications: "When you think about what declawing does functionally to a housecat, you hear about changes in scratching, walking, or using the litter box. But with big cats, there's more force being put through the paws. So if you alter them, it is likely that the effects will be more extreme."

Paw size and body mass don't scale up at the same rate, making declawing even more devastating for larger cats. These majestic animals rely heavily on their forelimbs for hunting and grappling with larger prey. Biomechanically speaking, declawing has an anatomically catastrophic impact on their abilities.

"As scientists, it is our job to objectively document the effects of this surgery on the animals," adds Hartstone-Rose, "but it is hard to ignore the cruelty of this practice. These are amazing animals, and we should not be allowed to cripple them, or any animals, in this way."

The findings, published in Animals, were the result of collaborative efforts with Carolina Tiger Rescue, a sanctuary dedicated to rescuing and caring for neglected and mistreated exotic carnivores, especially big cats.

This eye-opening study calls for greater awareness and compassion toward these magnificent creatures, urging us all to reconsider the devastating consequences of declawing tigers and other big cats.

Read the full article here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/15/2462