#digitigrades

Cats are digitigrades, which means they walk on their toes instead of on the soles of their feet. Amputating the tips of their toes drastically alters the conformation of their feet and their overall gait, which over time can lead to chronic arthritis, neuralgia, degenerative joint disease, back pain, and balance impairment.

Cats who have been declawed essentially have to relearn how to walk so that their weight is redistributed. Gradually, they can experience progressive weakening of the muscles of the shoulders, back and legs.