Whether or Not to Declaw Your Cat

[malernee]

Whether or Not to Declaw Your Cat



Stefanie Schwartz, DVM, MSc, DACVB



keywords: behavior, cats, kitten, destructiveness, destructive, destruction, scratching, scratch post, nails, trimming, territorial, declaw



This topic is probably one of the most controversial among cat lovers. Some people protest the declaw surgery without exception and claim that it is unnecessary cruelty. Extreme opinions often lead to misunderstanding. Hopefully, your decision will be a realistic one that is best for both you and your pet so that you will make compatible housemates for many many years. Ultimately, it may be more cruel to euthanize cats who could have survived without their front claws. The pros and cons of declawing your cat will now be discussed to help you make your decision.



Basic Nail Care



The claw of a cat is a specialized toenail. It equips the cat for a number of activity, which include hunting, feeding, territorial marking, and grooming. The claw grows a little in length but expands primarily in layers, like the layers of an onion. Cats do not sharpen their nails when they scratch. Instead, scratching helps to remove the superficial worn layers. As the used blunted layer separates, a sharp claw is revealed.

Trimming the sharp tips of your cat’s nails will be important to prevent damage, if your cat is destructive, or injury, if your cat is aggressive. Blunted tips minimize their potential for harm. Learning to trim your cat’s nails is discussed in detail in another handout. Your veterinarian will be happy to demonstrate you to do this at home. You can always bring your kitty in to the veterinary clinic or a pet groomer near you for a quick pedicure.

Nail growth is a continual process. It will take only a few weeks for the tips to become sharp once more. Learning to trim your cat’s nails, and teaching your cat to tolerate pedicures, may be all that you need to control or prevent destructive scratching or minimize scratching-related injuries to you and other members of your household. If this is not feasible for you, or if it is not practical to have your cat’s nails trimmed professionally on an ongoing basis, than declaw surgery may be an interesting option to consider for your indoor cat. The more problematic your cat’s clawing or scratching behavior is, the more attractive the surgical alternative could become. No one but you can make the decision. You are the only one that lives with your cat.



Scratch Posts



Cats should be encouraged to use scratch posts from an early age, and certainly from the moment they enter your home. If your cat has already begun to scratch on undesirable surfaces, use this as important feedback to help solve the problem. Your cat’s selection, however inappropriate, provides details about his or her preference for location, angle, and texture. Position a scratch post directly in front of or over the undesired target. You may need to experiment with several different scratch posts to determine which one your cat prefers. For example, your cat might be most attracted to scratch a sisal post placed vertically against the wallpaper s/he has destroyed. At the front door, your cat might prefer a cardboard scratch post laying horizontally over the welcome mat that has been mutilated. A scratch post covered in carpet might be best set at an incline against the side of your bed.

To begin, encourage your cat to touch, and eventually to scratch, a scratch post. Dangle a small toy from the top so your cat must stretch to reach the toy. Scratch the post as your cat reaches up; s/he will be stimulated to scratch by the grating sound of your fingers. Kittens learn some things by observing the behavior of others and cats who observe other cats using the scratch post will be more inclined to follow their example.

Catnip is a plant that has a mild intoxicating effect on many cats. Dried catnip leaves may be applied to certain objects or surfaces to stimulate your cat’s interest. However, prepubescent kittens are not catnip responsive, and some mature cats are not affected by catnip at all. If your kitty enjoys catnip, sprinkle a bit on the surface of the scratch post. The catnip response includes pawing at the herb, and this motion is precisely the one we want to transfer onto a scratch post.



Damage Control for the Aggressive Cat



The claws of a cat are used as both tools and weapons. They are vital equipment for self-defense and for other aggressive encounters during hunting or territorial conflicts. Some cats are less sociable than others. They may be intolerant to human handling, or irritable and easily provoked. This could be a real problem in a family with young children, or elderly guardians, or if the cat requires medication on a regular basis. Scratching by an aggressive cat is frequently a sign of an underlying emotional problem or a physical illness, particularly if the aggression is recent. It is important to diagnose the type of aggression so that appropriate treatment can be recommended.

Declawed cats do not become more aggressive, nor do they learn to bite after declaw surgery. Declawing an aggressive cat is damage control. It will not alter the cat’s aggressive tendency, it will simply neutralize part of the cat’s arsenal of weapons. Declawing a cat does not eliminate the underlying problem. Nonetheless, if you are the owner of an aggressively scratching cat, you may be more interested in damage control first, and resolving the cat’s motivation for scratching later. Ask your veterinarian for a referral to a veterinary behaviorist to evaluate your cat’s troubling behavior and arrive at a plan of action that works for you.



Surgical Declaw



The surgery known as ‘declawing’ involves the removal of the claws. The front claws are most often declawed, and the back claws left untouched because these are not usually the cause of any problems. Because the claws are part of the last joint of each toe, the surgery is a type of amputation. It is performed under general anesthesia; the cat feels no pain during the procedure. There are a number of techniques for declawing cats. The claws may be excised with a scalpel or with laser. Laser declaw is associated with far less post-surgical discomfort. Laser declaw may not yet be available in all practices, and it may be more expensive than conventional declaw surgery. It may be worthwhile, however, to consider this option if you are concerned about your cat’s level of comfort.

Each tiny incision may be closed with absorbable sutures, surgical glue, or allowed to heal naturally (surgeon’s choice). Compression bandages may be applied while the cat is still asleep under anesthesia. These are removed the day after surgery. Most cats are sent home 1 to 2 days after the surgery.

Pain control is an important consideration in declaw surgery. Injectable pain medication can be administered before the cat goes under anesthesia so that postoperative discomfort never is experienced. Pain medication can also be delivered by a temporary skin patch so that the first few days after surgery are quite comfortable. A newly declawed cat may step gingerly, however, recovery is rapid and complications are few.



Alternatives to Declawing



Surgical Alternative



Declaw surgery is not the only surgery available to control your cat’s destructive or aggressive urges. In an alternative surgery, the ligament to each claw is severed so that the cat is unable retract his or her claws. The incision is small, and because the surgery is less extensive it has a shorter recovery time. In the tendonectomy procedure, the claws are not removed; they are rendered essentially useless.

In theory, this surgical approach sounds ideal. Realistically, the cat’s claws continue to grow but the cat cannot control them. The claws must still be trimmed routinely, and this may be impractical for some owners and some cats. Discuss this surgical technique with your veterinarian as an alternative to declawing. If you elect this surgery and it does not produce the desired results, declaw surgery can always be performed at a later date.



Nonsurgical Alternatives



If surgery is not high on your list of options, there is a nonsurgical approach you might like to consider. It involves the application of plastic tips (Soft Paws®), which are glued over each individual claw. Even if your cat makes scratching attempts, the plastic sheaths are blunted and there is no damage or injury as long as they remain in place. One of the disadvantages of this option is that the nail tips are not permanent. Some cats manage to remove them within days. The plastic tips must be reapplied every few weeks frequently. Many cats require sedation or anesthesia for the product to be applied. Consequently, this alternative may become less attractive over time as repeated sedation or general anesthesia is not without risk or expense. If you are patient and can learn to apply this product at home, depending of course on your cat’s permission, this product provides an interesting and pain-free alternative. Contact your veterinarian for more information.



Behavioral Effects of Declawing



Cats who are aggressive prior to being declawed will remain aggressive after declawing. On the other hand, these cats will not become more aggressive, nor will they bite more. Remember that this surgery can only eliminate the unpleasant results of scratching. It does not resolve the reason or motivation for your cat’s destructive or aggressive use of his or her claws. Declawed cats will be less able to defend themselves or evade danger and should remain confined indoors where they are safe and sound. Of course, all cats in these modern times should be kept as house pets to live a full and happy life.

Encourage your young kitten or newly acquired adult kitty to use a scratch post from the start. Place a few different types around your home. Cats generally tend to scratch surfaces near their favorite sleeping spots or perches with a view outside. If you cannot train him or her to consistently use the scratch posts, you will at least have tried before declaw surgery becomes an option. Not all cats are easily trained to use a scratch post. Remember, given a choice they’d much prefer a tree. In fact, if commercially available scratch posts fail to attract your kitty, try a log!

Your decision on whether or not to declaw your cat should be based on your immediate needs and the long-term happiness of your cat. If your cat’s current behavior is causing you to withdraw and fall out of love with your pet, consider this: Would it be more cruel to declaw your cat and live happily ever after, or refuse the declaw option only to give your cat away, abandon your pet at a shelter, or elect euthanasia? Your cat wants to be with you, therefore, it seems that the best option is the one that allows you and your pet to remain together for a lifetime.

[malernee]

http://community-2.webtv.net/stopdeclaw/declawpics/

[Guest]

[Daniel12]

You'd think it would be bad for the cat seeing as how they have insticts that drive the to scratch.. and then all of a sudden they can't do it anymore... here's another article on it.
http://www.tcnnews.com/content/view/360/2/