Many cat owners experience unwanted scratching, whether that be due to a cat being anxious in its environment, or perhaps they sharpen their claws on the furniture. Scratching is a normal cat behavior. According to the Humane Society, cats engage in scratching for one of three reasons: to remove the dead husks from their claws, mark their territory, or stretch their muscles.
Cats are usually about eight weeks old when they begin this behavior. This is the ideal time to train kittens to use a scratching post and allow nail trims to deter unwanted scratching behaviors. Cat owners sometimes consider declawing their companion, and many simply perceive it to be a simple surgery that removes a cat's nails. They deem it to be like having your fingernails trimmed.
This is far from the reality of it.
What is declawing?
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, declawing is "the surgical amputation of all or part of a cat's toe bones and the attached claws." It can be very painful for the cat. To put it into perspective, the equivalent of this procedure being performed on a human would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle. Ouch!
There are two typical declawing methods: amputation and laser surgery. The most standard method is amputation with a scalpel or guillotine clipper where the wounds are closed with stitches or surgical glue, and the feet are bandaged. The second method is laser surgery in which a small beam of light cuts through the tissue by heating and vaporizing it.
A third procedure is not technically "declawing," however, it can have similar medical complications for your kitty. A tendonectomy is when the tendon that controls the claw in each toe is severed. This is associated with a high incidence of abnormally thick claw growth. Although it is not amputation, studies found instances of bleeding, lameness, and infection similar to declawing procedures.
Medical Drawbacks
There are several medical drawbacks that cause cat rescues, like ourselves, to stand against declawing. PAWS, a non-profit helping to rehabilitate and adopt animals, emphasizes the immediate physical complications that can occur:
An adverse reaction to the general anesthetic (can include death).
The foot can become gangrenous and need amputation of the leg if bandages are wrapped too tightly.
When bandages are removed, cats may continue to profusely bleed and require re-bandaging.
There are also physical complications that can arise later after the initial procedure:
If the entire nail bed was not removed, one or more claws can grow back misshapen and useless.
If a surgical cutter was dull, many cats experience shattered bones in their feet which can become infected.
Paw pain and nerve damage -- If some claw tissue remains, the tissue tries to grow a new claw, which in some cases will form a deformed claw under the skin. This can lead to an abscess.
Lameness -- can be temporary or permanent. If you damage the second bone, it is permanently damaged and could always cause pain when your kitty walks.
Back pain can be caused by lameness since a changed gait means the cat is not carrying her weight as she should.
Tissue necrosis (tissue death)
Infection
An important point to note is that oftentimes after surgery, shredded newspaper is used as a litter substitute since litter can irritate declawed feet. With this unfamiliar substitute mixed with the pain cats have from scratching in the box, they may stop using the litter box altogether.
Cats can also become biters since they no longer have their claws as their first defense method. This can cause them to live in a prolonged state of stress.
Declawing Alternatives
Well, then what are some declawing alternatives, you may ask?
Keep your cat's claws trimmed to minimize damage to household items.
Provide stable scratching posts and boards around your home. Offer different materials, such as carpet, sisal, wood, and cardboard. Use toys and treats to entice your cat to use the scratching posts.
Ask your vet about soft plastic cups (like Soft Paws) that are glued to the cat's nails and replaced every six weeks.
Attach a special tape (like Sticky Paws) to furniture to deter your cat from unwanted scratching.
By putting in place these alternatives, your cat's health will not be at risk and cause no pain to them. Our cats are our best friends, and we do not want to add more stress to their lives and take away an essential part of their anatomy. Many countries have already banned declawing due to the serious medical complications that can occur. If you or someone you know is considering declawing your cat, please conduct your own research and know the risks and harm that can come to your cat. Choose a safer alternative because there is always another way.
References
Hughes, K. (2018, February 19). 7 negative side effects of declawing your cat. PetMD. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from https://www.petmd.com/cat/care/7-negative-side-effects-declawing-your-cat.
The Humane Society of the United States. (n.d.). Declawing cats: Far worse than a manicure. The Humane Society of the United States. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/declawing-cats-far-worse-manicure.
PAWS. (n.d.). Problems with declawing. PAWS. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from https://www.paws.org/resources/problems-with-declawing/.
Cover image by Eduardo Goody on Unsplash
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