Negative Aspects of Declawing a Cat

Declawing Procedure

Do you know what happens when a cat is declawed? The term suggests that the claws are removed, but nothing could be further from the truth. When a cat is declawed, the claws are not the only thing removed. Declawing is actually the amputation of the ends of the cat's toes. All ten of the bones the claws emerge from are removed from the cat's foot. During the operation, the muscles, tendons and nerves involved in the normal use of the paw are also cut. If the same thing were done to a person, it would be as if all ten of the bones that your fingertips grow from were removed.

The technical term for declawing is known as onychectomy and is not a minor procedure. It robs a cat of an important means of defense and can limit their movement when they are trying to get away from a predator or an enemy. Declawing a cat can increase their risk of injury or death, if another animal attacks them.

Once declawed, the cat is unable to satisfy his natural impulses for marking territory, climbing and to exercise. There are also health risks with declawing as with any other major surgery. Some cats may not take the anesthesia or surgery well. They can be subject to lameness, nerve damage, bleeding, infection, extensive tissue damage, gangrene and even death. Cats can also develop behavioral problems due to the declawing. I personally know of someone who, after having had their cat declawed, had to get rid of the cat because it started chewing the furniture.

Downsides

There are several articles in the Journal of the Animal Veterinary Medical Association about the adverse effects of declawing. One states that "33 percent of cats suffer at least one behavioral problem after dewclaw or tendonectomy surgery." Another article reports that “acute complications develop in up to half of onychectomized cats. Long term complications of the procedure (are) reported for about a fifth of onychectomized cats." Yet another article in Veterinary Medicine reports "11 percent lameness, 17 percent wound breakdown, and 10 percent nail regrowth post-operatively in cats having dewclaw surgery.”

I only know of one person who has had to declaw their cat, and when I asked all my friends that have cats, they went absolutely wild with anger!

It seems to me, in my humble opinion, that to take away an animal’s only way to defend itself and climb a tree, or climb anything you buy for them and put in your home (like a scratching post or cat tree or kitty condo), would be hard to do without their claws. It seems to me to be very cruel! I'm sorry if you feel I'm wrong, but this is how I feel after reading so much about this procedure and calling my personal vet. He tries to never do this unless it is for a life or death situation.

So Cruel

Most cats are typically sent home one to two days after declawing surgery. Many people are trying to get a law passed to protect cats from this terrible procedure. While this seems to be a common practice in America, many European countries do not perform this procedure. I have also read that when cats are in shelters and have been declawed, they actually get homes faster because the people looking to adopt them think "Oh good, this cat will not ruin my home." All of this is not true!

Twenty-five percent of cats are declawed in the United States and most people do this because their cat scratches their chairs, bed, couches, and ruins their homes. BUT, if you have a scratching post for your cat, you can teach them not to touch your furniture.

Consider These Alternatives

Please, talk to your vet before going to have your cat spayed or neutered, as this is when they perform most of the declawing surgeries. Spaying and neutering a pet compared to declawing a cat is considered to be less painful. Learn what, how and why you personally need to have this done, before you consider this radical alternative. If you have a behavior problem with your cat, try asking your vet for advice or try asking a trainer (yes, you can train a cat), many will have great training tips for you. Here are a few tips you can use at home to prevent your cat from scratching you furniture:

• Get the right kind of scratching post. I have written a tip on toys which mentions this here on Love To Know.

• Part of scratching is the cat's natural desire to mark their territory, so a scratching post should be in an area that's used by the family, not hidden in a back corner. After a time you can move the post away to the periphery of the room, if you must, but you'll need to do this gradually. Initially, put the post where your cat goes to scratch. This might be by a sofa or a chair, wherever your cat has chosen to scratch. Put the scratching post in front of the item being scratched that you want the cat to stop scratching.

• Help your cat want to use the post. Use catnip on the post to help attract him to it. You can also give him/her a treat after they play with their new post.

• If you get a kitten, start training them when they are young. You need to stop the problem before it starts.

• Invest in a water gun or an inexpensive spray bottle with an adjustable spray. This way, you can be several feet away from the cat when you need to reprimand them. I would suggest the spray bottle as opposed to a water pistol, because it will hold more water, you have less chance of losing it somewhere in the house, and it is less apt to leak.

• They even make "nail caps" that actually go over the existing toenail and keep the cat from scratching. They last for a few weeks without falling off and won't hurt the cat.

• You could also learn how to clip your cat's toenails. It is easy and they make several kinds of clippers. One of the best ones that won't split the nail is a nail scissor. It looks like a regular pair of scissors, except that the bottom half has a notch in it, where you put the nail before cutting. If you choose to do this, and aren't sure how, have your veterinarian show you how the first time. Make sure you have a styptic pencil or styptic powder, in case the vein in the nail gets clipped by mistake and starts bleeding.

• You can also have your veterinarian cut their nails for you. There may be a small fee, but this is a lot less expensive than replacing furniture or declawing the cat.

It is the right of every pet owner to do what they feel is best for their pet, and I am not here to tell you what is right or wrong where your own cat is concerned. I try to educate you on different topics, and in this way give you correct information so you can make your own informed decisions where your pets are concerned. I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my tips, and I hope I can help you and your cat live a happy life together for a long time.

Previous Tips

• New Cat Products
• How to Train Your Cat to Come When Called To
• Homemade Catnip Treats
• Hairball Remedies for Cats
• How to Move with Your Cat
• How to Pick a Cat Bed
• Tips on Finding a Lost Cat
• How to Handle Your Kitten or Cat
• Bringing a New Cat Home
• How to Pick a Vet
• How to Give a Cat a Pill
• Taking a Great Photo With Your Cat
• How to Clean a Cat’s Ears
• Making Your Own Air Freshener
• Cat Safety Tips
• Naming Your New Kitten or Cat
• Kitty Birthday Party
• Homemade Herbal Flea Collar
• Homemade Cat Toys
• Bringing a New Kitten Home
• Recipe for Homemade Cat Treats
• How To Make a Cat First Aid Kit