Declawing, the process and alternatives

Declawing Cats

Why do cats claw?

Cats claw to maintain proper condition of the nails, for fun and exercise, and to mark territory visually as well as with scent. They stretch by digging their claws into something and pulling back against their own clawhold. A cat's natural instinct to scratch serves both physical and psychological needs. Before domestication, cats satisfied these needs by clawing tree trunks. Domesticated cats can be trained to satisfy their desire to claw without damaging valuable property.

The outer part of a cat's claws regularly becomes frayed. When a cat scratches, it pulls off the outer part and exposes sharp, smooth claws.

Why do cat's need their claws?

A cat's retractable claws are, for the most part, what gives cat's their remarkable grace and agility,and faultless sense of balance. They allow cats to establish footing for walking, running, springing, climbing, or even stretching.

What is done when you declaw? Are there any complications?

There are 2 types of "declawing:"

An Onychectomy, the most common type of declawing, involves amputation of each individual claw and end toe bone joint. This removes the claw and the bone from which it originates. It is a serious surgery and not just a manicure.

A human comparison would be that of the removal of the fingers of the human hand at the last knuckle.

Declawing a cat does involves general anesthesia. Possible complications of this surgery include reaction to anesthetic, hemorrhage, bone chips which prevent healing, recurrent infections and damage to the radial nerve, pain, and possible abnormal regrowth of the nails. The nails may grow back inside the paw, causing pain but remaining invisible to the eye. Declawed cats need regular X-rays to monitor this problem.

Declawing can result in a gradual weakening of leg, shoulder, and back muscles. There is an impaired balance and declawed cats will have to learn to walk differently, as would a human who lost his or her toes.

LisaViolet's cat house provides pictures from an actual Onychectomy, but please be warned, these are quite graphic.

The British Veterinary Associations deems declawing an "unnecessary mutilation." Declawing is illegal in Germany and other parts of Europe.

A Tendonectomy, does not involve actual amputation, but rather the severing of tendons that allow a cat to extend it's claws. Even with this type of surgery, a cat's nails must be trimmed every 4-6 weeks to avoid getting their nails snagged on something or possible growth into the paw pad. If not kept trimmed, the cat may be able to scratch again. This option is not very well favored by most vets, due to the possible affects of not keeping the nails trimmed properly. Some vets have also reported arthritis and joint fusion problems.

Other problems & misconceptions

Without claws to mark their territory, even house-trained cats will often urinate and defecate outside the litter box in a desperate attempt to "ward off intruders."

There are several misconceptions about declawing. It does not make cats more "mellow." Declawed cats may be morose, reclusive, and withdrawn, or they may be irritable, aggressive, and unpredictable. Without claws, cats can become defenseless. This may often lead to neurosis and even skin and bladder problems.

A declawed cat should not be let outdoors. With their first line of defense gone, it's ability to defend itself has been impaired.

Many people think declawing makes a cat safer around babies, but this is far from true, as the lack of claws may turn some cats into biters. Children must learn how to respect and treat animals, which will greatly reduce their chances of getting scratched.

Three-Point Program

Trim your cat's nails.

Get your kitten used to having its nails clipped while it is young. With an older cat, it may help to begin by handling the cat's feet under pleasurable circumstances. Then begin to introduce the clipping procedure by approaching the cat while its relaxed or even napping. If you feel uneasy, wrap the cat in a towel, and expose one paw at a time, to trim. Praise your cat while you clip the nail and reward it with a treat.

The only equipment necessary is a good pair of nail clippers and a nail file (or emery board). Never use scissors, since they can tear the nail.If you're in doubt about what the proper nail length looks like, have your veterinarian trim the nails once.

Sit on the floor with your pet, trimmers, and some styptic powder, Kwik-Stop, CutStop Styptic Pads or other product to stop bleeding if you knick the quick.
Hold your pets's paw firmly and push on its pads to extend the nail. Locate where the quick ends. With clear or light nails, it is easy to see the pink color where the quick ends.
Using a nail trimmer for pets, cut the nail below the quick on a 45-degree angle, with the cutting end of the nail clipper toward the end of the nail. You will be cutting off the finer point. In cats, the quick is generally easy to see, and you can cut the excess away with one cut. The good news is that, the more diligent you are about trimming, the more the quick will regress into the nail, allowing you to cut shorter each time.
In some cases if the nails are brittle, the cut may tend to splinter the nail. In these cases, file the nail in a sweeping motion starting from the back of the nail and following the curve to the tip. Several strokes will remove any burrs and leave the nail smooth.
If your pet will tolerate it, do all four feet this way. If he won't, take a break.
If you accidentally cut the quick, wipe off the blood and apply Kwik-Stop or styptic powder to stop the bleeding.

Provide multiple scratching posts. Such posts must be sturdy, tall enough to allow the cat to completely stretch (3 feet or taller), and properly placed. A bark-covered log, a post covered with sisal, or a tightly woven burlap-covered post will work well.

Soft, fluffy, carpeted scratching posts don't work -- If you use carpet, secure it to the posts with the rough backing on the outside; soft carpeting will not satisfy a cat's need to claw. They are one of the greatest causes of declawing because cats often don't like the posts. Frustrated humans may resort to surgery.

Place one scratching post where the cat is already clawing, and another close to where he or she normally sleeps (cats like to stretch and scratch when they first wake up).

Another option is the cardboard or sisal "scratching box," which lies on the floor. These are fairly inexpensive and small enough to scatter around the house. This should allow your cat easy access to an "approved" scratching spot at all times. They will need to be replaced every few months, as they do tend to wear down quickly -- If you do not replace them, it is possible that your cat may end up scratching the furniture again, until you do.

Find it at Allpets.com Use search term "alpine scratcher"

Show your cat where to claw and where not to claw.

Place your cat on the new scratching post and move his or her paws, or pretend to scratch it yourself. This will scent the posts and encourage exploratory clawing.

Make the post a "fun spot." Play games with your cat on and around the post. Attach hanging strings, balls or bouncy toys to it. Sprinkle catnip on the post. Keep your cat interested by refreshing it once a week.

When your cat uses the post, praise it to reinforce this behavior. Be careful not to startle or frighten him or her. When the cat claws furniture, discourage this behavior with a firm voice or other loud noise, but never with physical force. Lukewarm water from a squirt gun directed at the back of the animal is often successful.

During the training period, you may need to cover upholstery with plastic or other protection. Cats don't like the slippery feel and will quickly learn to stay away.

Other Options

Soft Paws Nail Caps for Cats. Soft Paws are soft, vinyl nail caps that are applied to cats' newly trimmed nails. The nail caps allow cats to scratch naturally, without harming furniture. Each application lasts about four to six weeks.

Resources

An excellent book to help you understand your cat better is The New Natural Cat by Anitra Frazier, Campman and Co., Bridgeport, Conn., 1981.

By taking the time to understand your cat's natural behavior, and using common precations, it is possible to prevent unwanted clawing, without causing harm and pain to your cat.

adapted from Peta Fact Sheet

Last words:

To me, any friend, pet or animal is more precious than a piece of furniture. We decided not to declaw Skittles for the simple reason that, we wouldn't want her doing that to us. By taking the time to show Skittles how and where to scratch, we have avoided any furniture scratching problems. We did not start her when she was very young, but we were persistant. For those worried about having a cat with claws and a baby, consider this: What will you do when your child continually marks on the wall? You will teach it not to! Your cat is your child. It is a member of the family, and thus it should be treated like one. These have the last words.