Declawing

One of the controversial issues facing the owner of a cat, kitten or adult, is whether or not to have it declawed.  Ten or fifteen years ago declawing was not commonly done.  Pet owners who live in apartments usually find a cat a more suitable companion than a dog and this shift in urban pet ownership from dogs to cats has caused more owners to contemplate the surgery.

The reason most owners consider declawing is the feline’s uncanny ability to convert everything softer than concrete into abstract art.  Cats use their front feet to mark their territory, just as they would in the wild.  There are scent glands in their foot pads which leave a cat’s own specific smell, so that there is visual and olfactory testimony as to whose turf this is.  Consequently, it is important to them that the object used is easily seen and admired by anyone who walks in the room.  By the same reasoning, owners usually place their most beautiful or expensive furniture items in those same, prominent locations.  The potential for a conflict in usage between friend and feline is only natural.
 
Cats have three bones in each toe, and the last bone, although very small, has an area at its tip from which the nail grows.  The operation removes that portion of the third bone.  Once the entire growth center is removed, the nail can never regrow.  If it does, it is generally a simple matter to correct.
 
The operation is conducted under a general anesthetic.  Post-operative care varies, but often entails surgical adhesives, sutures (stitches), bandaging the feet, and hospitalization for up to a few days. In the vast majority of cases, recovery is extremely rapid.  Most cats are walking normally the day after surgery.  Because anesthetic is used, the best time for the operation is when a cat is young, ideally when it is being spayed or neutered, as only one anesthetic would be required.  However, even old cats can be declawed with no ill effects, if your veterinarian feels it appropriate.

When your cat goes home after surgery, it is most important to keep her quiet.  By preventing her from leaping about or running up and down stairs, there is little opportunity for complications such as seepage if a scab comes loose.  Some vets also recommend using shredded newspaper as litter material for a few days, if your cat will accept it: it is softer on the feet than regular litter, and helps make the feet just that much more comfortable.

Obviously a major concern with all cat owners is that they don’t want to have anything done that might be “cruel” to their cat.  Because of the anesthesia, we know there is no pain during the procedure- if there were; veterinarians would not be willing to perform the operation! Like any surgical procedure involving anesthesia, whether in humans or pets, on the day after the surgery there is likely to be some feeling of dizziness and mild discomfort, but based on the extremely rapid recovery, such discomfort is short-lived.  Recognizing that for some cat owners the situation has progressed to either removing the claws, or euthanasia- a few hours of sore feet is an easy compromise.

Another concern that some owners have is there will be a host of behavioral changes to their cat after the operation.

A study done in Canada has shown that the vast majority owners (90%) were very happy with their decision, and that the cat’s behavior did not change in any way as a result of the surgery.
The study also showed that many owners have felt for years, that in fact many cats that were previously aloof, independent or aggressive, became much better adapted socially, and in many cases very friendly!  Changes such as these were obviously very gratifying.

One matter that should be considered is whether or not your cat is going to be an inside or an outside cat.  Because cats also use their front feet for defense, they are not as able to defend themselves as they would otherwise.  However, although most vets recommend that declawed cats remain inside, there are certainly many declawed cats that do go outside and manage to stay out of trouble. It is only very rarely that the rear claws are removed, as they are the ones used primarily for fighting and climbing to safety. Such cats should not be allowed out under any circumstances.

In spite of the fact that most owners are very happy with the long-term benefits of declawing, it should not necessarily be treated as a matter of course.  For many non-aggressive cats, there may be alternatives to declawing, and in most cases they are worth trying. First, and most obvious, is to clip the nails every 1-2 weeks.  If this procedure is begun as a routine when you first bring your kitten home, the chances of having to declaw are greatly reduced.   If you are unsure how to clip the nails, ask your veterinarian who would be happy to show you how easy it can be- it is helpful to have a co-operative cat, which is why it is so important to start early in the cat’s life.  In addition, offering your cat a scratching post at an early age is important; these are easy enough to make at home, or you can buy one ready-made.