What is declawing?
Declawing is the surgical amputation of a cat’s claws by removing the distal phalanx of each toe (the final segment that contains the nail bed and claw) [1]. There are two main methods of declawing – onychectomy and tendonectomy. Onychectomy involves amputating the last bone of each toe while tendonectomy involves severing the tendons that control claw extension, causing the cat’s claws to remain inside the paw [2]. Some cat owners choose to declaw their cats to prevent scratching behaviors that can damage furniture or to avoid potential scratches when playing. Declawing may also be recommended in rare cases by veterinarians for medical reasons like severe infections or injuries to the paws. However, routine declawing for non-medical reasons is considered inhumane by many vets and animal welfare organizations.
Short-term effects
Declawing a cat is an amputation surgery that removes the last bone of each toe along with the claw. This procedure causes significant short-term pain. Cats rely on their claws for balance, stretching, and scratching, so suddenly losing them is very disruptive. Complications from surgery may include:
- Acute pain – Declawing removes nerves and ligaments in the paw, causing acute pain. This can last for days or weeks post-surgery as the feet heal.
- Infection – Any surgery carries infection risks. Antibiotics may be prescribed, but infections can still develop in the surgery site.
- Tissue necrosis – Rough handling of tissue during surgery can damage blood flow to the paws, causing tissue death.
- Abnormal regrowth – In rare cases, bone fragments left behind may cause abnormal regrowth of cartilage or bone.
Veterinarians may prescribe pain medication post-surgery, but this only helps manage some of the discomfort. The initial pain and potential complications from declawing surgery create many short-term animal welfare concerns. (PetMD)
Long-term effects
Declawing a cat can have several long-term physical effects. According to the Humane Society, declawing can cause lasting pain in the cat’s paws as well as back pain from altered gait (Why declawing is bad for your cat). The surgery also removes the cat’s natural defense mechanisms, so they may be more prone to biting when feeling threatened (5 Negative Side Effects of Declawing Cats). In some cases, long-term effects can be very severe, like lameness or tissue death. Declawed cats may also avoid litter boxes because digging in the litter causes pain, leading to inappropriate urination or defecation outside the box.
In terms of behavior, declawed cats may exhibit more aggression and anxiety after being declawed. The surgery is very traumatic, both physically and psychologically. Many declawed cats become withdrawn or irritable. Some cats develop anxiety disorders or depression post-surgery. Since clawing is a natural behavior, a declawed cat is denied this key outlet for stress relief. The chronic pain of declawing combined with stress buildup can manifest as unwanted behaviors like biting, urine marking, or refusing to use the litter box (Declawing: Long Term Effects and Humane Alternatives).
Alternatives to declawing
Declawing cats is a controversial practice that many veterinarians and cat owners avoid if possible. There are several humane alternatives that can satisfy a cat’s desire to scratch without removing their claws or subjecting them to surgery. The most common alternatives include:
Trimming nails – Regularly trimming a cat’s nails every 1-2 weeks can minimize damage from scratching unwanted surfaces. Special nail clippers designed for cats allow owners to safely trim the sharp tips of the nails.
Scratching posts – Providing sturdy, rough-textured scratching posts and cat trees allows cats to satisfy their need to scratch and stretch their claws. Scratching is a natural behavior for cats, and having acceptable scratching surfaces can divert clawing away from furniture. Scratching posts come in many materials, shapes and sizes to suit a cat’s preferences.
Pheromone sprays – Synthetic pheromones like Feliway can help reduce anxiety and unwanted behaviors like scratching. Spraying items like furniture and scratching posts can redirect scratching to appropriate areas (Old Farm Vet).
Adopting declawed cats
There are some special considerations when adopting a cat that has already been declawed.
Since declawed cats can experience pain in their paws, especially on hard surfaces, it’s important to provide soft bedding and litter. Veterinarians recommend using paper litter initially after the declaw surgery, then gradually transitioning to soft, very fine-grained clumping litter [1]. Providing ramps and limiting vertical climbing can also help reduce discomfort.
Enrichment is especially important for adopted declawed cats. Provide scratching posts and cardboard scratchers so they can still go through the natural motions of scratching. Cat trees, tunnels, and toys will allow them to play and climb comfortably without their claws. Consider adding shelving or cat walks to create more horizontal space.[2]
Be patient and gently encourage mobility through play and massage. It may take time for an adopted declawed cat to regain confidence and strength.[3] But with a little extra care and enrichment, they can live happy lives in their forever homes.
Ethical considerations
Declawing cats raises several animal welfare concerns. The procedure involves amputating the last bone of each toe, which removes cats’ primary means of defense and mobility. According to the Humane Society of the United States, declawing can cause short-term pain and bleeding and long-term physical issues like lameness and back pain (1). Declawing goes against cats’ natural behaviors and fundamentally alters their anatomy for human convenience. Some view declawing as unethical because it prioritizes protecting furniture over respecting cats’ innate abilities.
The legality of declawing also factors into the ethical debate. Declawing is banned in many countries, though it remains legal in most US states. Only New York and Maryland have enacted statewide bans, citing declawing as inhumane (2). Some argue that the lack of legal protections shows that US laws fail to recognize the welfare of cats. However, others say declawing bans infringe on owners’ rights to modify their property as they see fit.
Owner perspectives
Many cat owners make the decision to declaw their cats for a variety of reasons. Some declaw to protect their furniture, while others do it to prevent scratches, especially when there are small children in the home. However, many cat owners end up regretting their decision to declaw.
According to one cat owner on TheCatSite forum, they declawed their cat to protect their leather furniture. They reported that while their cat seemed fine at first after the procedure, over time he became withdrawn and less active. The owner expressed regret over declawing, saying the cat’s personality changed and he seemed depressed afterwards.
Another heartbreaking story on Thinking Outside the Cage describes Smokey Joe, a declawed cat given up after his owner passed away. The author writes that Smokey Joe would bite and swat at people due to pain in his paws years after being declawed. This story demonstrates the potential long-term impacts declawing can have on a cat’s behavior.
While some owners declaw with the best intentions, many come to regret it after seeing the pain and behavior changes in their cats. The procedure can lead to lasting negative effects on a cat’s quality of life.
Vet perspectives
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (url), declawing is not medically necessary in the vast majority of feline patients. The medical standard is that declawing be limited to those rare cases where claws are causing excessive harm despite diligent efforts to address the issues through other means. According to the AVMA (url), declawing is strongly discouraged when done solely for human convenience or to prevent scratching. In a 2020 policy revision, the AVMA clarified that declawing should only be performed after medical or behavioral indications have been established.
Many veterinarians have ethical concerns about performing elective declawing given the potential risks and adverse effects on the cat’s well-being. Veterinarians aim to prevent suffering, so recommending alternatives like regular nail trims, scratching posts, or soft paws nail caps is preferable. According to the Humane Society (url), declawing is amputation and should be an absolute last resort for serious medical or behavioral issues after exhausting all other options.
Shelter policies
Many animal shelters have strict no-declaw policies and will not adopt out cats that have been declawed. According to ASPCA’s policy statement, they are strongly opposed to declawing cats and believe “the only circumstances in which the procedure should be considered are those in which all behavioral and medical alternatives have been explored and exhausted”.
To enforce their no-declaw policy, shelters often use education, screening during the adoption process, and follow-ups after adoption. Education informs potential adopters about declawing and its impacts on cats. Screening involves directly asking adopters if they plan to declaw the cat. Follow-ups can include signed adoption contracts agreeing not to declaw or checking in on adopted cats.https://humanepro.org/page/support-prohibition-nontherapeutic-declawing-cats
The screening process aims to prevent adopted cats from being declawed. Many shelters even make signing a no-declaw contract part of the adoption agreement. However, enforcement after adoption can be challenging. Ultimately, education and choosing responsible adopters are key to ensuring adopted cats remain clawed.
Conclusion
There are definite pros and cons to adopting a declawed cat. On the pro side, declawed cats are less likely to damage furniture or scratch people. However, the declawing procedure has many potential long-term negative effects on cats, including pain, behavioral issues, and other health complications. There are also ethical concerns around performing an unnecessary medical procedure that alters an animal’s natural state.
Weighing all factors, adopting a declawed cat is not necessarily bad if proper precautions are taken to ensure the cat’s health and wellbeing. Work closely with your vet and shelter to assess the cat’s individual situation. Provide a safe home environment tailored to a declawed cat’s needs. Consider alternatives like regular nail trims or soft caps before resorting to declawing any cat yourself.
When adopting a declawed cat, the most important thing is to give them a loving, caring home for their lifetime. With compassion and patience, declawed cats can live long, happy lives as beloved family members.