Declawing Your Cat--Not!
"Alternatives to cat declawing make this
surgical procedure completely unnecessary."
What is Declawing?Many people think that removing their cat's claws is a simple procedure. In fact, it is a surgical procedure (called an onychectomy) where an entire section of each of your cat's toes is amputated. It's similar to having your own fingers amputated at the first joint. Your cat is anesthetized during the surgery to remove her claws. Veterinarians will often combine onychectomy surgery with sterilization surgery. The one advantage of this is that it helps avoid your cat from being under anesthesia for additional time. However, your cat will then have to recover from two surgical procedures. Is Declawing Your Cat Ever Necessary? Removing your cat's nails is rarely ever considered medically or behaviorally necessary. And surgery on all four paws is very rarely justified. In fact, in the United Kingdom and many other countries, this procedure is considered inhumane and is even illegal to perform. What Can Happen After Surgery? Many cats recover from the surgical procedure with few or no complications. The pain experienced from the amputation surgery could be minimal, post-surgery pain. However, some cats experience severe pain after the surgery, and others will experience chronic pain after having their claws removed. There may be bleeding and infections, nail regrowth, loss of feeling in the toes. Possible infections from the procedure could require additional surgery. Behavioral problems can also occur after your cat is declawed. The Humane Society of the United States says that many animal shelters report that a large number of declawed cats are surrendered by their people due to biting and litter box problems. One possible cause of the litter box problems is from having to use a different litter box filler after surgery. Shredded newspaper is often recommended for the litter box after surgery to protect your cat's tender toes and to try to reduce the irritation from regular cat litter. Your cat may not like the new filler and may use other places in your home to take care of business. Post-Surgery Recommendations If you decide you absolutely must take the very extreme measure of having your cat's toes partially amputated, be sure to follow your veterinarian's post-surgery recommendations closely to try to avoid any additional health problems. Outdoor Cats Have Additional Concerns After The Procedure A cat who goes outside with no claws cannot defend herself from other cats, dogs, or other predators. In addition, your cat's ability to climb trees and to escape from harmful animals will be seriously affected. Declawing an outdoor cat is very rarely a good idea. Why Does Your Cat Scratch Anyway? Cat scratching is an innate behavior for your cat, and something that they need to do. Cat scratching serves various health functions for your cat. If you're concerned about damage to your furniture, there are plenty of safe and humane ways to protect your furniture. The best way to protect your furniture is to train your cat to use a
scratching post,
or other scratching alternative, such as a
cardboard scratcher.
Alternatives to Declawing There are many humane alternatives available to help you and protect your cat. They include: If you're considering having your cat's claws removed, please consider all other possible alternatives first. Your cat's behavior can be modified and she can be retrained. Declawing should only be considered as an absolute last resort, if ever. The potential disadvantages and pain to your cat do not outweigh the possible benefits. Related Topics:
Trimming Cat Claws - How to safely trim your cat's nails.
Cat Scratching Posts
- How to choose the best cat scratching post.
Search My Healthy Cat or the internet for more feline information.
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