Should you Declaw Your Cat?
There are multiple risks associated with a declaw surgery- anesthesia complications, bleeding excessively, and intense pain are some.
Declawing has become less and less common over the years- and for good reason. More pet owners are becoming educated on the subject of declawing and its associated side effects. Declawing can be extremely painful and lead to lasting physical and behavioral complications that impact the quality of your cat's life.
Although declawing is not banned in California, several municipalities, including Los Angeles, have banned it. Still, many people choose to declaw to prevent destruction of furniture or other similar behaviors.
What is Declawing?
Declawing, or onychectomy, is a surgical procedure where the claw and nail bed is amputated on each toe. In a human, this would be the equivalent of amputating to the first knuckle in your finger. (Yikes!)
There are multiple risks associated with a declaw surgery- anesthesia complications, bleeding excessively, and intense pain are some. As with any surgery, it’s important to ask yourself beforehand if it’s necessary to the health and wellness of your pet. Many veterinarians today will argue that declawing is not only unnecessary, but also inhumane.
Long Term Effects of Declawing
The risks that come with surgery are short term risks. Most people who opt for the surgery assume once their cat has healed, there isn’t anything else to worry about. However, it’s been shown that declawing can lead to severe physical and behavioral problems in the long run.
Increased Biting
Claws are a cat's first line of defense. Without those, the next option is biting. A well meaning family might choose to declaw their cat to protect their children, only to have it backfire when the cat starts biting. Cat bites are much more likely to get infected than a cat scratch- or even a dog bite. This is because a cat's fangs are slender and sharp, which causes them to puncture deeper into the skin, allowing bacteria to flourish unless cleaned appropriately.
Urinating Outside the Litter Box
Many cats experience long term pain after being declawed. Walking on litter and using their paws to cover up their business can be extremely painful, so many cats will find an easier place to use the bathroom, such as your nice carpet or freshly made bed.
Negative Personality Shift
Talk to any vet or groomer who has worked with declawed kitties, and they’ll all say the same thing. A large amount of the declawed cats they work with are less than friendly, difficult to handle, and always stressed. A declawed cat might be this way due to being in a constant state of fight or flight since they cannot protect themselves adequately. If the cat is also experiencing lasting pain, these behavioral issues can be even worse.
Long Term Health Issues (and Vet Bills!)
Declawed cats have a predisposition to develop arthritis, joint mobility problems, and chronic pain. This means decreased quality of life for your cat, and also many vet trips for you. Declawing also prevents your cat from following its natural instincts to scratch, stretch, and knead.
Alternatives to Declawing
Scratching is a natural and healthy behavior to see in cats! But it’s understandable that most cat owners would prefer their cat not scratch up their furniture. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives to declawing that are great for everyone involved.
Providing a designated scratching post and teaching your cat to use it is an amazing and easy option. There are many types of scratching posts or pads you can use, from affordable cardboard, to more permanent wood structures.
Keeping your cat's nails trimmed also helps prevent excess scratching. Getting your cat used to nail trims as a kitten is ideal, but it is very easily introduced as an adult too. If you need help learning how, or if your cat is being difficult, vet offices and groomers offer the service for a generally very affordable price.
If your cat still prefers furniture, there are other options such as sticky tape to turn a once appealing table leg into a cat's worst nightmare.
If all else fails, Soft Claws are tiny plastic caps that go over your cat's nails. They don’t hurt the cat, but they prevent the damage caused by the nail. Many veterinarians recommend them as an alternative to declawing.