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The Truth About Declawing
You’ve brought home a new cat or kitten. It’s so exciting! They’re exploring the house and suddenly you hear an odd sound. A rhythmic ticking… or is it a ripping? On a quest to discover the source of the sound, you’re shocked to find your beautiful new furry friend on their own mission to de-stuff your favorite recliner! Upset, you call a friend who tells you “oh, my cat did that too! Plus, she even scratched my grandkids! I got her declawed, problem solved!”
Eagerly, you call a few vet offices and discover that many don’t do elective declawings. Why, you might ask? Because after years of research and observation, we have discovered the lasting damage that declawing surgeries actually cause cats! There are much safer, more humane ways to curb unwanted clawing and scratching than to declaw the pet you promised to care for.
What’s wrong with declawing?
Onychectomy is not simply a removal of claws themselves, but the surgical removal of bone structures at the end of your cat’s toes. The human equivalent is losing the last joint on every finger and toe.
This can cause a variety of problems such as:
- Chronic pain
- Nerve pain, pain from bone fragments, even phantom pain from losing part of a limb
- Limping or lameness
- Arthritis
- Recurrent infections of the toes
- Nails growing back improperly
- Biting
- Due to pain, inability to use claws, or out of frustration
- Inability to defend themselves
- Even indoor cats are exposed to threats, or could sneak out
- Litter box avoidance
- Cats experiencing pain related to their feet are highly sensitive to the textures they walk on, making litter box issues a major concern for many declawed cats
- Requires anesthesia and all the associated risks of any major surgery
Scratching is a natural behavior!
Just like dogs chew, cats scratch. They are biologically designed to file their claws for survival, and they accomplish this by scratching. Cats require appropriate surfaces to express this behavior, which means providing enriching and attractive scratching options.
You may have tried similar things in the past, but unfortunately for us cat-servants, it’s up to the cat what an “enriching” and “attractive” surface is! This means you may have to experiment with different textures, shapes, and materials to determine what keeps your cat interested. You can encourage your cat to engage with their scratching options by feeding them on their cat tree, putting the cardboard scratcher by their favorite arm of the couch, sprinkling treats in the scratcher box, or sprinkling some fresh catnip on the scratcher daily.
You can also work on making the surfaces your cat likes to scratch less available to them when unsupervised, or use a scent-based deterrent on the couch while offering a scratching post with treats and catnip on it nearby.
Additionally, you should keep your cat’s nails trimmed. By clipping your cat’s nails you can prevent harmful scratching and ensure that there is no overgrowth. Untrimmed nails can become extremely sharp and can even grow into the toepad if not maintained properly.
Offering other forms of enrichment such as lick mats, treat dispensing toys, and interactive toys can help bust your cat’s boredom and expand their range of fun activities – away from your armchair.
We do not support declawing
The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter does not support declawing – and we’re in excellent, educated company! The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA), The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) have all expressed opposition to this procedure. VCA Animal Hospitals now decline to perform this elective procedure due to the serious ramifications to the cat’s health and wellbeing.
We are here for you!
If you need help with your cat’s destructive behavior, please reach out. Our mission is to keep cats healthy, happy, and thriving in their homes—scratching included! We’re here to share humane alternatives, practical tips, and resources to help you redirect unwanted behaviors while building a stronger bond with your kitty best friend. You can contact us any time.
Helpful Links and Sources
Scratch This NOT That! How to Redirect Your Cat’s Scratching
Humane Society of the United States: Declawing Fact Sheet
