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Declawing Facts

1. Amputation of the toe at the last digit.  A graphic comparison in human terms would be cutting off a person’s finger at the last joint.  Bone, nerve, joint capsule, ligaments and tendons must all be amputated in 10 separate, painful amputations. The only flexor tendon of the toe is severed leaving cats unable to flex the toe. During recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing.  Wheelchairs and bedpans are not an option for a cat. 

2. One of the highest complication rates of all surgeries.  Studies published in veterinary journals have proven that 50% of cats have one or more complications immediately after surgery, and 20% develop complications after release from the hospital.  Complications include hemorrhage (both during surgery and post-op is fairly frequent), nerve damage, infection, bone chips that prevent healing, painful regrowth of a deformed claw inside the paw, and chronic back and joint pain as shoulder, leg and back muscles weaken.  Other complications include loss of blood flow to paw from bandaging (which can result in gangrene and limb amputation), footpad laceration during surgery and abscess formation due to regrowth of a bone fragment which may necessitate a second surgery.  Infection will occasionally occur when all precautions have been taken.  Due to this higher complication rate, declawing often requires longer hospital stays than most other surgeries.   

3. Cats walk on their toes, unlike most mammals.  Your cat’s body is perfectly designed to give it the grace, agility and beauty that is unique to felines.  Their back, shoulder, paw and leg joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves are naturally designed to support and distribute the cat’s weight across its toes as it walks, runs and climbs.  A cat’s claws are used for balance, for exercising, and for stretching the muscles in their legs, back, shoulders and paws.  Declawing drastically alters the conformation of their feet and causes the feet to meet the ground at an unnatural angle that can cause back pain similar to that in humans caused by wearing improper shoes.

4. Scratching is a natural behavior for cats.  Its part of the “catness” of a cat. Scratching provides play, exercise, and allows stretching of their muscles.  It removes the dead husks from their claws, marks territory, both visually and with scent glands in their paws.  Claws are a cat’s primary means of defense and declawing leaves them prey to predators putting them at increased risk of injury or death if they ever escape to the outdoors.

5. Personality change?  It has been questioned whether declawing causes some degree of privation; a condition resulting from lack or loss of basic necessities or comforts of life, with respect to satisfying the instinctive impulses to climb, chase, exercise and to mark territory.  Some declawed cats behave as they did before they were declawed, but others undergo a profound personality change.  They may become extremely timid or unusually aggressive (biting).  Many experts in animal behavior believe declawed cats may stop using the litter box due to loss of scratching sensation.  Whether such problems occur from the trauma of the surgery or the absence of claws is unknown.

6. Declawing is used in research.  In veterinary medicine, the clinical procedure serves as a model of severe pain for testing the efficacy of analgesic (pain relief) drugs.

7. Inhumane or Illegal?  Declawing is pretty much an American thing done to provide convenience for people.  In England declawing is termed “unnecessary mutilation”. 

Here is a partial list of countries in which declawing is considered illegal or extremely inhumane and only performed under extreme medical circumstances:

at Fanciers association “perceives the declawing of cats (onychectomy) and the severing of digital tendons (tendonectomy) to be elective surgical procedures which are without benefit to the cat.   Because of post operative discomfort or pain, and potential future behavioral or physical effects, CFA disapproves of declawing or tendonectomy surgery.”      

       The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) position on declawing cats: “A major concern that the AVAR has about declawing is the attitude that is evident in the situation.  The cat is treated as if he or she is an inanimate object who can be modified, even to the point of surgical mutilation, to suit a person’s perception of what a cat should be.  It would seem more ethical and humane to accept that claws and scratching are inherent feline attributes, and to adjust one’s life accordingly if a cat is desired as a companion.  If this is unacceptable, then perhaps a different companion would be in order.”   

       Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Professor of Behavioral Pharmacology and Director of the Behavior Clinic at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine and internationally known specialist in domestic animal behavioral research, explains declawing:

"The inhumanity of the procedure is clearly demonstrated by the nature of cats' recovery from anesthesia following the surgery. Unlike routine recoveries, including recovery from neutering surgeries, which are fairly peaceful, declawing surgery results in cats bouncing off the walls of the recovery cage because of excruciating pain. Cats that are more stoic huddle in the corner of the recovery cage, immobilized in a state of helplessness, presumably by overwhelming pain. Declawing fits the dictionary definition of mutilation to a tee. Words such as deform, disfigure, disjoint, and dismember all apply to this surgery. Partial digital amputation is so horrible that it has been employed for torture of prisoners of war, and in veterinary medicine, the clinical procedure serves as model of severe pain for testing the efficacy of analgesic drugs. Even though analgesic drugs can be used postoperatively, they rarely are, and their effects are incomplete and transient anyway, so sooner or later the pain will emerge."  (Excerpted from The Cat Who Cried For Help, Dodman N, Bantam Books, New York).

8. What’s next?  Declawing dogs?  As a matter of fact, it’s already being done!

QUESTIONS?

1. What if the alternative to declawing was euthanasia?  We should not allow ourselves to be held ‘emotional hostage’ like this.  It is ethically inappropriate for veterinarians to submit to this form of moral blackmail from their clients.  If a person really would kill her or his cat in this case, it is reasonable to question the suitability of that person as a feline guardian, especially when there are millions of non-declawed cats living in harmony with people.  PAR believes that people who considering adopting a cat should first learn about feline behavior prior to adopting a cat.  It is both humane and ethical to accept that claws and scratching are inherent feline attributes, and to adjust one’s life accordingly if a cat is desired as a companion.  If this is unacceptable, then perhaps a different companion would be in order. 

2. Why do indoor cats need to defend themselves?   It is impossible to guarantee that a cat will never need to defend itself.  It may accidentally get outside, escape from a fire, or need to protect itself indoors from other animals.  More important, being declawed makes cats feel defenseless and can cause a constant state of stress leaving them more prone to disease such as immune system suppression, cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome.  Some cats become so traumatized by this painful mutilation that they may end up spending their maladjusted lives perched on top of cupboards and refrigerators, out of reach of real and imaginary predators against whom they no longer have any adequate defense.   Declawed cats must resort to using their teeth when threatened.

3. Why don’t all cats act painful after being declawed?  Animals don’t show pain like humans.  In the wild they must hide their weakness to survive.  Veterinarians know that animals respond to pain by hiding, sleeping more than normal, not eating or drinking, not being affectionate, immune suppression, fever and delayed healing times. 

4. Why don’t all cats exhibit behavioral problems after being declawed?  Some declawed cats behave as they did before they were declawed, but others undergo a profound personality change.  Just like some people have different levels of pain tolerance, and adaptability to their environment, different personalities respond differently.  Becoming withdrawn and introverted is abnormal behavior.

5. Why do you recommend spay/neutering if it causes pain and has associated anesthetic risk?  Spaying and neutering provides medical benefit to the pet.  It eliminates ovarian, uterine and testicular cancer, pyometra’s (life threatening uterine infections), and unwanted litters resulting in high euthanasia rates. It reduces unwanted behavioral problems such as: aggression, roaming, marking territory etc.  Spaying/neutering procedures cause minimal pain, shorter hospital stays, less complications and quicker recovery times. 

6. How can I stop my cat from destructive scratching?  Regular clipping of nails reduces need for husk removal. Providing appropriate surfaces for scratching helps too.  Scratching posts made of sisal rope, hemp or carpet are best.  They should be tall enough for the cat to stretch out completely, sturdy enough so it won’t tip over and placed near couches, windows etc. on every story of the house.  Making inappropriate area’s unattractive with plastic, double sided sticky tape, and citrus fragrance also helps control inappropriate scratching.  Temporary nail caps are another option.  Never physically punish a cat or they will lose trust in you.