Cat Declawing Information

Declawing a cat is exactly what it sounds like---removing the cat's claws to stop undesirable scratching. This is done under an anesthetic and typically requires one or two nights' stay at a veterinarian's office. Organizations such as the Humane Society and the Partnership for Animal Welfare consider declawing inhumane, but both agree it has its place in certain situations, such as the presence of cancerous nail bed tumors.

  1. Types

    • There are three types of declawing surgeries: the Resco clipper method, the disarticulation method and the laser method. The Resco clipper method is the most common and uses a sterile nail trimmer to cut through the bone of the third digit of the cat's toe. The disarticulation method involves the disconnection of the ligaments holding the third bone in place, effectively removing the entire third bone. The laser declaw uses a laser to remove the third toe bone in a similar way to the disarticulation method.

    Considerations

    • A cat's claws are its first line of defense against attackers. Once removed, the cat is less likely to be able to fight off enemies and is more likely to be hurt in a fight. As a result, many people do not allow a declawed cat out of the house.

    Alternatives

    • Many owners choose to consider alternatives to declawing before proceeding with the surgery. Keeping the cat's claws trimmed can help, as well as providing scratching posts around the house, according to the Humane Society. Training the cat to use a scratching post rather than the furniture can be tricky, but catnip sprays help, as do treats and praise for using it correctly. Another alternative suggested by the Humane Society is the application of soft plastic caps for the cat's claws, which are glued on like fake human nails and last six weeks.

    Warnings

    • Declawing is essentially the amputation of the cat's last toe joint, according to the Partnership for Animal Welfare, which says the human equivalent would be amputating the fingers at the first joint below the fingernail. The procedure is painful and requires anesthesia, as well as pain-relieving medication after surgery. Some cats may be allergic to anesthesia or pain medication.

    Expert Insight

    • Christianne Schelling, a veterinarian and graduate of the University of California's Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, believes declawing is inhumane and is a form of mutilation. Dr. Schelling mentions that declawing is an American answer to the problem of destructive clawing, as the procedure is illegal in many European countries.