Alternatives to Declawing Kittens

Declawing a kitten is much more than a manicure. It involves the amputation of the last bone in each toe, and the surgery caries the risk of excessive bleeding, infection, and severe pain that can last more than a week. Done properly, the surgery, called an onychectomy, prevents the claw from regrowing. This leaves declawed cats at high risk of injury if they escape the home because they can't defend themselves. Organizations concerned with the ethical treatment of cats, including the Cat Fanciers' Association, The Humane Society of the United States and the ASCPA strongly recommend against declawing kittens to prevent household damage and destruction, and suggest several more humane methods of controlling scratching behavior.

  1. Training

    • Kittens develop the desire to scratch and pull around the age of 4 or 5 weeks. When a cat is kept away from upholstery and carpet and offered acceptable scratching toys made of rope or cardboard during this developmental time, he may never develop the urge to scratch on inappropriate surfaces. A brief squirt with a water gun immediately stops a kitten's scratching behavior, but some people feel this method of discipline is cruel. If your kitten continues to scratch, you must decide whether squirting him is worth the risk that he may become fearful and shy.

    Trimming Nails

    • Trimming blunts the ends of the claws so that they do less damage. A kitten's claws need a trim every 10 days to two weeks. If your kitten has never had his claws trimmed, work into it gradually. Spend a little time each day gently massaging his paws and squeezing to pop the claw out. Once he is used to it, clip off the ends of the claws using sharp clippers. You will see a pink area inside the cat's claw. This is the quick, and if you cut into it the claw will bleed and the cat will experience pain. If you accidentally cut into the quick, stop the bleeding with styptic powder and end the session for the day.

    Products

    • Kittens find scratching posts and toys made of cardboard, sisal or rope enticing, and may never bother the furniture and carpet if provided with these diversions. Try a variety of textures in both horizontal and vertical positions. If your kitten doesn't confine his scratching to scratching posts, your vet can glue soft plastic caps to the end of his claws to prevent damage. You might also try a special tape available in specialty pet stores that you can apply to areas where you don't want the kitten to scratch.

    Special Circumstances

    • Declawing is sometimes necessary to protect the health of the kitten or his owner. The Cat Fanciers' Association concedes that the surgery may be necessary to maintain a bond between a cat and his owner if the owner has an immune system or bleeding disorder. Some veterinarians will declaw a cat if they feel that the animal is so destructive that the only other option is euthanasia.