An American controversy
Declawing cats in America has been a surgical procedure that has been accepted and un-challenged for decades. However, more and more public awareness campaigns and scientific studies have caused the AVMA, veterinary schools, and pet owners to re-think this surgery that at least 23 other countries (England, Scotland, Wales, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand) have banned, calling it in-humane except in extreme circumstances.
Taking a closer look
Onychectomy, the surgical procedure more commonly referred to as declawing, is coming under closer scrutiny now days in the United States. While the prospect of living with Kitty and not having to go through training Kitty not to climb your drapes or use your couch for a scratching post may sound great in the beginning, more and more cat owners are re-considering this once thought harmless and safe procedure.
Re-assessment
As information continues to be our most valuable asset today, people are gathering and analyzing the information they discover and assimilating it into tools they can use to make informed decisions. That is exactly what is happening in the arena of the veterinary practice of declawing cats in the United States. You may be surprised to learn that these shifts in thoughts are emerging from situations encountered in the big cats (or wild cats) that have undergone declawing for various reasons.
Circus tiger cubs and lions raised in captivity for the commercial gain of their owners have been declawed as young cubs, many times on all four paws, leaving them with chronic pain and health problems such as the “pebble-in-the-shoe” sensation when walking (from bone fragments left over from the declawing surgery), arthritis, and lameness. It is not uncommon for a claw to grow back, after declawing surgery; however, it may grow back mis-aligned (growing upward inside the toe, causing excruciating pain).
Once the cat loses its primary form of defense, its claws, it becomes much more disposed to biting to defend itself. Cat bites are dangerous and require medical intervention. In the case of the circus cat or the private big cat owner that wanted a cool pet, the cat suddenly becomes a liability and is normally put down unless a rescue group becomes aware of the abandonment in time to help.
Non-essential (or beneficial to the animal) surgeries
Big cat rescues in California have been instrumental in promoting public awareness of the realities of declawing in an effort to enlighten cat lovers and help them make good, informed decisions about owning cats and providing for their well-being and not just for their own convenience. Largely due to their efforts, declawing big cats has been illegal in the United States since 2006. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) joined forces with them in 2004, standing in opposition to big cat declawing based on the adverse effects these cats commonly experienced as results of that surgery.
Veterinarian colleges are now rethinking and reshaping their teaching on not only declawing, but on other non-essential procedures that have been routinely performed on pets, such as tail docking, ear cropping, de-meowing or de-barking. None of these procedures benefits the animal in any way. Some of the procedures have even resulted in the animal’s death before it can even recover from the surgery.
Laser declaw surgery
The most recent trend in declawing is laser surgery. Proponents of this method tout that it is far superior to conventional methods of declawing. Patients experience less bleeding and a shorter healing period . However, the surgery is the same surgery; it’s just done with a laser rather than a clipper or blade. Laser equipment is VERY expensive. The cost is passed along to the client, making this choice the most expensive one. Something else to think about is the learning curve the veterinarian must undergo while becoming skilled at performing the laser surgery. Patients may still experience phantom pain for years after declawing, no matter what method has been used. Because cats walk on their toes, all their weight is placed on the point of amputation.
Tendonectomy – alternative to declawing?
In the best interest of your cat, a tendonectomy should not be considered as a viable alternative to declawing. This procedure clips the tendons in the cat’s paw that allows it to extend and retract its claws. Because the cat can no longer retract its claws you will have to continually keep its claws trimmed (life-long management) to help prevent them from catching on things. Moreover, the claws in a tendonectomy patient will naturally grow in a circular manner into the paw pads causing pain and infection unless the owner is able to trim the nails on a regular basis.
Safe, beneficial alternatives to declawing
Cats are intelligent animals and can be taught to use scratching posts (sisal rope posts are the best) to exercise their claws on. Scratching is an innate feline behavior that is actually a form of territory marking. Your cat just needs to learn that the scratching post is the acceptable place in your home for him or her to scratch. Make sure the post is stable; cats won’t use one if it wiggles or topples over. It also needs to be in an area of your home where the family spends most of its time, an area of prominence. This is due, again, to the fact that part of the reason cats scratch is to mark their territory. Make sure all Kitty’s time around the post is pleasurable. You can spray catnip spray on the post; make sure the post has attractive feathers or toys on it, enticing Kitty to play on the post. When you play with Kitty, do it by the post.
If Kitty is persistent upon scratching on unacceptable objects, try putting double-sided tape on the object; cats dislike the stickiness on their paws. They also have an aversion to citrus smells, like lemon or orange, for example. Try getting a citrus spray to spray the object with as a deterrent to Kitty’s scratching. In some cases, a spray bottle filled with water sprayed on Kitty when he or she scratches in the inappropriate place can also serve as reinforcement not to scratch on that object.
So you say you don’t have the time or the inclination for teaching Kitty about acceptable scratching. Be encouraged! There are good alternatives to declawing your cat. One of the best alternatives is Soft Paws® (lightweight vinyl caps that you apply over your cat’s own claws). They have rounded edges, so your cat’s scratching doesn’t damage your home and furnishings. They are purchased in a kit and are easily applied with an adhesive that comes with the kit. This solution last for approximately 6 weeks, at which time they will need to have new caps applied. Most cats don’t mind wearing them a bit! Soft Paws® come in different sizes and colors and are available online at http://www.softpaws.com. Alternatively, you may call 1-800-989-2542 to place your order.
Final Thoughts
Our pets are beloved members of our families and close companions. As we do for our family, we should also do for our pets. They bring us years of love and enjoyment and have been proven to be good for our health. Therefore, we should do our best to make sure we are providing for their well-being in the best manner possible which includes making informed decisions about their quality of life.
