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AAHA AccreditedTopics Below: General Info | Declawing | Declawing Alternatives | Behavioral Effects
General Info
A cat's claw is a specialized toenail with an assortment of functions, including feeding, grooming and territorial marking. The claw grows slightly in length but grows primarily in layers, like the layers of an onion. As older layers are shed, underlying sharper ones are revealed. When a cat scratches a surface, it does not sharpen its nails; rather, it removes the outer worn layers.
Periodic trimming of the sharp tips prevents serious injury to others or damage to property. Ask your veterinarian to show you how you can do this at home, or periodically take your cat to your veterinarian's office for nail trimming. After the nails are trimmed, it takes only several weeks for the sharp tips to grow back. As long as your cat does not scratch inappropriate surfaces, such as furniture, nail trimming should be sufficient to prevent excessive damage.
A cat that has become destructive with its claws should be encouraged to use a scratch post. If it has already selected an inappropriate location to scratch, place a scratch post directly in front of or over this location. You may need to try several different types of scratching posts or boards to determine your cat's preference.
It may also be helpful to place the board vertically, at a slight incline, or horizontally on the floor. To encourage your cat to scratch, dangle a small toy from the top so your cat must stretch its front legs along the post's surface to reach the toy. If your cat enjoys catnip, encourage your cat to scratch against the post by lightly sprinkling catnip on its surface. A cat's normal response to catnip, which includes pawing at the source of the herb, can be transferred to use of a scratch post.
A cat's claws are essential for its own defense and for more offensive types of aggression, such as predatory aggression and territorial aggression. When aggression is easily provoked in a cat, the type of aggression must be diagnosed and the circumstances that cause the aggressive response must be identified.
Declawing cannot be considered a treatment for any type of aggression because it does not eliminate the underlying problem. Scratching by an aggressive cat is a sign of underlying emotional problems. Owners may be so distressed by the injury or damage caused by their cat's scratching that they become disinterested in retraining or treating the cat's underlying problem. Your decision on whether to declaw a destructive cat should be based on your own needs and the long-term welfare of your cat. Whatever approach you choose, the kindest one is the option that allows you and your pet to enjoy each other for many years to come.
[Top of Page]Surgical Removal Of Claws
The surgery known as declawing involves removal of the last joint of each toe, along with the claw. It may be performed on the front paws only, but occasionally is performed on all 4 feet.
This surgery is performed while the animal is completely anesthetized so that no pain is felt during the procedure. Each tiny incision may be sutured with absorbable material, closed with surgical glue or allowed to heal naturally (surgeon's choice). The paws are then bandaged before the cat regains consciousness. Compression bandages are usually removed the day after surgery. Most cats are sent home 1-2 days after the surgery.
Cats are in some pain during the immediate postoperative period, but most are comfortable by the time they are released from the veterinarian's care. For the first week or so, a newly declawed cat may step gingerly. However, they recover rapidly and usually without complication. The younger a cat is, the faster the recovery. Young cats often show no discomfort within days after the procedure.
[Top of Page]Alternatives to Declawing
Another less popular surgical approach is probably less painful, has shorter recovery time and may satisfy your reasons for wanting your cat declawed. This surgery involves cutting the ligament that allows a cat to retract its claws. In this procedure, the claws are not removed but are rendered essentially useless. You may wish to discuss this surgical technique with your veterinarian as an alternative to declawing. In theory, this will prevent your cat from intentionally using its claws. Realistically, however, the claws will continue to grow and may still present a problem unless kept well trimmed. Declawing can always be performed at a later date.
A nonsurgical approach involves application of plastic tips, which are glued in place to cover each individual claw. The plastic tips are blunt, so that even if a cat goes through the motions of scratching, the effects are minimized. Depending on your cat's temperament and tolerance, and on your patience and dexterity, this product provides a pain-free alternative. The nail tips are not permanent and may need to be re-applied frequently. Some cats must have new plastic tips re-glued every few weeks, while others manage to remove them the day they are applied. For more information on this product, contact your veterinarian.
[Top of Page]Behavioral Effects of Declawing
There is no evidence that declawing a cat will make it more aggressive or more apt to bite. A cat that is aggressive before declawing will still be aggressive after declawing. Remember that this surgery does not treat the reason your cat scratches or bites, but it will eliminate the unpleasant results of scratching.
Young kittens that have not been declawed should be encouraged to use a scratch post. This does not mean, however, that all kittens are easily trained to use a scratch post, nor does it mean that an adult cat cannot be trained to scratch there.
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