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Claw School (Declawing Cats 101)

Many people don’t realize that declawing cats involves amputating part of their toes. Since cats walk on the part of the toe that’s amputated, many declawed cats show signs of chronic pain in their arms and back. Many people are familiar with cats’ post-amputation behavioral problems, but few realize these are probably due to physical consequences of amputation.

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Why the controversy?

Due to the resulting health problems, many veterinarians in the U.S. refuse to perform the surgery (unless it is medically necessary) and many countries have outlawed the practice. (Declawing cats is uncommon outside North America, countries that have made it illegal have done so in part to stop the practice before it becomes more common.) Both the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners do not support the practice of declawing cats unless it is medically necessary for the cats and/or their humans.

Lots of people get very upset when talking about declawing cats. I think it’s because they believe it indicates that one’s furniture is more important than their cats’ well-being. (At least from the “actions speak louder than words” perspective.) I’m not as judgmental about the practice as some people are because I know that some cats only have homes because their people are able to amputate. I mean, seriously, I’m all for declawing if it means a cat gets to stay with his family instead of being sent to a shelter, euthanized, or kicked out onto the street.

Before you read further, I want to be up-front about my bias and about how difficult it is for me to write about this topic in a fair and balanced way. My own cats are not declawed. And I admit that I’m bothered when I hear that someone has declawed their cats without first understanding the consequences (shame on veterinarians who don’t give people enough information first!), or when I hear that someone has declawed a cat who has shown no signs of scratching up valuable furniture. I’ve lived with cats most of my life and have never had a problem with cats scratching on things they aren’t supposed to. (That means living with the “problem” of a cat who scratches up the wrong things is completely foreign to me.) So I realize that I might have a different opinion of declawing if I’d had expensive furniture destroyed by cats for whom alternatives did not work.

Medical problems common in declawed cats

Removing the tip of a cat’s front paws “changes the way the cat’s paws function, and this creates stress on the joints of the paw, wrist, elbow, shoulder, and spine.” (Hofve) Studies indicate that declawed cats walk differently because their weight is shifted from the tips of their toes to the back of their front paw pads and the hind legs, with their hind legs bearing more weight than they’re designed for. In cats with their paws in-tact, their front legs bear about 60% of their weight.

Within about 6 months after amputation, some cats adjust in ways that their weight distribution is closer to what it was like pre-surgery. But the physical stresses last a lifetime and worsen with age.

Declawed cats are at an increased risk of developing arthritis and show signs of pain in their back, hips, neck, and legs. Dr. Hofve states that “In most older declawed cats, the toes are completely ‘frozen,’ immovable even under deep anesthesia.” (Yikes!)

To see x-rays and photographs of the postural changes, visit the article by Dr. Hofve at http://www.littlebigcat.com/declawing/physical-consequences-of-declawing/.

Like many people who work with lots of cats, I’ve perceived behavior differences in declawed cats. Primarily, they’re more aggressive and more quick to bite. Most people attribute this to pain developed due to postural changes. Another theory is that they’ve lost their primary, natural defense mechanism. Some of these cats also develop anxiety-related problems, like inappropriate urination.

After declawing, most vets recommend that cats be given joint-support supplements to minimize the problems caused by a change in their posture. Vets also tend to teach people about how cats indicate when they’re in pain, so they can be put on pain medication before the pain gets too bad.

Why do people have their cats declawed?

There are medical conditions for which declawing cats is recommended, such as claws that are malformed, damaged beyond repair, or have a tumor growing in the area.

In addition, some people can’t be exposed to the bacteria on a cat’s claws. People with suppressed immune systems or those who are on blood thinners fall into this category.

But the majority of declawing surgeries are because of a something humans perceive as a problem: a cat wanting to scratch.

Alternatives to declawing if destructive scratching is a problem

There are a handful of approaches to curbing destructive scratching by cats. None of these alternatives are fail-safe, but they’re each worth trying if you cat begins to scratch inappropriate things. If you find something that works, celebrate! If not, try another of these tactics. I’ve only met a few cats (out of many dozens I’ve lived with or worked with) who continue destructive scratching after their people have tried the following.

First and foremost is redirecting the scratching by training them to use a scratching post, cardboard scratcher, or scratching ramp. This is a very effective strategy for most kittens but is more difficult for adult cats. For this to work, the post must be stable (not wobbly when used) and placed in an area that is highly visible. For some reason, most cats prefer to scratch where they’ll be seen.

Deterring cats by applying double stick tape (available in widths of 2+ inches from most pet supply stores) is another approach that works well with some cats. I’ve only known a couple cats for whom this tape has worked, but it’s worth a try since it’s an inexpensive & easy option.

Another relatively tactic is to try a product called “soft claws”: vinyl caps that are glued over a cat’s claws. To be effective, these must be applied correctly: trimming the cat’s claws first, then applying the caps with surgical adhesive. Many groomers will apply these so you won’t have to do it yourself. (I’ve known of people who accidentally glued a few toes together. Ooops!) These caps have dull tips so in addition to making a cat’s scratching ineffective, they also protect wood floors from claw marks & fabric from getting snagged on sharp claws.

For some cats, keeping their nails trimmed solves the problem. Ideally, a cat’s claws are trimmed weekly. But I know few people who do it that often. By keeping the claws trimmed, they’re less likely to snag on fabric, scratch up flooring, or poke people. Some cats resist having their claws trimmed, but some don’t mind at all. Maru, for example, seems to actually enjoy it!

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