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The Question of Declawing
By Faxon Animal Rescue League
Imagine that your cat has taken an interest in your favorite chair. She seems drawn to its soft fabric and can’t pass the chair without digging in her claws and scratching it. You see that the fabric is beginning to show wear from Kitty’s attention and you worry that soon it will be in tatters. What do you do?
For many people, the answer is declawing. Unfortunately, that answer is also an inhumane, painful and potentially harmful solution.
Declawing, (also called onychectomy), is not simply the removal of a cat’s toenails, it is serious surgery. The nail is part of the paw’s bone, just as your toenails and fingernails are part of your feet and fingers. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's toes, along with tendons and nerves. Imagine the first joint of your fingers being severed and you’ll understand the severity of the operation.
There is much controversy on the declawing issue. Many European countries have outlawed the procedure, and it has been condemned by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Humane Society of the United States, the Cat Fanciers Association, and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights. The City of West Hollywood (California) even passed an ordinance banning local vets from performing the surgery.
Side effects of declawing can be debilitating and can include pain, post-surgical complications like infection, lameness, and re-growth of claws, joint stiffness and arthritis from an altered gait, and litter box avoidance. Further, after declawing, cats may become more prone to biting, out of sheer frustration.
With all of the negatives to declawing, consider some alternatives that will save your cat pain and trauma, and your furniture from being a scratching post. But first, why do cats scratch?
It is natural for cats to scratch and it is an inherent part of being feline.
Territorial by nature, cats mark their environment through scratching. But it’s not the physical result of their scratching that defines a cat’s areas of influence; it’s the scent from a special gland in their paws that’s left behind after they scratch.
Scratching is exercise for cats; it works the forequarters of their bodies and it feels good. Scratching also keeps cats’ nails from growing too long and digging into their tender paws.
So, you can see that a cat isn’t a cat without scratching!
What can I do about scratching?
Remember, scratching is innate behavior for cats, so you need to find a solution that is natural to the animal’s instincts. Scratching posts are a great way to keep Kitty off your couch, but be sure to buy one that is tall enough for her to extend her full body, and that is secure and will not fall over. Sisal posts are ideal, since the texture is rough and is satisfying to rip and shred with the nails. The reverse side of a scrap of carpet can also be used, just make sure that it’s stationary.
Trimming the pin-sharp nails of a cat is another solution to scratching, but must be done carefully and precisely. The desired effect is simply to blunt the claw tip but be extraordinarily careful not to cut the pale pink area of the claw – that’s living tissue and will be very painful when cut and will bleed profusely.
Does your cat need a manicure? There is a product on the market called Soft Paws® that is easy to use, will keep your cat happy and your furniture scratch-free. These are 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. Simply trim the sharp point of your cat’s paws, apply a special adhesive into each cap, and apply directly over each claw. The caps come in several colors as well as clear. The caps blunt the sharpness of the nails, but they act as if they were part of the cat, retracting into the paw as usual. Soft Paws® should not be applied to outdoor cats, as their natural claws are their only means of defense. However, if cats wearing Soft Paws® do get outside, they can defend themselves with their rear paws, it is just not their first instinct.
The Sylvan Animal Clinic of the Faxon Animal Rescue League, at 474 Durfee Street, Fall River, will apply Soft Paws® for $15. It is a quick and easy procedure and the tips last up to six weeks. Call the Clinic at 508-679-6122 to make an appointment.
Remember that there are humane alternatives to declawing. Do it for your cat and for your good conscience.
Faxon Animal Rescue League
Visit the League and the Clinic at 474 Durfee Street, Fall River, MA 02720 or view our adoptable animals at www.faxonarl.org. For more information or directions call 508-676-1061. The shelter and the Sylvan Animal Clinic are open Tuesday, Wednesday & Saturday 9:00am - 5:00pm and Thursday from 12:00pm - 7:00pm. Call 508-679-6122 to make an appointment or 508-676-1061 with questions about the shelter.
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