Cats and Kittens - Declawing - Training and Behavior Help

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Declawing Cats: Manicure or Mutilation?

A cat's claws are used to capture prey, for climbing, and in self-defense. Claws are an integral part of a cat's life, but their use can also be a problem for cats' human cohabitants. Declawing, however, is a painful and permanently crippling procedure that should not be practiced. There are effective and humane alternatives to declawing that can eliminate damage from a cat's scratching.

Why do cats claw (scratch) objects?
Cats claw to maintain proper condition of the nails, for fun and exercise, and to mark territory visually as well as with scent. They stretch by digging their claws into something and pulling back against their own claw-hold. A cat's natural instinct to scratch serves both physical and psychological needs. Before domestication, cats satisfied these needs by clawing tree trunks. Domesticated cats can be trained to satisfy their desire to claw without damaging valuable property.

What happens when a cat is declawed?
Note the strong ligaments and tendons which give power to extend and retract the claws in the drawing.

When the end digit including the claw is removed, the sensory and motor nerves are cut, damaged and destroyed. They do not repair themselves or grow back for many months. There follows a wooden lack of feeling, then a tingling sensation during the long convalescence. The cat must walk on the stub end of the second digit. Sometimes a claw grows back, but not in the normal way. Rather, they grow up through the top of the paw creating a bloody sore. The physical effect of declawing is gradual weakening of the muscles of the legs, shoulders and back, imparing balance. Declawed cats must feel defenseless and certainly live with more stress in their lives. Despite its grace, a cat is not sure-footed. Without the ability to grasp with its claws, it can easily be injured in a fall.

Understanding declawing
Declawing involves several separate, painful amputations. It is a serious surgery, not just a manicure. The British Veterinary Associations calls declawing an "unnecessary mutilation." Indeed, it is illegal in most parts of Europe. Declawing a cat involves general anesthesia and amputation of the last joint of each toe, including the bones, not just the nail. Possible complications of this surgery include reaction to anesthetic, hemorrhage, bone chips which prevent healing, recurrent infections and damage to the radial nerve, pain, and possible abnormal regrowth of the nails. The nails may grow back inside the paw, causing pain but remaining invisible to the eye. Declawed cats need regular X-rays to monitor this problem. Declawing results in a gradual weakening of leg, shoulder, and back muscles, and, because of impaired balance, declawed cats have to relearn to walk much as would a person who lost his or her toes. Without claws, cats are virtually defenseless, and this often leads to neurosis and even skin and bladder problems.

Many veterinarians, have spoken out against declawing. Many vets refuse to perform the surgery, calling the operation cruel, and in most cases, unnecessary. Veterinarian Florence Barton says, "I won't perform this operation. The cat is missing [his or her] most important means of defense and feels very insecure." Without claws to mark their territory, even house-trained cats will often urinate and defecate outside the litter box in a desperate attempt to ward off intruders.

In The Cat Care Question and Answer Book veterinarian Barry Bush concurs: "Veterinary removal of the claws (onychectomy) is a painful mutilation which cannot be recommended under any circumstances." Dr. Louis J. Camuti, a practicing vet for more than 58 years sums up his objections this way: "I wouldn't declaw a cat if you paid me $1,000 per nail!"

Misconceptions about declawing
There are several misconceptions about declawing. It does not make cats more "mellow." Declawed cats may be morose, reclusive, and withdrawn, or they may be irritable, aggressive, and unpredictable. Many people think declawing makes a cat safer around babies, but this is far from true, as the lack of claws turns many cats into biters. Declawed cats feel so insecure, lacking their first line of defense, that they tend to bite more often as a means of self-protection. People who have their cats declawed simply do not understand how important claws are to a cat and do not know how else to deal with the problem. With a little effort and commitment to your cat's welfare, you can eliminate the excuse to declaw your cat and make him or her a better companion as well.

How to train your kitten or cat where to scratch

1. Regular nail trimmings.
When the cat is relaxed and unafraid, gently press on the toes until the claws extend. Use a pair of nail trimmers and cut only the tip of the nail, taking care not to damage the vein or quick, which is very painful if cut. If you have never trimmed a cat's nails before, ask a vet or experienced cat person to show you how the first time.The nail "hook" is what tears up upholstery, so when it is removed, damage is greatly reduced.

2. Buy or build two or more scratching posts.
Such posts must be sturdy, tall enough to allow the cat to completely stretch (3 feet or taller). A bark-covered log, a post covered with sisal, or a tightly woven burlap-covered post works well. Soft, fluffy, carpeted scratching posts don't work -- they are one of the greatest causes of declawing because cats often don't like the posts. If you use carpet, secure it to the posts with the rough backing on the outside; soft carpeting will not satisfy a cat's need to claw. Place one scratching post where the cat is already clawing, and another close to where he or she normally sleeps (cats like to stretch and scratch when they first wake up). Another option is the cardboard or sisal "scratching box," which lies flat on the floor. These are inexpensive and small enough to scatter around the house, allowing your cat easy access to an "approved" scratching spot at all times. They do wear out fairly quickly, however, and will need to be replaced every few months -- otherwise, cats may get frustrated and revert back to using furniture.

3. Give your cat specific instructions as to where to claw and where not to claw.
Place your cat on the new scratching post and move his or her paws, or pretend to scratch it yourself. This will scent the posts and encourage exploratory clawing. Make the post a "fun" place to be. Play games with your cat on and around the post and attach hanging strings, balls and/or bouncy wire toys to it. Sprinkle catnip on the post, too. (A once-a-week or so "refresher" application will keep your cat interested.) When kitty uses the post, reinforce this behavior with praise, but be careful not to startle or frighten him or her. When the cat claws furniture, never discourage them with physical force. Lukewarm water from a squirt gun or spray bottle directed at the back of the animal is often successful. During the training period, you may need to cover upholstery with plastic or other protection (cats don't like the slippery feel and will quickly learn to stay away).

Another option is Soft Paws Nail Caps for Cats. Soft Paws are soft, vinyl nail caps that are glued on over a cats' newly trimmed nails. They allow cats to scratch without harming anything - babies, people, or furniture. One package (30 caps, a 3-4 month's supply) is only about $14.95 at www.softpaws.com and they are also available at most pet supply stores.

An excellent book to help you understand your cat better is The New Natural Cat by Anitra Frazier, Campman and Co., Bridgeport, Conn., 1981. By understanding cat behavior and by using common-sense precautions and behavior modification methods, you can prevent clawing damage without inflicting pain on your feline companion.

References:
1.Townsend, Jean B., "How to Deal With Your Cat's Claws," Maryland Feline Society, Inc., 1982.
2.Marsden, Donna, "Cats With Claws: It's Only Natural," Washington Humane Society News, Spring 1995, p. 3.
3.Riddle, Roz, The City Cat, Charles Scribner Sons, p. 40, 1984.
4.Place for Cats, New York, N.Y., 1993.
5.Wilbourn, Carole C., Cats Prefer It This Way, Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1976.
6.Townsend, op. cit.
7.Barton, Florence, D.V.M., "Ask the Vet," Cat Fancy.
8."Declawing: Convenient But Cruel?," PAWS News, Feb. 1989.
9."Paws Come With Claws," Friends of Animals brochure.

If you find this information helpful, please make a donation to the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA. You can donate online or mail a check made out to PHS to:

BEST Training
Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA
361 S. Raymond Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91105