Declawing Cats

Originally Published in TC Dog in 2005.

Pros and Cons

In spite of being illegal elsewhere in the world, the declawing of cats has become commonplace in the U.S. It remains, however, a controversial procedure, even among the veterinarians who perform the surgery.

Declawing is essentially the amputation of the last segments of the toes. There are several different methods by which this can be done, and veterinarians differ in their anesthesia, surgical, and pain management protocols for the procedure.

There is no medical reason for which cats should be declawed. It is commonly performed because people worry that their furniture or children will get scratched, or because a landlord will only rent to owners of declawed cats.

Cats have an intrinsic physiological need to sharpen their claws. Even declawed cats will go through the motions; the scratching action exercises and strengthens forearm, shoulder, and back muscles. The marks left by scratching objects leave a message for other cats. This is why scratching posts may not be effective if they are not kept in a prominent position in the house; the signs are meant to be seen by other cats, even if there are no other cats in the house.

The surgical procedure itself is not innocuous. Although cats seem to recover quickly, it doesn't take much imagination to realize what a painful surgery this must be. Cats often suffer phantom pain and lameness after declawing. Newer methods such as lasers may help make the surgery less painful. Post surgery pain relief, however, is important and should not be neglected.

There are practical alternatives to declawing surgery. These include the use of scratching posts, as well as products called Soft Paws, which are plastic nail caps that prevent the damage caused by sharp claws. Cats' claws can also be trimmed on a regular basis to keep them short and blunt.

As far as protecting children from getting scratched, sometimes the cats need to be protected from the child. Children should be taught safe, respectful behavior around cats. Some cats may only allow limited petting before they become irritated. Some are easily over stimulated and will bite if petted for too long. If the cat wants to get away, it should be allowed to get to a place where the children can't reach it; remember, a cornered cat may strike out. In my experience, many cats that are declawed because of antisocial behavior become biters. You may have to choose your poison, so to speak.

Declawed cats should not be allowed outside except under supervision. They are at a serious disadvantage, as a carefully aimed claw strike is often enough to deter even the most determined dog, whereas a hiss just won't do. Declawing is an inappropriate procedure for cats over 1 year old and heavy cats. It changes the way the cat bears weight on its feet, can strain tendons, and may promote the development of arthritis.

West Hollywood, Calif. has set a precedent for other municipalities by being the first city in North America to ban the declawing of cats. The new law was the project of Councilmember John Duran, with the backing of veterinarian Dr. Jennifer Conrad, founder of The Paw Project. California Assemblyman Paul Koretz (former Mayor of West Hollywood), has already followed the lead of the West Hollywood City Council. On February 14, 2003, Assemblyman Koretz introduced AB395, which would ban declawing in the state of California, including the declawing of "big cats."

Declawing is becoming a hotter topic. It certainly arouses a lot of ethical considerations. Is it a reasonable act to amputate the cat's toes because of expensive yet inanimate furniture? What matters more?

My suggestion is to think about what declawing actually means before simple acceptance of the procedure as routine. Veterinarians, as well, are faced with a dilemma. Are we to be staunch advocates for those who have no voice, or do we continue to perform these procedures with the reasoning that otherwise many more cats will be left homeless?

As Americans, we tend to sneer at other countries that we deem to have a "softer" approach to animals than we do. When my English sister-in-law mentioned getting a cat, I pointed out her leather furniture and asked if she was considering declawing. Her immediate reply was, "Isn't that cruel?" What a refreshing response. Perhaps by softening our approach to the natural world, we can soften our approach to each other.