Declawing has become one of the most contentious veterinary elective surgical procedures. Some veterinarians consider it routine, while others refuse to declaw cats under any circumstances, and still others fall somewhere in the middle. True, scratching can break a pet parent’s bond with their cat. There are, however, a plethora of other options for preventing scratching.
Declaw Cats
Cat claws grow from the ungual crest, a bone portion. To prevent the claw from regrowing, the ungual crest must be removed, which necessitates the removal of the last portion of bone from each toe. In terms of your hand, this is equivalent to removing your fingertip at the first joint so you didn’t have fingernails. This is usually done with a scalpel blade or laser, and the skin is then glued or stitched over the exposed joint.
Your cat will be sent home with post-op instructions and may have his feet bandaged, depending on the exact procedure, your veterinarian, and your cat’s condition following surgery.
A declawed cat will almost certainly be sore after surgery, and pain relievers are commonly prescribed. Older cats and those who are overweight are more likely to be in pain and may be unwilling or lame to bear weight. The recovery time for cats varies greatly, but one to two weeks is not uncommon.
After having their declaws removed, cats may develop chronic problems. An infection may exist, or a piece of surgical glue may have failed to extrude properly and must be removed. If a piece of the bone is left behind, it can cause severe pain and recurrent infections and should be surgically removed. A checkup is recommended if the cat’s toes are not comfortable, the cat appears to be “walking on eggshells” after the recovery period is over, or the cat appears irritable about his or her feet.
If you are certain that you want a declawed cat, you can adopt one that has already been declawed. You can also search Catfoodsite for declawed cats. If you do decide to adopt a declawed cat, keep in mind that, while keeping all cats indoors is preferable, it is especially important for declawed cats: A cat without claws is less able to defend himself against dogs and other dangers, and climbing to safety is more difficult if attacked. (Find out more about cat declawing.)
Scratching is a natural and pleasurable behavior for cats, and you owe it to him to teach him where to scratch. Your veterinarian can also help you avoid or redirect scratching behaviors.
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