Declawing Your Cat – It’s Something We Don’t Recommend

Cat scratching a post

Living with cats means dealing with scratching—it’s a natural instinct. Cats enjoy and need to scratch, but this behavior often conflicts with your furniture. Sharp cat claws can quickly ruin a nice couch. Aggressive scratching can pose a real health threat to you, your children, and other pets. One of the most common reasons for surrendering cats to shelters or requesting euthanasia is scratching. In these cases, stopping the scratching may be a matter of life or death for your cat.

While there are several ways to curb unwanted scratching, the practice of declawing has become a controversial topic. If you’re seeking solutions for your cat’s scratching issues, it’s essential to understand why cats scratch, explore prevention methods, and know what declawing entails to make an informed decision.

The Behavior of Scratching

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. Their claws serve as a primary defense mechanism in the wild. Cats may scratch when they’re hurt, scared, or angry. In a domestic setting, this can lead to a cat scratching another pet if it feels threatened or chased. Cats may also scratch you or your children, either during play or as a response to perceived danger.
Beyond survival, scratching is an invaluable part of a cat’s behavior due to scent glands in their front paws. When they scratch an object, they leave an “aroma mark,” claiming it as their territory. As the scent fades, the cat feels the urge to re-mark the area, leading to repeated scratching.

Scratching also helps cats maintain their claws. Cat claws grow from the inside out and are covered with a protective sheath. As the nail grows, this sheath must be removed to reveal the sharp claw underneath. Scratching pulls away this sheath and encourages nail growth. Additionally, it helps cats wear down overly long claws and reshape them.

Cats are small creatures that benefit from climbing to higher perches, often using your furniture as their jungle gym. Their claws help them scamper up drapes or bookshelves—natural behavior for them, but damaging for your home!

Lastly, cats simply enjoy scratching. It provides them with exercise, allowing them to stretch and work their muscles.

Stopping Scratching

It’s clear: you can’t completely stop your cat from scratching. It’s a natural behavior. Fortunately, cats are adaptable, and with some time and effort, most can be trained to scratch where you want them to.
Scratching posts can be a valuable tool for redirecting unwanted scratching. Available at most pet stores or easily made at home, scratching posts give your cat an outlet while saving your furniture.

Selecting the right scratching post is crucial. They come in various shapes and sizes, some even with toys or perches. A good scratching post should be tall enough for your cat to fully stretch. Stability is essential; if it wobbles, your cat won’t use it. The fabric covering the post matters too—choose something that allows the cat to grip, like tightly woven carpet. The appealing texture of your couch is what makes it so attractive for scratching, so a post that allows shredding will satisfy their urge.

To make the scratching post appealing, place it in a frequently used area rather than hiding it. Cats scratch to mark their territory, so position it near their favorite scratching spots. Interact around the post to get them accustomed to it. Play with toys around the post to encourage your cat to explore and use it, helping solidify its importance.

If your cat is reluctant to switch, cover its favorite scratching areas with aluminum foil to deter it and encourage it to seek out the scratching post. You may need multiple posts to cover all your cat’s favorite areas. If necessary, you can use a spray bottle filled with water to discourage scratching in inappropriate places, but always redirect the cat to the scratching post afterward.

If your cat refuses to use the scratching post, consider Soft Paws, which are soft rubber nail caps applied to the freshly trimmed nails. Developed by a veterinarian, Soft Paws can be applied at home or by a vet and typically stay attached for several months, preventing destructive scratching while being humane and safe.

Declawing – What You Need to Know

Excessive scratching is one of the main reasons cats are surrendered to shelters. In extreme cases, declawing may be considered. This practice is outlawed in many European countries, yet some veterinarians in the U.S. and Canada still perform it. Before deciding to declaw your cat, it’s essential to understand the procedure, its complications, and why many people oppose it.
First, any declawed cat must be kept indoors at all times. As an owner, you must ensure your cat never goes outside. Without claws, a cat has no means of defense against predators and is vulnerable to severe injury or death.

Contrary to popular belief, declawing is not simply removing toenails. A cat’s claw is attached to the bone; therefore, the last bone of each toe must be amputated. Essentially, declawing (onychectomy) is an amputation of the last bone in each toe’s joint, a complex procedure with potential lifelong complications.

To perform the procedure, ligaments and nerves are cut. Even with skilled surgery, it takes weeks or months for these structures to heal, during which the cat must walk and jump on its newly amputated toes. Healing may cause neuropathic pain long after surgery.

Declawing is not a simple operation. Cats are placed under general anesthesia, and pain management medication is administered. The feet are surgically prepared, and a tourniquet is applied to minimize bleeding. Each toe’s last digit is exposed, and the final bone is amputated at the joint space. Care must be taken to avoid cutting the foot pad, as this can lead to excessive bleeding and pain. The incision is typically closed with surgical glue, and the foot is bandaged to control bleeding and swelling.

Post-surgery, the bandages must be inspected and replaced as needed. Excessive bleeding is a common complication, and many veterinarians require hospitalization for several days to ensure proper healing and pain management.

After declawing, cats will be sore for some time. Cats have a high pain tolerance, so signs of pain may be subtle. After the surgery, cats must learn to walk without the first joints of their toes, which can lead to arthritis as they age.

Declawing should not be performed on kittens younger than 3-4 months. Kittens heal more quickly and generally tolerate the procedure better than adult cats. Ideally, the surgery should be performed when the cat is under one year old. In older cats, pain and recovery times are longer, and complications are more likely.

If you decide to have your cat declawed, choose your veterinarian carefully. Some refuse to perform the procedure but may recommend someone who does. Laser declawing is a newer method that reduces bleeding and swelling.

If performed improperly, declawing can result in chronic pain in the cat’s toes. Affected cats may become visibly lame and reluctant to interact with you. Reduced activity can lead to weight gain and associated health issues.

Even if a cat does not suffer long-term complications, declawing may change its personality. Without claws, cats may turn to biting as their primary defense. Some become more aggressive, potentially causing harm to you, your children, or other pets.

After declawing, some cats develop a fear of the litter box, as scratching in litter can be painful for their feet. This can lead to new messes around the house and should be considered when deciding on declawing.

Despite the differing opinions on declawing, the procedure can sometimes be necessary. Infections, gangrene, cancer, or bone issues may require declawing to save a cat’s life. In cases where behavior modification fails to curb scratching, declawing may be a viable alternative to euthanasia or surrendering the cat.

Cats are complex, intelligent creatures that use their claws for various purposes. When cats and humans coexist, disagreements may arise over what can be scratched. If you’re facing scratching issues with your cat, it’s crucial to research and actively work to modify their behavior to minimize damage. In some situations, declawing may be considered if all other methods fail. In these cases, careful selection of the veterinarian and attentive post-surgical care can help ensure the best possible outcome.

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