Declawing May Protect Your Furniture, But Does Little To Protect Your Cat
Declawing is an irreversible surgical procedure that involves amputating the last joint of a cat’s toes. It is a painful procedure with a significant risk of complications. Claws are essential to a cat’s balance, mobility, grooming, and defense. Without them, recovery is painful and prolonged.
Behavior & Health Problems
- Biting — some cats compensate for losing their claws by becoming biters.
- Spraying or inappropriate urination — Declawed cats will often stop using the litter box due to the pain caused by digging in the litter, choosing instead a soft surface like your bed, laundry, or carpets.
Physical Complications
- Tight bandages risk gangrene and leg amputation; hemorrhaging may occur upon removal.
- Regrown claws are often misshapen and ineffective when nail beds aren’t fully removed.
- Brittle nails or dull trimmers can cause bone shattering, creating infection.
- General anesthesia carries inherent risks of adverse reactions.
- Chronic conditions including cystitis and skin disorders have been linked to the stress of declawing.
Emotional Complications
- Post-surgical confusion and pain.
- Distress upon bandage removal when claws are gone.
- Loss of trust toward their owner.
Solutions
There are many solutions to problem cat scratching that do not involve declawing. Declawing is comparable to amputating the last joint of a human finger — these alternatives are far kinder.
- Soft Paws nail caps — Hollow nail caps that fit over the claws and are secured with non-toxic adhesive. They blunt the nails without surgery, last four to six weeks, and fall off naturally. Learn more at softpaws.com. (Not recommended for outdoor cats.)
- Corrugated cardboard scratching boards — sprinkle with catnip and let them go to town. The texture is distinct from carpet and furniture, so cats learn the difference quickly.
- Scratching posts — a sturdy post, wicker basket, or decorative box all work well.
- Double-sided tape — products like Sticky Paws discourage scratching on furniture. Pair with a scratching post so the cat has an approved outlet.
For more information, visit The Paw Project.