Should I Declaw My Cat?

Ron Hines DVM PhD 4/24/06

A note from a reader:
"I read your recommendations for declawing cats, and thought you might
want to let people know about a product that eliminates the need for
declawing without traumatizing your cat: SoftPaws www.softpaws.com
The SoftPaws site has tons of testimonials from people who used the
product in lieu of declawing."

Since at least the 1940’s, it has been common in the United States to remove the front claws of house cats chiefly to prevent them from destroying furniture. Within the last ten years, it has become common to question whether this is a humane procedure. I have been declawing cats for approximately 35 years and I have developed my own opinions on the subject.
My first observation is that a declawed cat appears to live as happy and fulfilled a life as a clawed cat. They are just as playful and inquisitive and if an experienced veterinarian performs the procedure, no residual pain occurs. The claws of animals, like the fingernails of people are modified hair. When the front claws of cats are removed at an early age (less than six months of age) it is a minor procedure. Cats that have had their front claws removed continue to stretch and paw their toes as if the nails were still there. They derive the same satisfaction from this as clawed cats.
I only declaw adult (over six month of age) cats for specific reasons that justify it. Some of these reasons are:

1) In a multi-cat household, a clawed cat is injuring a second cat in the household
2) The cat has developed an incurable disease such as Lupus-like conditions where claws contribute to
self-trauma and infection.
3) The cat has developed personality changes that make it a threat to owners and children.
4) An owner is immuno-supressed due to chemotherapy, debilitating disease, heart valve infection or AIDS
- situations where a cat scratch could be life-threatening to an owner.
5) Blended households and new family members present ultimatums to other family members that “either the
cat be declawed or it be kept outside.

Declawing an adult cat lengthens the post-surgical period of recovery. Cats are creatures of habit and a period of depression often follows the removal of claws from an adult cat. These are complex situations. No two are alike just as no two cat’s personalities are alike. Like the scales of justice, one must weigh all factors on the side of declawing the cat or leaving it intact before making a decision. Often, I will clip the cat’s toenails at no charge and teach the owners to do this at home with a human finger or toenail clipper. This is a perfectly acceptable alternative to declawing your kitty. I have never used the adhesive nail guards that are available on the market. But I imagine that they would be an awkward, expensive and psychologically traumatic solution to this problem.

I have only removed the rear claws of a dozen or so cats during my career. When I did it, it was always to save the life of the animal.

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