Declaw or Not Declaw?
Some cat owners make declawing part of the "new kitten" routine, along with vaccines and spaying or neutering. A segment of the cat-loving community is opposed to this practice.
The declawing procedure like any elective surgery has pros and cons. This procedure mandates general anesthesia. Cat owners may elect to have it done at the same a neuter or spay is preformed. The surgical procedure involves removal of the cat's nail and amputation of the third phalanx. This includes removal of the last joint in each digit of the animal's forepaw. Some veterinarians refer to this as a "brutalectomy".
Cat enthusiasts are opposed to this surgical procedure. Some cat lovers and some veterinarians maintain a cat may have permanent trouble walking or balancing after a declaw procedure. They feel a cat's personality may change because natural defenses (claws) are removed. I have not seen this in declaws I have done. Some cat's personalities change as they age. I have seen non-declawed cats that command respect. You can tell you are going to be Julian sliced just for being there. Some cats are maladapted to only one owner in a household of people. They do not want to engage with other people.
There are two different approaches the surgery, a scalpel blade or laser. This is technique sensitive and depends on experience. MSU did a study between "cold steel" and "hot laser light". The author stated there were trade offs but he preferred scalpel surgery. Part of the difference is less time required for surgical removal. As far as post operative conditions it is surgeon's preference. At the Animal Emergency Clinic and in my practice I have seen both laser and surgical declaws with post operative issues.
There is a low incidence of complication occurrence associated with the procedure. This may include infection at the surgery site, recurrent lameness, and incomplete removal of the third phalanx which can be a source of bone pain, and rarely nail regrowth. Nail regrowth would resemble the ultimate ingrown nail. These are very painful if they do happen.
This procedure mandates general anesthesia, local anesthesia blocks of the paw. Intraoperative and immediate post procedure pain interceding medications are needed in the clinic or hospital. Declawing requires some sort of to go home type of pain abatement for a few days. It's difficult to assess how painful a cat's forepaws feel after the procedure. Directions for at home pain medication should be followed and given "by the clock". Keeping pain medication blood levels up makes pain control much easier and provides more constant comfort to the cat. During the healing phase at home if a cat sets and holds one or both paws up for extended time frames it is an indication of pain. Pain scoring indexes have been established by experts in Veterinary Anesthesia. Dr Sheila Robertson, board certified in Veterinary Anesthesia, formerly at MSU VTH, worked with other anesthesiologists to establish a scoring index to help evaluate pain. Basically if you think an activity or condition looks painful it is. Cats are unable to verbally describe where there is discomfort but being vocal tells you there is pain. Determining pain levels in animals is a matter of human interpretation. Many veterinary professional people think a declaw procedure is more painful than other elective surgeries. Excellent pain abatement allows uneventful healing.
Veterinary medicine has come to understand healing is faster and better if it does not hurt. Research has shown combinations of trans-dermal patches, local nerve blocks, oral anti-inflammatory drugs, and newer injectable drugs significantly reduce pain in cats when used in combination with traditional injectables and oral pain medications.
Some cat lovers believe that declawing cats can also affect their demeanor and behavior, since scratching is a natural behavior that provides exercise, a natural form of defense, and enjoyment.
Declawing is not recommended for cats that will spend any time outdoors. Cats then lose the defensive function of their front claws.
Once a cat is declawed, it's important to provide it with plenty of toys and activities that mimic their predatory chasing behavior. This may offset boredom or inactivity if it stops scratching.
A declaw procedure can improve the human-pet relationship if a cat constantly destroys furniture or harms family members with its claws.
If a pet owner decides to declaw their cat, veterinarians recommend doing the procedure when the cat is young. Younger cats adapt better to the change. Youth phase in life heals faster than mature. Older and cats exceeding 10 pounds tend to have longer healing time. The extended time may be a function of activity and weight factor. Healing will occasionally will approach 6-8 weeks in these individuals.
Surgical and non-surgical alternatives to declawing are available to reduce destructive scratching behaviors. One surgery option is deep digital flexor tendonectomy. This is a less invasive procedure where the tendon extending a claw outward is cut. A cat still has its full digits but cannot extend its claws. These may project forward and require regular nail trimming. Most cats are not able to shred or be destructive with permanently restricted claws.
Trimming a cat's nails regularly may minimize damage to furniture, doors, and people. Training your cat to use a scratching post will deter your cat from scratching furniture, provide exercise and enjoyment. Other play activities, such as chasing toys or laser pointers, also exercise helps with a cat's predatory instincts so it has less reason to shred.
There is a product called "Soft Paws," soft-tipped plastic covers that slip over a cat's nails. Nail trimming is required prior to application. They are super glued on and last 2-4 weeks. Cats may take a few days to get used to them, but once they do, they can scratch as they normally would without damaging furniture or harming family members. The nail continues to grow and it will eventually poke through the membrane.
For more information about declawing and alternatives, consult your veterinarian.
Mike Sweet, DVM