Declawing Cats: Is it Right for Your Cat?

Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways
Declawing cats is a controversial procedure – know the risks and alternatives before deciding
Proper aftercare following declawing surgery is crucial for your cat’s recovery and wellbeing
There are various declawing procedures, each with their own set of risks and considerations
Pet insurance can help manage unpredictable costs from complications or long-term effects
Non-surgical alternatives like trim caps and scratching posts may redirect scratching behavior

What is Declawing and Why Do Cat Owners Consider It?

Declawing is an elective surgery where a veterinarian amputates the end bones of a cat’s toes to permanently remove their claws. Cat owners may consider declawing to prevent damage to furnishings and belongings from scratching. Others see it as an option to manage aggression from swatting or reduce risk of scratches and infections for immunocompromised family members.

While declawing solves some issues, it remains controversial due to potential negative long-term impacts on cats. As cat owners weigh the decision to declaw, it’s important to understand all aspects of the procedure.

Reasons Cat Owners Consider Declawing

Stop Damage to Furnishings

Scratching is a natural instinct for cats, but it can destroy fabrics, carpet, wood floors, and furniture. For cat owners hoping to preserve their belongings, declawing may seem like the only solution after failed attempts to redirect scratching to appropriate surfaces.

Manage Aggressive Swatting

While typically playful, cat swatting with claws extended can inflict painful scratches. Declawing may be considered for cats that frequently swat with claws out as a way to manage aggression.

Accommodate Immunocompromised Family Members

Cat scratches pose infection risks due to bacteria found on claws. For those with weakened immune systems, like HIV positive individuals or chemotherapy patients, risk of infection from scratches is higher. Declawing may be viewed as necessary to keep cats in these households.

The Controversy Around Declawing Cats

Despite solving some issues for cat owners, declawing remains controversial. Here’s an overview of why:

It’s an Amputation Prone to Complications

Declawing isn’t like a nail trim – it’s an actual amputation of the last bone in each toe. This invasive surgery can lead to short-term and long-term complications.

As with any amputation surgery, there are risks of bleeding, infection, and pain. But beyond standard surgical risks, declawing can also cause nerve damage, abscesses, and tissue necrosis.

Long-term, the surgery can lead to impaired balance, mobility issues, and perpetual pain or sensitivity. It may also provoke unwanted behaviors like litter box avoidance, biting, overgrooming, anxiety, and aggression due to this long-term discomfort.

It Goes Against a Cat’s Natural Instincts

Scratching and clawing are innate feline behaviors. Cats scratch to mark territory, stretch and condition claw muscles, and relieve stress. Declawing takes away their primary defense mechanism. It can cause frustration when their natural behaviors are restricted post-surgery but the innate desires remain.

Over time, suppressing these natural behaviors may lead to stress, anxiety, and aggression. These secondary behavior issues can be unpredictable and difficult to manage.

It May Violate Animal Protection Laws

With increasing opposition from veterinary professionals and animal welfare advocates, laws banning elective cat declawing have passed in many areas. Before considering the procedure, cat owners need to determine if it violates local animal protection laws.

Currently, New York, Maryland, Rhode Island, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and many individual cities have made declawing cats illegal outside of rare medical necessity. More legislative bans are likely on the horizon.

How to Care for a Cat After Declawing Surgery

If moving forward with declawing after weighing the decision carefully, proper aftercare is crucial during the recovery period. Follow these tips to care for a cat after declawing surgery:

Allow for Calm Rest and Recovery

After any amputation surgery, cats need ample time for incisions to heal before resuming normal activity. Keep them confined indoors in a safe, quiet, and comfortable space. Limit interactions with other household pets and children.

Provide soft, cozy bedding so they can rest calmly without pressure on healing paws. Consider covering furniture or blocking access if necessary to prevent jumping up. The initial recovery period ranges from 2 weeks to a month before cats can resume more typical movement and activity.

Address Pain and Discomfort

While specifics depend on surgical method, cats experience post-operative pain after declawing. Ensure you properly administer all prescribed pain medication. Never ration or stop pain relievers because recovery seems smooth. Only cease based on guidance from your veterinarian.

Even with medication, watch for signs your cat is uncomfortable – like vocalizing when touched, aggression, changes in litter box habits, or reluctance to move around. Alert your vet about discomfort even if it persists longer-term so they can provide appropriate pain support.

Prevent Infection

As with any surgery, infection is a risk after declawing. Ensure the surgical site stays clean and watch closely for any signs like redness, warmth, swelling or discharge—these require prompt veterinary attention. Usage of an Elizabethan collar may be necessary to prevent self-inflicted damage from excessive licking.

Cats use litter boxes after declawing surgery, so using a gentle, non-irritating litter is vital. Avoid coarse or dusty varieties as particles can get trapped in healing toes. Seek vet recommended options formulated for post-surgical paws. Keep the litter box extremely clean and free of waste to prevent infection.

Support Long-Term Health Needs

While major complications manifest quickly after surgery, declawing can lead to subtle long-term issues like chronic pain, arthritis, and changes to gait or mobility. As your cat recovers, continue watching for signs of discomfort and consult your vet promptly if anything seems abnormal long-term. Supporting long-term health needs may involve pain management, joint supplements, physical therapy, or x-rays to diagnose issues like arthritis. Consider pet insurance to assist with unpredictable healthcare costs down the road.

What to Expect After the Declawing Procedure

The initial recovery period typically lasts several weeks to a month but know what to expect and watch closely for any warning signs of complications.

Bandaged Paws

Vets bandage paws post-surgery both for protection and to control bleeding risks. Expect cats to return home with lower legs and paws wrapped. Bandages require monitoring and changes. Follow all post-op instructions from your veterinary office for proper cleaning and new dressings of surgical sites.

Activity Restrictions

While energetic kittens and cats naturally want to zoom around and play after surgery, keeping activity strictly limited prevents harm. Restrict access to stairs, climbing trees, and jumping down to safeguard healing paws. Confine cats when away or unable to observe activity. Vets generally recommend 2 weeks minimum for restrictions but ease cats back to normal routines gradually if still limping or reluctant to bear full weight weeks later.

Appetite Changes

Fluctuating appetite after surgery is common. Nausea from anesthesia and pain meds often suppresses appetite initially before ravenous hunger returns. Getting cats to eat ensures adequate nutrition for healing but don’t fret limited interest right after surgery. Tempt cats with favorite treats or foods if turning nose up at regular meals later into recovery. If abnormalities in drinking or eating continue long-term, consult your vet for advice.

Litter Box Difficulties

Digging in litter after declaw surgery may prove uncomfortable or challenging. Monitor litter box usage closely and try various litters to find easiest option if struggling. Temporarily keeping only one accessible box close to resting areas might help too. Look for persistent signs of litter box avoidance beyond the initial recovery period as this likely signals a complication. Discuss with your vet for solutions if avoidance continues.

Different Types of Declawing Procedures and Associated Risks

If moving forward with the declaw option, understand the different surgical procedures available and risks of each technique. Discuss specifics with your veterinarian beforehand to select what is right for your cat’s individual situation.

Onychectomy – Full Surgical Amputation

The most common form of declawing is called onychectomy surgery. This procedure fully amputates the entire last bone (third phalanx) of each digit where the claw originates. This permanently removes nail bed tissue and the claw’s chance to regrow.

Considerations

• Highest upfront surgical costs
• Highest risk of surgical complications like long-term pain or mobility issues
• Permanently eliminates scratching capacity

Tendonectomy – Severing Tendons Only

In this procedure, vets cut the tendons responsible for extending and retracting claws instead of full amputation. Cats retain bone structure and chance of regrowth remains, albeit with claws blunted and limited function.

Considerations

• Lower upfront surgical risks
• Declawed effects temporary since regrowth possible
• Offers compromise for cat welfare concerns over amputation procedures
• Ongoing costs likely for repeat procedures as nails regrow

Laser Declaws – Radiosurgery Techniques

A newer technique utilizes radiosurgery lasers instead of scalpels to sever tendons or burn away last bone with hopes of minimizing bleeding, pain, and infection risk. However, research on long-term impacts is still limited.

Considerations

• Believed to be less painful initially post-op
• Low infection rates speculated but not fully studied
• Long-term functionality, mobility issues still possible
• Overall benefit for cats’ welfare not yet quantified

Why Pet Insurance Matters If Declawing a Cat

Given declawing’s status as an elective amputation prone to complications like long-term arthritis, pet insurance is worth considering beforehand. Policies can offset unpredictable vet costs in the future.

Offsets Costs of Complications

Typically medical insurance, pet insurance uses monthly premiums to reimburse a percentage of future veterinary costs based on policy limits. This can significantly assist if declawed cats require pricier medical interventions later for complications like chronic pain or impaired mobility issues.

###Accelerates Care Decisions

Facing mounting diagnostic and treatment bills for pets’ medical problems often forces difficult financial decisions for owners. “Should I pay for x-rays or just try this medication first?” Insurance diminishes financial constraints for getting declawed cats optimal veterinary care.

Locks In Age-Based Premiums

Insurance premium costs for pets rise as they age, making enrollment while young the best value. Insuring cats pre-declaw surgery locks in lowest premium rates for life. This ensures vital coverage later if arthritis or other issues develop despite paying minimal amounts when they were kittens.

Consider discussing insurance options with your veterinarian during surgical consultations. Vet offices may have options to enroll that first month after surgery when acceptance rates also tend to be higher.

Non-Surgical Alternatives to Declawing Cats

For cat owners struggling with destructive scratching but concerned about declawing risks, several alternatives exist to redirect natural behaviors in ways preserving cats’ claws.

Cat Scratching Solutions

1. Trim Caps

Vinyl caps like Soft Paws glue over claw tips blunting scratch damage without removal. Choose cap sizes matching claw growth for long-lasting yet temporary protection. Trimming sharp tips before application helps them stay secured. Replace caps during nail sheds as claws regrow.

2. Scratching Posts & Boards

Offer acceptable scratch zones diverting damage elsewhere through posts and boards made with preferred materials like sisal, cardboard, wood, or carpet. Strategic placement in areas already chosen for scratching alongside playtime engagement curbs unwanted destruction. Regularly replace surfaces to remain appealing textures avoiding redirected issues.

3. Pheromone Plugins

In some cases, destructive scratching results from stress, anxiety or frustration cats can’t vocalize. Calming pheromone diffusers like Feliway provide sense of comfort and contentment. Use alongside scratch posts for enhanced effectiveness reducing or eliminating temptation toward off-limit scratching spots when the underlying cause is emotional rather than instinctual.

4. Training and Deterrents

With stubborn scratching-specific issues, concentrated training efforts using positive reinforcement combined with deterrents like double-sided sticky tape, aluminum foil, or repellent sprays help reorient what locations are acceptable. For cats, redirection and rewards for good behavior prove most effective long-term.

Overall Stress Reduction

Sometimes a destructive scratching problem links more to boredom, inadequate stimulation, or conflicts with another pet. Boost playtimes with catnip toys to excite and exercise. Consider adopting a second feline companion if yours needs a playmate. Ensure ample space exists for multi-cats to eats, sleep and eliminate freely without conflicts. Finally, confirm sufficient vertical space suits natural climbing urges via platforms, cat trees and high ledges.

While declawing may seem the easiest permanent solution, non-surgical alternatives better balance cat owners’ home protection needs with cats’ physical and emotional well-being through compromise.

What Significantly Impacts the Costs to Declaw a Cat?

Like all veterinary services, declaw costs vary widely based on factors like location, surgical method, clinic fees, age of cat and more. Cat owners should anticipate paying $100-$500 per feline but could encounter drastically higher bills.

Geographic Location & Vet Expertise

Average declaw prices range double ($100 vs $200 per cat) between lower cost regions like the Southern or Midwestern US compared to coastal urban cities. Additionally, board-certified veterinary surgeons specializing in orthopedics or podiatry surgery often charge premiums over general practice veterinarians both for their expertise and higher clinic overhead.

Surgical Method

The more complex onychectomy procedure removing entire last bone costs more than simpler tendonectomy just severing the tendons allowing claws to retract. Recent laser declawing techniques also come at a premium to traditional scalpel methods for their reduced supposed complication rates despite limited long-term case study.

Initial Cat Age & Health

Like sterilization surgeries, declaws on younger healthy kittens cost less than older cats due to faster healing rates and lower risks. Additional expenses accrue needing extra diagnostics beforehand if risk factors like obesity or suspected arthritis are present complicating surgery.

Aftercare & Medications

Post-op costs tally fast tallying prescribed medications, e-collar or bandage changes, recheck exams, x-rays to monitor healing, and so on making final bills extremely variable. Complications requiring additional anesthetized procedures like nail regrowth or untreated infections also lead some cat owners to later regret avoiding pet insurance.

The Potential Psychological Impacts of Declawing Surgery

While the physical consequences of declawing – both immediately post-surgery and long-term – remain the primary feline welfare concern, psychological impacts also require consideration before pursuing this permanent amputation.

Suppressed Natural Behaviors

Scratching and clawing serve several biological purposes for cats beyond just threat defense. The inability to mark territories, stretch muscles, sheath and condition claws or relieve stress after surgery may cause cats confusion, anxiety, and tension. In some cases, it manifests into unwelcome aggression or abnormal behaviors.

Litter Box Avoidance

Given post-surgical discomfort makes digging in litter painful initially, declawed cats may develop litter box avoidance associations even after healing. The tendency worsens if cats link their frustrated state with a litter box itself rather than just temporarily rough litter textures against sore toes. This common psychological complication creates significant hassles for cat owners.

Perceived Helplessness

Cats use claws to climb, grasp, play, and explore environments even beyond scratching. Post-declaw, cats may exhibit fearfulness, nervousness or irritability from inability to interact with their surroundings by fully utilizing their innate abilities. Their distorted self-image from this perceived helplessness alters personalities in unpredictable ways owners are unprepared to handle.

While not guaranteed, cat owners pursue declaws expecting physical impediments but rarely consider how diminished self-sufficiency may psychologically disturb cats. The long-term frustrations from this mental strain often manifest into difficult behavioral problems or chronic stresses around environments and owners associated with the original declaw surgery choice.

Daily Enrichment Tips to Support a Declawed Cat

Cats experience immense psychological impacts from suppressed natural behaviors and perceived physical limitations after declawing surgery. Providing consistent environmental enrichment helps them mentally and physically compensate despite permanent amputation.

Mental Stimulation

• Engage in extra playtimes tossing balls, wires, and mice for chasing and pouncing without toe discomfort
• Rotate novel toys like food puzzles and treat balls to disperse kibble encouraging cognition
• Set up tablet or TV screens for critter videos when away so they still observe prey drive behaviors

Soothing Sensations

• Spritz cat safe essential oils like catnip or valerian root to surround them in intriguing scents
• Offer access to cat towers near windows allowing comforting sunbathing
• Install perches surveying neighborhood activity so they still feel involved

Confidence Building

• Build ramps and steps to elevated positions allowing mobility autonomy
• Ensure graspable surfaces and hideaways meeting security needs
• Toss treats to retrievable distances minimizing any activity hindrances

While an extreme measure meant to reduce destruction, declawing surgery impacts much more central parts of cats’ lives. Prioritizing supportive environmental enhancements helps safeguard cats’ mental and physical wellbeing despite permanent physical limitations from amputation.

5 Key Things to Ask Your Veterinarian About Declawing

If considering permanent declaw surgery after weighing all alternative options, insists your veterinarian addresses these essential topics first:

1. What surgical method do you recommend and why?

There exist multiple approaches – onychectomy, tendonectomy, laser, etc. Insist on explanations why one optimally balances permanent claw removal with your cat’s long-term mobility and pain risks based on their professional opinion.

2. How many declaw procedures have you performed?

This complex orthopedic surgery prone to complications requires practiced expertise. Query stats on their number of prior successful declaws with and without eventual issues