Stray Pet Advocacy

What is Declawing?
Official Position Statements on Declawing and Cosmetic Surgery
Alternatives to Declawing: Scratching Solutions, Claw Protectors, Claw Care & More!

Hey - Those Are My TOES!

It happens all too often. You take your cat in to be spayed or neutered, and the vet asks you if you would like to have your cat declawed at the same time, with the same tone as "Would you like fries with that?" "What does this entail?" you ask. The vet informs you that the "procedure" is the removal of the nail and the nail bed - and the vet makes it sound basically routine. Doesn't sound so bad, does it?

Don't be fooled. This is not a procedure. It is surgery. And as so many articles point out - this is not a manicure. It is surgical amputation. And cat guardians learn all too quickly that what was just done to their sweet pet was not a simple procedure involving the cat's claws - they just had their pet's toes amputated, as the following account attests:

"I was sick for months after learning on the internet what I had done to Trent! I apologized to him every day for at least 6 months. Actually the regret came much sooner than that. In the days following bringing him home his paws hurt so badly that he wouldn't walk anywhere, so being the doting Mommy, I carried him. We were given no pain management medicine; in fact the vet never even mentioned the amount of pain he would be in after the surgery. Each morning and when he woke up from naps I would carry him from his cave-type bed to his litterbox, where he would go to the bathroom despite his obvious pain, then I'd carry him to his food and water to let him eat and drink, then to the bed where I would pet him and love him and he would try to get comfortable with drumsticks for front legs and paws. He shook his paws a lot, whether trying to shake off the bandages or shake off the pain, I'm not sure. He slept most of the days and nights, and when he woke up he would quietly meow to let me know he was awake and needed to use the litterbox, or needed comforting.

"Then his paws got infected and we literally almost lost him. He was so very dehydrated, and wouldn't move on his own to drink or eat. We were forced to make a midnight trip to the emergency vet two days after Trent came home (and with the money that cost on top of the surgery itself, the vet's office made a good profit from us). Of course, you have to realize, this was all happening the week that my mother passed away. Trent was neutered/declawed and brought home on Thursday, Mom passed away on Sunday night/Monday morning. I still believe the only reason that he is still with us is because I was home on Tuesday making a memorial for Mom, and at least every hour I brought him out of his hiding spot to love on him and to bring him to the food and water he desperately needed. After that day he started getting better.

"But I know NOW that for the rest of his life he is at risk for arthritis, back problems, joint problems, and foot problems for which he would not be at risk if his toes were not amputated. And this is all because of MY decision, even though I feel like I was tricked into it. Declawing is NOT just removing the nail and nail bed, and that is the exact explanation the vet gave me when I asked what all is involved in declawing. You just don't know how horrible it makes me feel, every time I see Trent struggle to jump all the way to the top of the cat tree while Ophelia just scales it, every time he snuggles me and I see and feel that a large part of his paws are missing. It just makes me want to cry.

"That is why I'm so big on the vets being HONEST, and legally being held accountable to tell the truth about declawing. They lied to me and Trent paid for it with his toes. They made it sound like it was standard procedure to do when you bring them in for spay/neuter. They put me on the spot when we dropped him off, I had no chance to research it, and I trusted them when they gave me the explanation of what it involved. But they LIED to get more money out of me. And apparently a lot of vets do the same thing."

Did the vet mention that a cat, when awake, spends about 1/3 of its time grooming itself? That the claws play an important role in this function, and that grooming is the way a cat helps to control its body temperature, its scent signals, skin irritations, and more? (See "Why Claws Are Important to Cats," by HDW Enterprises and Foothill Felines Bengals and other links, below).

Did the vet mention that the cat requires its claws for balance, to jump, to climb, and that "declawing" your cat then makes your cat susceptible to back problems, arthritis, joint problems and other foot problems that he would not otherwise face - because declawing results in a gradual weakening of the back, shoulder and leg muscles? Did the vet mention that cats walk on their toes, not the pads of their feet, and declawing forces them to walk in an unnatural way?

Did the vet mention that many declawed cats resort to biting as an alternative method of defense? That some declawed cats become very aggressive because their primary defense is taken away? That many declawed cats stop using the litterbox because it is so painful?

No. Unfortunately, too many vets do not tell us these things before we have our cats declawed. And many caring but uninformed cat guardians agree to declawing on the advice of the medical professional they should be able to trust. We applaud those vets who do tell the truth and inform their clients fully about this "procedure."

And here is what else the vet didn't tell you:

"A 1994 study by the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine found that of 163 cats who were declawed, 50 percent had one or more complications immediately after surgery, such as pain, hemorrhage, lameness, swelling, and non-weight bearing. Of the 121 cats whose progress was followed after surgery, 20 percent had continued complications, such as infection, regrowth, bone protrusion into the pad of the paw and prolonged intermittent lameness and palmagrade stance (abnormal standing posture).

"Seventy percent (70%) of cats turned into pounds and shelters for behavioral problems are declawed cats." ("Clawed for Life," ©1997-2003 by www.sniksnak.com - link to article below in our Articles and Links section).

The "declawing" of a cat is toe amputation, and it is painful and traumatic for both cat and owner. Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales have all banned declawing except in the case of medical necessity. It is illegal in these countries. Why? Because these countries have determined that "declawing" is inhumane and an unnecessary mutilation. "Declawing" makes us think that we are removing our cats' claws, which most of us think of as simply a form of toenail. This is not the case!!!!! When we declaw, we are amputating our cats' toes and putting him at risk for many potential immediate and future problems.

Scratching is not a behavior problem. It is a natural function of a cat, and as cat owners/guardians, we must address their need to scratch. There are MANY alternatives to declawing. In this section of Stray Pet Advocacy, we include links to educational resources on declawing as well as educational resources on the alternatives to declawing. Alternatives to Declaw: Scratching Solutions, Claw Protectors, Claw Care and More.

Please - SAVE A PAW - DO NOT DECLAW!!!!!

Articles and Links - updated Feb 2010

What Is Declawing?

Declawing and Alternatives; Should I Declaw My Cat? Article/brochure by Heidi Bickel that takes an impartial look at declawing and presents the facts. This was written with veterinary offices and shelters in mind, as a way to educate clients or adopters about declawing. Article also available as a PDF for printing. If you have trouble with the link to the PDF version of the article, please copy and paste this web address into your browser: http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/PDF/Declawing&Alternatives.pdf

Declawing and Alternatives; Should I Declaw My Cat? Article/brochure by Heidi Bickel. Same information as presented in the above article, but with an anti-declawing slant. Good for shelters or breeders that want to explain why they do not allow declawing. Article also available as a PDF for printing. If you have trouble with the link to the PDF version of the article, please copy and paste this web address into your browser: http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/PDF/Declawing&AlternativesA.pdf

www.de-clawing.com "A Directory to every major declawing site on the Net." ©2002 According to the site's creator, Dr. Christianne Schelling, "Declawing is much more drastic than the name implies... Declawing not only removes all ten front claws, it also removes part of the paw itself... In [most] countries declawing is illegal or is considered inhumane, and you would be hard-pressed to find a veterinarian who would agree to do the operation. In the U.S., it's quite easy to declaw preemptively... We've turned medically unnecessary amputation, done for the convenience of the human, into something routine."

Educate! Don't Amputate! The declaw menu. This site includes links and information including:

From the Health Professionals:

Vet's Pictures of a Declaw Surgery
Vet's Description of a Declaw Surgery
Cats, Claws and Destructive Scratching (Good training advice)
A Rational Look at Declawing (Why claws are important & Problems of the surgery)
A Comprehensive Guide (A Vet Tech's guide to training your cat to scratch appropriately)
How to Keep Your Cat Happy and Maintain Your Furniture & Sanity intact
Feliway: A new way to prevent scratching & territory marking
Declawing: Behavior Modification or Destructive Surgery?
The Ethics of Declaw
Cat Declawing, by the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights

And a host of links and information "From Just Folk" as well.
If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/

The Paw Project - FAQs on Cat Declawing. (c)2001 by Jean Hofve. Reproduced by the Paw Project with permission. Very informative article includes information on why cats scratch, why people declaw their cats, why veterinarians recommend declawing, addresses the declaw procedure and Laser declawing. This article also delineates the many potential complications of declawing, including pain, post-surgical complications, joint stiffness, arthritis, litter box problems, biting and death. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.pawproject.com/html/faqs.asp 9/28

"Clawed for Life: because a declawed cat is a maimed cat." ©1997-2003 www.sniksnak.com. "Declawing is the removal of bones, tendons, ligaments and claws to the first knuckle of each toe. ... To remove a cat's claws is far worse than to deprive cat owners of their fingernails. This is because the claws have so many important functions in the life of a cat." In fact - "declawing" requires the removal of enough bone, muscle and ligament that it is the equivalent of amputating your fingers and toes at the last joint BEFORE your nails begin. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/declaw.html

Why Claws Are Important To Cats
The Declaw Surgery Procedure
The Tendonectomy Surgery Procedure
Possible Behavioral and Physical Consquences of Declawing
Alternatives to Declawing

If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.hdw-inc.com/declaw.htm

The Facts About Declawing (and alternatives) by Jennifer Dougherty, for use by the Partnership for Animal Welfare. "It's major surgery. It's very painful. Countless people consider it a form of mutilation. It's illegal in [many] countries. It has serious side affects, and it's not even necessary. Yet, 31% of all cat owners in the United States have their cats declawed. If you are considering the same fate for your cat, allow Fluffy five minutes of your time, and make sure you have all the facts." If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.paw-rescue.org/declaw_paper.html

Declawing! What You Need To Know. Hosted by Amby Duncan-Carr on her wonderful Cat Information Site (http://amby.com/cat_site/). Written by the All States Burmese Society. "... The cat's claw is not a toenail at the end of the toe as in other animals. It is a moveable digit attached to muscle as a finger might be... " Also available in PDF format on Amby's Cat Information Site for those who need to convince others not to declaw! If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://amby.com/cat_site/dc-wyntk.html

About.com: Declawing Cats Guide Picks. ©2003 About, Inc. Franny Syufy. "Declawing is outlawed in many European countries, but in the United States is still considered a viable surgical procedure by many veterinarians. These articles will help you make an informed decision about declawing your cat."

First Declawing Ban in the U.S. - West Hollywood, CA
Declawing: Disclose and Wait: A five part piece on proposed legislation.
Declawing & Humane Alternatives "Declawing fits the dictionary definition of mutilation to a tee. Words such as deform, disfigure, disjoint, and dismember all apply to this surgery. Partial digital amputation is so horrible that it has been employed for torture of prisoners of war, and in veterinary medicine, the clinical procedure serves as model of severe pain for testing the efficacy of analgesic drugs."

If you have trouble with any of the above links, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://cats.about.com/cs/declawing/

www.Declawing.com ©1998 Dr. Christianne Schelling "... Before you make the decision to declaw your cat, there are some important facts you should know. Declawing is not like a manicure. It is serious surgery. Your cat's claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your the cat's paw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat's "toes". When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. And remember that during the time of recuperation from the surgery your cat would still have to use its feet to walk, jump, and scratch in its litter box regardless of the pain it is experiencing. Wheelchairs and bedpans are not an option for a cat."

If you have trouble with any of the above links, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.declawing.com/

"Declaw - More Than Just A Manicure" ©2002-2003 by Maryjean Ballner as hosted on www.thecatsite.com. "... The family meant well. They were afraid that the cat would scratch their furniture, maybe ruin a curtain, so they did what they thought was a solution. They declawed. Like most well-intentioned people, they didn't understand the extent of declawing- it's not just a manicure. The entire claw, tendon, bone and ligament to the first knuckle of each joint is amputated. It is a major trauma, with long-lasting repercussions... " If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/34/Declaw-More-than-Just-a-Manicure.html

"De-Clawing," by Scott Barker. ©1996-2003 Feline Future. "Despite frequent discussion, feline onychectomy (declawing) remains a source of confusion for many. This article will examine this controversial procedure and the implications facing a cat, on which it is performed." The article also provides clear and salient arguments against common assertions of those who wish to declaw. DON'T DECLAW! Also available in PDF format on the Feline Future website. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.felinefuture.com/?p=100

Declawing Cats: More than Just a Manicure. ©2003 The Humane Society of the U.S. "While there have been advances in the way that cats are declawed, it's still true that for the majority of cats, the pain and expense of this surgical procedure are unnecessary. Educated cat owners can easily train their cats to use their claws in a manner that allows cat and owner to happily coexist." If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/facts/declawing.html

The Facts About Declawing: What You Really Need to Know Explanation of the procedure with illustrations; physical, psychological and behavioral complications, and the moral, ethical and humane considerations. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://maxshouse.com/facts_about_declawing.htm 10/21

Veterinarians who do not declaw. List of veterinarians in the US and Canada who either do not declaw or only do so in extreme cases. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.declaw.com/ 10/21

The Ethics of Declawing: A veterinarian discusses the ethical dilemma of declawing. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declaw1.html 10/21

A Message From the United Kingdom: A personal view of the United Kingdom position on Declawing of Cats. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawuk.html 10/21

The Debate on Declaw Laws Stray Pet Advocacy section on proposed and passed legislation regarding this sensitive feline issue.

Studies Pertaining to Feline Onychectomy, as put together by Gary Patronek, DVM for the World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress, Vancouver 2001. Table presents summary of studies on the subject of detoeing (declawing) and includes number of animals in the study, relevant outcomes of the study, and a description of the studies, samples and major findings. References for all studies provided. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00016.htm . 10/31

A Personal Look at Declawing by Diane C. Nicholson. "I worked for 3 veterinarians, more than 30 years ago, and had the unpleasant experience of assisting in one de-clawing procedure. Like many, I had assumed that the practice was a simple surgery, and that the cat would awaken in basically the same body, only now unable to shred furniture. What I watched stunned and sickened me." If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/2/A-Personal-Look-At-DeClawing.html

Declaw-Me-Not Summary of results of a study concerning the complications over a five month period following declawing and tendonectomy. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1998 Aug 1;213(3):370-3412 Comparison of effects of elective tenectomy or onychectomy in cats. Jankowski AJ, Brown DC, Duval J, Gregor TP, Strine LE, Ksiazek LM, Ott AH Department of Clinical Studies, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://millennium.fortunecity.com/treearbor/834/declawnot.html 1/29/05

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Official Position Statements on Declawing and Cosmetic Surgery

AVMA Position Statement on the Declawing of Domestic Cats, ©2003 AVMA News, April 15, 2003. "Declawing of domestic cats should be considered only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or when its clawing presents a zoonotic risk for its owner(s)." Full American Veterinary Medical Association position statement via link. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/apr03/030415c.asp

The Cat Fanciers' Association Position on Declawing. "CFA perceives the declawing of cats (onychectomy ) and the severing of digital tendons (tendonectomy) to be elective surgical procedures that are without benefit to the cat. Because of the discomfort associated with any surgery and potential future behavioral or physical effects, CFA disapproves of routine declawing or tendonectomy surgery in lieu of alternative solutions to prevent household damage." Read the full report, including the information summary including research references. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.cfa.org/articles/health/declawing.html

The Humane Society's Position on Cosmetic Surgery for Animals. "The Humane Society of the United States opposes tail myotomy, tail neurectomy and tongue myotomy in equines, ear-cropping of dogs, and declawing of cats when done solely for the convenience of the owner and without benefit to the animal. Further, we oppose any other unnecessary surgical procedure that is painful, distressful, or restrictive of the function of the body part involved when done for cosmetic purposes or to disguise natural imperfections of any animal." If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.hsus.org/ace/12576

"Declawing Cats," ©2003 ASPCA as hosted in the Petfinder Resource Library. "The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the ASPCA's BerghMemorialHospital encourage owners to seek alternatives to declawing their cats. If you are thinking about having your pet declawed, please take a moment to consider the following information." If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.petfinder.com/journalindex.cgi?path=public/animalcare/health/1.34.3.txt 10/31

American Association of Feline Practitioners Position Statement "The American Association of Feline Practitioners strongly believes that it is the obligation of veterinarians to provide cat owners with complete education with regard to feline onychectomy." The link to the full position statement is the first one on the page. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.catvets.com/professionals/guidelines/position/index.aspx?ID=291 3/20/04

Alternatives to Declawing: Scratching Solutions, Claw Protectors, Claw Care & More

Cat Scratching: Reasons not to Declaw & An Easy Solution. ©1998 by Dr. Christianne Schelling. "Declawing is literally maiming a cat, a mistake that can lead to physical, emotional and behavioral complications. It is erroneous to think that declawing a cat is a trivial procedure similar to trimming fingernails. A cat's claws are a vital part of its anatomy, essential to balance, mobility and survival."

If you have trouble with any of the above links, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.catscratching.com/

"Understanding the Motivation of the Scratching Behavior" ©Max's House®/S.T.A.R.T. II® http://maxshouse.com by Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Professor of Behavioral Pharmacology, Director of the Behavior Clinic, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. This brochure contains a very thorough discussion of the reasons for cat scratching, and presents methods of redirecting scratching behavior. If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.maxshouse.com/understanding_scratching.htm

Destructive Scratching / Why Do Cats Scratch? ©2003 The Humane Society of the U.S. "Because scratching is a normal behavior, and one that cats are highly motivated to display, it's unrealistic to try to prevent them from scratching. Instead, the goal in resolving scratching problems is to redirect the scratching onto acceptable objects." If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.hsus.org/ace/13450

"Problem Scratching and How to Stop It." © 2000-2003 by Anne Moss. "The first step to solving the problem is realizing that the cat is just practicing normal feline behavior. She is not being bad or trying to cause damage - she simply uses the best scratching post she can find. What we need to do is not prevent her from using her claws altogether, but rather redirect that behavior to an object that will serve as a proper scratching post. Only after we provide Kitty with an acceptable scratching post can we begin to teach her that the furniture is out of bounds." If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.thecatsite.com/Behavior/51/Problem-Scratching-And-How-To-Stop-It.html

"Claws: How Best to Take Care of Them (And Your Furniture)." ©2000-2003 by Anne Moss. "The claw grows throughout the cat's life. It is renewed continuously as the older outer layers wear down. To facilitate this process, cats need to scratch objects made of wood or other similar materials. For cats living outdoors, there is additional natural wearing of the claws caused by digging or by walking on various rough surfaces. Indoor cats experience less natural erosion. They may try to further wear down their claws by scratching such things as doors, wooden or upholstered furniture, rugs, bookbindings, or other such objects. Another problem occurs when claws grow too long, which may cause undesirable scratches on the cat's human "family." In such cases, the cat's claws can be clipped once every few weeks." If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/35/Cat-Claws-How-to-Best-Take-Care-of-Them.html

Soft Paws® Nail Caps for Cats and Kittens. An Effective, Safe and Humane Alternative to Declawing! "Developed by a veterinarian, Soft Paws are vinyl nail caps that glue on to your cat's claws. This amazing product effectively covers the claws so no damage occurs when your cat scratches." If you have trouble with the above link, please copy and paste this web address directly into your browser: http://www.softpaws.com/

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Hey - Those Are My TOES!

Articles and Links - updated Feb 2010

Official Position Statements on Declawing and Cosmetic Surgery

Alternatives to Declawing: Scratching Solutions, Claw Protectors, Claw Care & More