Declawing! What You Need To Know

What does it mean when a cat is declawed? How is it done? Examine the drawing

on the bottom of this post.

The cat’s claw is not a toenail at the end of the toe as in other animals. It is

movable digit attached to muscle as a finger might be. Note that strong ligaments

and tendons which give power to extend and retract the claws. This is unique in

cats. Without this your cat would not be able to properly grasp, hold or establish

footing for proper walking, running, springing, climbing or stretching. Think of

the cat as having 10 toes on each foot. Declawing is akin to cutting off half their

toes. When the end digit, including the claw is removed, the sensory and motor

nerves are cut, damaged and destroyed. They do not repair themselves or grow

back for many months. Following the surgery there is a wooden lack of feeling,

then a tingling sensation during the long convalescence while the cat must

walk on the stub end of the second digit. Remember that during all this time

the cat may not “rest” his feet as we would after a similar operation but must

continue to scratch in his litter box, walk and attempt to jump as usual

regardless of his pain.

Since cats have keener senses then humans, they suffer even more than humans.

Many pain killing drugs, including aspirin, do not agree with cats and can cause

illness or even death. Anyone who has had surgery will appreciate the problem

that can be created by the inability to take pain-relieving medication. It is also

possible for the claws to grow back, but often not in the normal manner, instead

they may grow through the top or bottom of the paw,creating a bloody, painful

sore. An Atlanta news station recently had a story of a declawing followed by

infection so severe that the cat’s foot had to be amputated.

The cat’s body is especially well designed. The skeleton is better jointed and more

elastic than most other animals and the muscles governing the lithe body are highly

developed. This gives the cat great climbing power. The sharp claws can be

whipped out for business or tucked neatly away. The elastic tendon holds the claw

in it’s own sheath. The claw is flat on each side so it will slide in and out better.

When the cat pulls his claw down with the use of the big tendon that lies along the

under part of the toe, the ligament stretches like a fresh rubber band. It is hooked

on the end for hanging on.

Cats like to keep their claws sharp and clean (and remove the outer sheath of the

nail) by working on the scratching post you provide. Equipping your cat with the

proper scratching post and taking the time to train him to use it will help preserve

your furniture and carpets. Scratching posts made of soft carpeting teach your cat

that soft fabrics, i.e. your sofa and rugs, are proper for scratching. A better idea

are posts made of sisal rope or carpet turned inside out. This encourages your cat

to scratch on hard, coarse surfaces. Training your cat to use this post takes some

effort on your part. If you see him attempting to scratch on furniture or carpet, clap

your hands sharply, say no! then pick him up gently and place him on the sisal

post. (If stronger measures are needed, you might also want to keep a squirt bottle

with plain water handy.) If your cat seems to prefer a particular area, try covering it

with aluminum foil for a while. Catnip-treated cardboard scratchers, best used lying

flat, are also effective. Most cats are pretty smart and after a short time, and much

praise, will get the idea. It is also essential to properly clip your cat’s claws with a

well-made cat claw scissors. The sharp hook must be clipped off without injuring

the pink quick. Cutting into the quick will hurt the cat and you will have a difficult

time holding him quiet the next time.

Besides the physical mutilation, consider what declawing may do to the cat’s

emotions, the personality changes that may occur. Knowing he has not the means

to defend himself, some cats follow the precept of the best defense is a good

offense, and will bite at the least provocation (and it may truly be the least

provocation.) Others become depressed and lose the loving personality that

made you choose him to start with.

“The Learning Channel” had a series of documentaries about cats in January of

1993 and again in July 1995 and several of their comments were appropriate to

this post. In one segment a cat owner spoke to a pet psychologist about her biting

cat. It was no surprise to me when she admitted that the cat was declawed.

Another segment showed a kitten being declawed. The commentator said that

declawing was an American procedure and, in fact, most veterinarians in other

countries refuse to do the operation.

I have recently heard about another nasty piece of business that some

veterinarians are advocating as an “alternative” to Declawing; Tendonectomy-

the cutting of the tendons themselves to prevent the claws from being extended.

This is a bad, if not worse, than declawing itself. The claws continue to grow and

constant maintenance of trimming must be done for the rest of the cat’s life. ( The

same trimming procedure that if done anyway will keep your cat’s intact claws

shortened, blunted and less damaging to your furniture.) Failure to trim claws in

this situation will result in additional veterinary attention throughout the cat’s life

as the claws will grow around and into the paw pad of the foot. You can imagine

how much daily pain a cat would have to go through in this condition.

If you really love your cat, you will want him to lead a long, happy life,

giving and receiving love and affection. If you really love him, and care about him,

don’t declaw him

We wish to thank and give credit to the All State Burmese Society, a CFA club, from whom the bulk of this information was gathered.