Should I declaw my cats?

Question

I have two completely indoor cats who are 2 years in age. They are out of control at night when it comes to clawing everything in my house. My wife and I are also planning on children, and want to be able to keep them in our lives since they are great in every other aspect. I was looking for objective thoughts on this matter. Any thoughts, suggestions?

Answer 1

You are brave putting a declawing question on this forum, this is a polarizing issue if there was one. If you are thinking of declawing I would suggest checking out the University of Minnesota Veterinary School website and their position and information on declawing. It contains the most balanced and accurate information on declaring I have found. Much of the information put forth by PITA and other antideclaw groups is based on dodgy stats and antidotical evidence. The Uof M gives you a fact and study based information to make up your mind on.

If you are worried about legally being able to declaw, the surgery is legal in all 50 states in the US. Under California Law AB185 it is illegal to declaw exotic and wild felines since 2003. However, in California it is legal to declaw domestic felines. It was illegal to declaw in West Hollywood for short time. That law was overturned in a court ruling 2/1/06 in a suit brought by the C. V. A.. Don't believe the propaganda it is perfectly legal to declaw in the US.

I have had five declawed cats over 30 years with no problems. My husband and I are in the process of adopting a new kitten. We are going to do our best to see that it will not be declawed, by using "Soft Paws", posts and training. However that is our decision and our house. This is America, do some real research, sift out the propaganda and decide whatever is right for your family.

Unable to capture the linky I have included the U of M informatin below:


New Position Statement on Cat Declawing



New Position Statement on Cat Declawing

March 2003 -- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Executive Board has adopted the following position statement on the Declawing of Domestic Cats.
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 (diseasetransference) risk for its owner(s). The AVMA believes it is the obligation of veterinarians to provide cat owners with complete education with regard to feline onychectomy. The following points are the foundation for full understanding and disclosure regarding declawing:

Scratching is a normal feline behavior, is a means for cats to mark their territory both visually and with scent, and is used for claw conditioning ("husk" removal) and stretching activity.
Owners must provide suitable implements for normal scratching behavior. Examples are scratching posts, cardboard boxes, lumber or logs, and carpet or fabric remnants affixed to stationary objects.
Implements should be tall or long enough to allow full stretching, and be firmly anchored to provide necessary resistance to scratching. Cats should be positively reinforced in the use of these implements.
Appropriate claw care (consisting of trimming the claws every 1 to 2 weeks) should be provided to prevent injury or damage to household items.
Surgical declawing is not a medically necessary procedure for the cat in most cases. While rare in occurrence, there are inherent risks and complications with any surgical procedure including, but not limited to, anesthetic complications, hemorrhage, infection, and pain.
If onychectomy is performed, appropriate use of safe and effective anesthetic agents and the use of safe peri-operative analgesics for an appropriate length of time are imperative. The surgical alternative to tendonectomy is not recommended.
Declawed cats should be housed indoors.
Scientific data do indicate that cats that have destructive clawing behavior are more likely to be euthanized, or more readily relinquished, released, or abandoned, thereby contributing to the homeless cat population. Where scratching behavior is an issue as to whether a particular cat can remain as an acceptable household pet in a particular home, surgical onychectomy may be considered.
There is no scientific evidence that declawing leads to behavioral abnormalities when the behavior of declawed cats is compared with that of cats in control groups.

Answer 2

Declawing has been banned in over 20 other countries. I think the only reson it's still done here is Vets make a lot of money off of a half hours work by doing it. A good Vet will discuss alternatives with you.

Declawing is actually amputating each toe to the first knuckle.
It is a very painful proccedure. Cat wake crying in pain or go into shock. Cats normally walk on their toes, so their normal walk is altered, which often leads to an arthritic condition. 3 out of 5 declawed cats develop medical problems or behavioral problems, such as becoming bitters or not using a litter pan.

Cats are great with babies. Only word of caution is that you shouldn't leave a sleeping new born alone with a cat, as soon as the baby can turn over on it's own, no problem. Rarely a cat will want to sleep in a bassnet with a baby, which is why I mentioned it.

They often then to protect them. I have heard of this happening many times. They have alerted parents to problems with babies and other things. I'm in CA and I have heard a lot of stories where cats have saved kids from snake bites, ( rattlers), either by killing the snake of taking the bite themselves rather than letting the child be bitten. Cats are very smart animals.

With small children you must teach them how to treat an animal.
If you let them pull the cat's tails and whiskers, they may get scratched, but it won't be fatal and it's just the cat trying to teach the child just as they would their own offspring that somethings are no- no's. There has never been a child killed by a cat. You can't of course say the same thing about dogs.

Have you considered keeping the cats claws trimmed or soft paws which are glue on nail caps? You might also want to try Feliaway spray.


Other idea's
For unwanted scratching, provide an approved scratching post or other item. Issue firm "no!"s on unapproved items. You may wish to spray Bitter Apple or Bitter Orange (available at most pet stores) on items that they are particularly stubborn about. Praise them and give a cat treat when they use the approved scratching material. Demonstrate how to use the post by (yes) going up to it and scratching it like your cat would. They will come over to investigate your scent and then leave their own.

Pepper (black, white, or cayenne) can be applied to furniture and plants to discourage scratching. This does not deter all cats. You can also cover areas with double-sided tape (sticky on both sides) to discourage unwanted scratching. (Always be sure to provide an alternative scratching item.)

In general, cats will either use a post a lot or never use it. The deciding factor can be the material that the post is made out of. It has to be fairly smooth (cats usually don't like plush carpet) and shouldn't be a material that their nails get stuck in. Once that happens, they may not use the post anymore. Natural fiber rope wrapped tightly around the post appeals to many cats. Some cats like plain wood; a two-by-four made available may work well. Other cats prefer the kind of "scratching posts" that are horizontal rather than verticle


Please check out the links for more info

Answer 3

NO. A cat without the claws isn't a cat. A person who cannot keep a cat with its claws, should`t have a cat as a pet. Its like removing a dogs voice to stop it from barking. Most people doesn't like the claws because of the damage a cat can do to your furniture. De-clawing is a "instant cure" to those who doesn't want make the effort to train the cat. A cat can be trained not to "flex" those claws in the furniture. Once that's done, you have a lovely pet and companion for the next 15 years or so. We trained our cat. Two pieces of furniture got damaged in the process and we had it repaired - a small price to pay for a long term companion. (To some of the other responders - Why would your cats claw at your kids?! Did you have those sharp teeth removed too?)

Answer 4

Have you ever thought of using nail caps? www.softpaws.com

They are much more humane then declawing and will save your furniture. We have three cats and use them on them, and I wouldn't hesitate to have my cats around a baby.

Declawing can (though it doesn't always) lead to behaviour problems. Biting is a big one, and so is not using the litterbox. They bite because they have no other defense if their claws are gone, and they feel a lot more compromised in situations they deem threatening (and a new baby would be threatening I assume). They stop using the litterbox because it is painful, sometimes the surgery leaves exposed nerves or damages the nervers on their claws.

Declawing is basically surgically removing the top joints of their toes (it would be like us losing our fingers down to the knuckle). It can be pretty traumatic, but it isn't always. I personally think the consequences are too high for it to be a benefit for my cats. You may think differently.

Just keep in mind that in some countries its illegal to declaw your cats, and a LOT of cats that end up homeless have been declawed because they have developed too many negative habits. I personally feel its not a necessary surgery, even in extreme cases, but other people may feel differently.

You are going to have to make the decision, based on what is best for you and your family. Including your cats. I personally have had a ton of good luck with the nail caps, and they aren't that hard to use. You can even see if your vet will apply them for you!

Answer 5

Hi there...there are many good answers that each person has already posted as to why declawing isn't such a good solution. Cats can be trained to not claw inappropriately. By placing double-sided tape on furnishings, tabletops curbs their desire to return as cats dislike getting stuck. Also when they begin to claw inappropriately it's best to immediately move them over to their scratching posts/toys then reward them with kitty treats. They learn to associate where it's okay to scratch as well with this method quite fast.

I would like to provide you a website (see link below) that goes into great detail why declawing is not necessary and how it affects most cats overall health. Litterbox avoidance issues is the largest problem -- cats begin to associate the pain days after the surgery everytime when they use the litter.

Answer 6

No- most experts agree that declawing doesn't correct bad behavior, and often leads to problems such as early-onset arthritis for the animals. It's extremely painful and when cats are deprived of their natural defensive mechanisms, they often substitute more frequently biting instead (which is even worse)

I suggest you post this question to a site that specializes in dealing with issues like this. Dr. Warren Eckstein has a weekly radio show that deals with pet questions- everything from bad behavior to nutrition- I suggest you try his site, or call the show. I'm sure they'd have some helpful suggestions.

www.thepetshow.com

Answer 7

If you do decide to declaw your cats, please make sure you go to a reputable vet that has good references. When I moved out after high school, my parents took my cat to be declawed at a cheap clinic. His claws began to grow back months later, only deformed and growing through the pads of his feet.

My other cats are not declawed - I clip their nails every other day. They LOVE to scratch, but I make sure they know the only OK place to scratch is their cat tree. It takes some work and lots of love, but they've done excellent.

Answer 8

That's a great idea. I had declawed my cats before my baby was born. When the baby was born, one of the cats went threw a rebelious stage for attention and tried to claw everything... no claws.
Just make sure you give kitty attention too when baby comes home, you don't want them too jealous of baby.

Answer 9

You can try softpaws, they are easy to apply and work very well. They are little caps that go over the cats natural nails. You have to keep up with them though, BUT its a surgery free way to keep the cats from destroying your things. Now...if you do opt for surgery, PLEASE make sure that the procedure used is laser. It less invasive and a lot less painful than the standard declaw. The standard declaw is barbaric. Good luck.

Answer 10

No,at least not by you. Let a pro do it because you can cut the cat's finger off. Its hard to tell where the claw starts.