Cons of getting a cat declawed and some alternatives?

Question

My friends parents want to declaw there three cats which one is 5 years and the other two are about 2 years old. I think its mean there reasoning is they want new furniture and they dont want there cats clawing it. What are the cons and the alternatives to declawing so I can tell them and try to convince them not to declaw there kitties.

Answer 1

As a professional in the veterinary field, in most cases declawing is not necessary. Declawing is not simply removing the nails of the cat; it would be equizilant to having your fingers amputated to the first knuckle (they have to remove the "root" otherwise the nail will grow back). This procedure is painful for a young cat however it is far more painful and difficult for older cats. Its relatively common for cats to stop using the litter box after being declawed (they associate the post-operative pain of scooping with the actual litterbox) and begin spraying in the house. There are a few alternatives...
~There are latex caps that you can purchase that are glued on the cats nails. This would stop them from digging their nails in the furiture, doorjams, and other areas.
~There are products that are made of a plastic material that you put on the corners of your couch (and other areas). They're clear, so you cant see them on the furniture.
~Cheap Trick: place aluminum foil on the furniture in the areas you think the cats will scratch just long enough for them to associate the sound and feeling of the foil with scratching these areas. When you see they've stopped attempting to scratch the furniture, remove the foil.
~Purchase a product called "feliaway." This a contraption that stays in a wall outlet and gives off the scent of cat pheramones (only cats can smell it). This produces a calming effect and can either cut down on clawing attempts and/or eliminate the problem.
~Trim the cats nails on a regular basis. This is simple, inexpensive (nail trimmers cost $5-$7), and only takes a matter of minutes two to three times a month. Keep this in mind, if this is something that the cats are not use to, it will take a few times before they will be accustomed to the process...be patient, they will get use to it.
~Have items around the house that encourage scratching only in desingated areas (I.e. cat scratch post, cat tower, etc...). Make sure you purchase one that is long enough that is slightly longer than that of the cat in a stretched position. If the cat at first doesn't show interest in the product, spray it with liquid catnip, or sprinkle the powdered catnip form on the cat scratch post.

Answer 2

Declawing is illegal here in Europe and in several other countries, because it's cruel, painful and unnecessary. Even softpaws are rarely sold; I'd never heard of them before I came to Yahoo Answers. Yet people here in Europe own lots of cats, we also buy new furniture, and our houses aren't scratched up. Cats can be trained, and you can clip their nails (truly 'clip' their nails, just the tip, not like 'declawing' is really an amputation of the toe instead of just the claw).

There is an extensive article on why cats scratch and how to train them to scratch in appropriate places (scratching post and/or outdoors) only. Please take a look at it; it's long but it'll help you understand your cats' behaviour better than when I just give a few key points here like 'clip nails, use lemon spray and alu foil'.

If it doesn't work then SoftPaws are a better alternative but as I said, I didn't even know they existed until a few months ago, while I know a *lot* of cats and all of them have their claws... almost all cats can be trained using the techniques in this article.

Answer 3

There are special nail clippers that basically square off a cats claws so their claws will not damage the furniture. They could get those and clip the cats claws once a week. I think it's ridiculous to surgically alter a living thing so it doesn't threaten an innanimate object. People who do that shouldn't have pets. I used to volunteer at the Humane Society and there were a lot of cats there that were already declawed. So, those poor kitties had to go through that ordeal and the owners still dumped them.

Answer 4

Declawing and adult cat is VERY painful. What the vet does is amputate the first digit on their toes. Can you imagine having the first digit on all of your toes amputated? And it is worse for cats who are older, like these cats. I have two adult cats who are NOT declawed. Alternatives would be training them to scratch on a scratch post rather than furniture, and this is possible. Also clipping their nailes 1-2 times a week REALY helps. And there are also products like Soft Paws that help. They are a soft rubber cap that you put over the cats nails. That way if they do claw it won't damage anything. I use these on my cats. And they are fun because they come in different colors. My princess kitty gets pink, and my little monster kitty gets blue. When they fall off you will find a little colorful cap on the carpet, then you know you have to replace it. I hope this helps!!

http://www.softpaws.com/

Answer 5

De-clawing is actually a surgical procedure where each toe is removed at the first knuckle. It is illegal in many countries. Older cats are prone to having problems recovering from this surgery.

Alternatives include:

Soft Claws, a vinyl sleeve that is placed over each nail. They last 5-6 weeks before they fall off, and then you trim the nails and put on a new set.

2 sided carpet tape (the clear kind that is used for holding area rugs in place) also works well. Cats HATE anything sticky on their feet, and will not claw anything that has this on it.

Scratching posts come in many different varieties. Some kitties like upright poles, some prefer flat surfaces. Some like sisal, some like natural tree limbs. Rub some premium catnip on the post to attract the cats.

Answer 6

You could try "Soft Paws" plastic tips you glue on over nails , and also laser declawing could be good alternative to surgical declaw ( very short recovery time) , or tendonectomy- the nails are left intact but the tendons that extend the nails are severed again very short recovery time. And always make sure if a surgical or laser option is chosen the vet sends pain meds home to keep kitties comfortable.

Answer 7

You can get caps for the nails but I have talked to my vet and he said it is ok to declaw them. I recently adopted a stray but she clawed everything even though i bought her a claw scratch post. I had her declawed front and back and she healed with in 2-3 days. She used her litter box fine, I had a prob at first cuz i thought it was kinda mean but my other option was to give her to the shelter and lets face it not alot of animals get out of there once they go in. So i had her declawed and she is fine now, she is happy and healthy. Of course she is not allowed outside that would just be mean because she has no form of defense now. But she is an inside cat so its totally OK.

The caps are a good thing but it takes alot of maintenance to keep them up, its not a one time thing and can you even imagine trying to hold your cat and glue on these things, believe me i researched all possibilities before I choose declawing.

Also its their cat and their choice no matter who things its wrong. everyone is entitles to their own opinions and it is a safe procedure and relatively simple.

Answer 8

I have 3 Ragdoll cats with claws and they do not scratch on the furniture. They were taught where to scratch when young. They love their "turbo-scratcher" and use it exclusively. (You can get one at Walmart). Clipping their nails regularly helps, and a spray bottle (with water only) will help if they scratch in the wrong places. Adult cats may be harder to retrain if they already scratch on the furniture, but I also do not recommend declawing especially on mature cats. It is unnecessarily cruel. Keep the old furniture and love the cats.

Answer 9

Sometimes when your declaw a cat , especially an older one, it can cause other social issues.

Sometimes they become agressive or they withdrawl from the family. And sometimes they stop using the litter box.

Try getting scratch pads or posts and see how they do with that before you declaw them. My cats don't scratch things they're not supposed to unless they don't have access to a scratching post.

Answer 10

Declawing is the amputation of each front toe at the first joint (hind foot declaw surgery is not commonly performed on house cats, but is quite common in lions, tigers, and other big cats). This is equivalent to a person losing the entire tip of every finger at the first knuckle. The surgery is so predictably painful that it is used to test the effectiveness of pain medications. Initial recovery takes a few weeks, but even after the surgical wounds have healed, there are often other long-term physical and psychological effects.

Despite their reputation for independence, cats can readily be trained to use a scratching post instead of the sofa, curtains, or rugs. Using surgery to prevent or correct a behavioral problem is expedient, but it is not the wisest, kindest, or best solution for your cat. Cats can be trained not to scratch furniture or other objects. Amazingly, many people do not even know that they should provide a scratching post for their cats. Because scratching is a deeply ingrained instinct in cats, if there is no appropriate spot, they will be forced to substitute furniture or other objects.

A vertical scratching post should be at least 28-36" high to allow the cat to stretch to his full height. Many cats prefer natural soft wood, such as a cedar or redwood plank, or posts covered with sisal rope. Some cats like to scratch on a horizontal surface; inexpensive cardboard scratchers are popular with these cats. Rubbing the surface with catnip, or using a catnip spray, may enhance the attractiveness of the post. For the more adventurous types, there are cat trees in dozens of sizes and colors, with features such as hidey-holes, lounging platforms, hanging toys, and other creative amenities.

There are many other options as well, such as clear, sticky strips to apply to the furniture, and other deterrents, as well as a multitude of climbing trees, mats, and other distractions that will protect your possessions. Adequate exercise, especially interactive play sessions, will also help channel kitty energy. For aggressive scratching, conscientious nail-trimming or soft plastic caps for the claws, Soft Paws, are a good beginning. Remember, never play or roughhouse with your kitten or cat using your bare hands. You don't want her to get the idea that biting or scratching human skin is okay. And while it's fun to watch the kitten attack your wiggling toes under a blanket, when he's 15 pounds with inch-long canine teeth, it's not nearly as amusing. Serious aggression problems require assistance from your veterinarian or a professional behavior consultant

Tenectomy is a procedure in which the tendons in the toes are severed. The cat still has its claws, but is unable to control them. This procedure does not necessarily protect people from being scratched, and it is associated with a high incidence of abnormal claw growth and muscle atrophy. In a 1998 JAVMA article, Jankowski, et al., concluded that "owners should be aware of the high complication rate for both [tendonectomy and declawing] procedures and of the need for constant trimming of claws of cats that have undergone tenectomy." Jankowski also reported that 55% of the cats having tendonectomy were still able to scratch with their claws to some degree, and that 10% of the cat's owners had the cats declawed after the tendonectomy procedure for this reason. In March 2003, the AVMA stated that tendonectomy is "not recommended."

Dr. Wendy Feaga, a Maryland veterinarian, wrote in Veterinary Medicine (May 1998) regarding tendonectomy, "I hope this cruel practice is stopped immediately." She describes a post-tendonectomized cat that "had badly arthritic toes and did not move around comfortably. The toenails were thick and disfigured, and the toes were painful on palpation. I was horrified."

Lasers can be used in lieu of a scalpel to perform declaw surgery, though the result of the procedure is the same. A study reported in the September 1, 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Association by Mison, et al., found that lasers offered no benefit over the more conventional methods of declawing, stating "differences in discomfort and complications between groups treated via scalpel versus CO2 laser were not clinically relevant." In another study, Levy and others (1999) found that complications (bleeding, limping, swelling, infection) were generally worse in the laser onychectomy group, compared to blade onychectomy in the first 2 days after surgery.