Thinking of declawing reasons complications alternatives 1. Comments page declawing cats is a very hot topic for debate. Declawing and its alternatives declawing has probably become the most controversial of all the elective surgical procedures commonly performed by veterinarians. Elevated blood pressure, increased pulse rate, fever, and. There are many alternatives to the short and longterm negative effects of declawing, all of which should be explored before surgery. Recently, the avma changed their policy on declawing cats to add the procedure is a major surgery that should only be performed after alternatives have been sought to prevent destructive clawing. It is a very cruel solution to keep a cat from clawing furniture. Presents a letter to the editor about cat declawing. Its a decision that each pet owner must make for themselves after talking with their cats veterinarian. If youre getting a cat or thinking about the procedure, its wise to consider a. Partial digital amputation onychectomy or declawing of the domestic felid position statement. Partial digital amputation onychectomy or declawing of the. It is the surgical removal of the claws, which are closely adhered to the bone. The laser technique used to declaw cats is similar to the traditional procedure, but there are significant benefits and disadvantages to note.
Most people are vehemently opposed to declawing due to a combination of reasons. Because there are so many humane alternatives to declawing, there is really no valid reason to consider declawing as a solution for scratching. Declawing cats get the medical facts about feline declawing. Sticky tape tapelike products and pads that have a tacky texture help reduce furniture. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading thinking of declawing. There was 96% owner satisfaction at the time of the study up from 81% prior to surgery and over 70% of cat owners indicated that there was an improvement in the catowner relationship. There was a very large study done of the behavioral traits of cats after declawing and no significant changes in behavior were found. Find out alternatives for declawing cats and which state might be banning cat declaws soon. The only circumstances in which the procedure should be considered are those in which all behavioral and environmental alternatives have been fully explored, have proven to be ineffective, and the cat is at grave risk.
Alternatives to an inhumane procedure declawing is a common surgical procedure performed on cats in the united states and elsewhere. In fact, these alternatives are often more effective than declawing and present none of the serious potential consequences and problems presented by that decision. Since declawing involves ten separate amputations of the distal phalanx, which is comparable to amputating the last joint of a human finger, alternatives to this drastic and painful procedure should be explored. Each set of caps generally lasts for 46 weeks, so 1 package may last from 46 months. Declawing rarely stop problem behaviors or frequently will end up trigger others. A cat scratching furniture might lead you to consider declawing, but declawing cats is a painful ordeal. In the behavior section in response to a question you said. Declawing cats and humane alternatives the spruce pets. If owners are considering declawing, they must be provided with complete education about feline declawing. Be sure to keep your cats claws trimmed regularly, about once every two weeks.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Many countries around the world have banned the surgery calling it animal cruelty. Declawing can cause chronic pain, mobility issues, biting and behavioral problems. Initially, a bot will ask questions to determine the general nature of your concern. The results were recently published in the journal of the american veterinary medical association. Declawing more than just a manicure declawing and alternatives relative pushing for declaw declaw or not. Askavet is an affiliated service for those who wish to speak with a veterinary professional about their pets specific condition. The laser technique used to declaw cats is similar to the traditional procedure, but.
Many people who have cats take them to the veterinarian for declawing in order to spare their belongings from being damaged by feline claws. You should also discuss other options with your veterinarian, such as behavioral modification medications. Declawing cats has been a hot topic in recent years. Read on to see if any of these options would work for your cat.
Designed by a veterinarian, these easytoapply nailcaps cover your cats claws, helping protect your skin, floors. The following articles elucidate declawing, should you declaw, how to deal with claws, and how to trim claws. I am not sure what alternatives there are to declawing though and so i thought i would ask on here about what. I am thinking that i am going to have to get my 12yearold female cat declawed because she keeps attacking my 1yearold son. Declawing is now illegal in the state of new york and in many countries, is either illegal or considered extremely inhumane. We finally got another cat, a kitten named cosette we call her cozy. The need to claw the surgery countries about me story of my cats nanaki puck careful who you donate to recommendations links contact me. Humane alternatives to declawing s cratching, for a cat, is not only a natural act, but a necessary one as well. This includes informing clients about alternatives to declawing, such as nail trims which some veterinarians provide and behavior training. Declawing should only be considered for medical reasons, or when all other behavioral correction methods are unsuccessful. Declawing cats is a very controversial topic for both veterinarians and cat owners.
Declawing a cat is essentially cutting off your finger from your first knuckle to get rid of your fingernail. Alternatives to declawing florida veterinary behavior service. In order to remove the claw and prevent its regrowth which sometimes results from incomplete removal, the entire first joint of each of the cats toe is amputated. The american academy of feline practitioners aafp goes even further by saying it strongly opposes the practice. Both the american veterinary medical association and the academy of feline medicine stress that owners should be educated about both the procedure and its alternatives. Because of the structure of the toe and claw, declawing requires the removal of the last joint of the cats toe. I am guilty of doing it myself to my first cat because i didnt know any better, so im not blaming you for considering it.
Its useful for getting cats to stop urine marking and, as such, is believed to help with cats who mark with their claws, too. Aug 15, 2015 the reason usually given for declawing a cat is that you dont want them scratching your precious furniture. The truth about declawing technical facts about declawing. On the other hand, no one likes to have their furniture ruined. It removes the dead outer sheaths of nail and it is a vital exercise technique which serves to stretch and strengthen their upper bodies. Seriously, if you are going to own a cat, hell probably scratch something sometime. Also, cats mark their territory visually, especially in multicat house. Although it still has teeth, a declawed cat would need to get close to a predator to. It points out that declawing is entirely elective, saying it is the veterinarians obligation to provide alternatives to the procedure. If you remember my cat armand past away in december. Weston hopes that other cities take this movement into consideration and that, in general, veterinarians have more honest and educational discussions with their clients regarding declawing. Declawing onychectomy has been widely used on house cats for decades, but it is a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia and involves.
Declawing cats alternatives, problems, pros and cons webmd. Cat declawing, whether by a laser or by traditional means, eliminates your cats ability to damage or ruin your furniture and other personal belongings because of excessive scratching. Feline declawing is an elective and ethically controversial procedure, which is not medically necessary for cats in most instances. A few ideas to help, buy scratching posts and place them everywhere the kittens like to scratch. Joined nov 17, 2016 messages 27 reaction score 3 location redding, ca. Alternatives to declawing options to stop scratching issues technical facts about declawing the truth about declawing the right scratching post for your cat veterinarian developed post based on cats behavior soft paws nail caps a humane alternative to declawing. Thinking of declawing reasons complications alternatives. Felinedeclawingisanelectiveandethicallycontroversialprocedure,which isnotmedicallynecessaryforcatsinmostinstances. Although it still has teeth, a declawed cat would need to get close to a predator to bite it, at which point it may already be too late. The reason usually given for declawing a cat is that you dont want them scratching your precious furniture.
There are many solutions to problem cat scratching that do not involve declawing. Our friends at the american animal hospital association aaha have this to say. Three alternatives for declawing your cat figo pet insurance. Despite their reputation for independence, cats are actually very trainable especially when an owners attempt to train them presents them with a viable alternative for exercising. Alternatives to declawing florida veterinary behavior. Learn ways to prevent damage with safe alternatives to declawing cats. Reasons complications alternatives kindle edition by ekonen, lnr, ekonen, lnr, hofve dvm, jean. Given the reasons for declawing, it needs to be said that both furniture scratching and aggressive behavior can be addressed and solved when pet guardians are willing to take the steps necessary to modify both the behavior of their cat and their own. Efficacy of declawing in cats onychectomy is generally considered an unsuitable way of correcting unwanted or aggressive scratching behavior. It is the surgical removal of the claws which are closely adhered to the bone. A declawed cat does not stand a chance against a large dog, a bigger cat, or a predator. In a study of 276 cat owners, declawing successfully met or surpassed the owners expectations in all cases. Declawing can result in longterm problems for cats petmd.
A typical counterargument is, my cat is indoors only. You should discuss with your vet why you want to declaw your cat, what other methods you have tried to alleviate the problem behavior, or if there is a medical necessity to declaw, and the actual procedure of declawing. Partial digital amputation onychectomy or declawing of. If your cat has an appropriate place to scratch of the substrate that.
Declawing cats alternatives, problems, pros and cons. Feliway is available as a room plugin or a spray and it mimics the scent of a cats facial pheromones. Sep 12, 2017 be sure to keep your cats claws trimmed regularly, about once every two weeks. In order to remove the claw and prevent its regrowth which sometimes results from incomplete removal, the entire first joint of each of the cats toes is amputated. In 2014, i took part in an anonymous survey of 3,441 veterinarians. Declawing alternatives include providing a better place to scratch, nail trimming, paw padding, and tendonectomy providing a better place to scratch. Nail trimming nail trimming reduces the damage a cat can do when it scratches. There is a charge for the service if you choose to connect to a veterinarian. We might also have the front claws taken out because our other cat, rajah. The best way to stop your cat from scratching your stuff is to give her something cooler to scratch. If youre getting a cat or thinking about the procedure, its wise to consider a number of feasible alternatives to declawing.
We at greys and strays do not advocate declawing for ethical reasons. After surgery, cats will experience pain for several days. The american animal hospital association is opposed to the declawing of domestic cats unless all other attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its. The aspca is strongly opposed to declawing cats for the convenience of their owners or to prevent damage to household property. Christianne schelling, this site explains exactly what the declawing procedure entails and the various negative impacts it can have on your cat. Onychectomy, popularly known as declawing, is an operation to remove an animals claws surgically by means of the amputation of all or part of the distal phalanges, or end bones, of the animals toes. You should discuss with your vet why you want to declaw your cat, what other methods you have tried to alleviate the problem behavior, or if there is a medical necessity to declaw, and. Top reasons not to declaw your cat the spruce pets. Embrace pet insurance has several alternatives to consider, including nail trimming, nail caps, and more. Cats use their claws for balance, jumping, climbing, selfdefense, and grooming, and declawing forces your cat to walk unnaturally. If you only place the caps on your cats front claws, you will have enough for 4 applications. Here is an article about alternatives to declawing, i hope you find what youre looking for here. For more information about declawing, the different types of surgery performed to declaw a cat, associated complications, alternatives to declawing, and more, please read through the following guides and websites. I know they can be quite destructive with scratching.
I was trying to locate studies showing the effects of declawing on cats and your site turned up in the search. Reports on the decision of the malibu city council in california to reject an antideclaw measure inspite of a ban on cat declawing in west hollywood in 2003. Because the claw develops from germinal tissue within the third phalanx, amputation of the bone is necessary to fully remove the claw. Drew weigner, atlanta veterinarian and a past president of the academy of feline medicine, offers his perspective on the topic.
Nov 15, 2017 weston hopes that other cities take this movement into consideration and that, in general, veterinarians have more honest and educational discussions with their clients regarding declawing. Declawing cats is an emotionally charged and hotly debated topic. The american academy of feline practitioners aafp goes even further by saying it strongly opposes the practice, which is considered a major surgery. It is the obligation of veterinarians to provide cat owners with alternatives to declawing.
The american association of feline practitioners aafp strongly opposes declawing onychectomy as an elective procedure. It removes the cuticle from the claws and it leaves a visual and scent marker for all who pass through the area. Some oppose declawing for being inhumane or unnatural, since it can be painful for the cat and takes away its natural mechanism for hunting and defending itself. Declawing in cats procedure, efficacy, recovery, prevention. Declawing cats has many negative physical and mental effects. Please read the welfare implications of declawing domestic cats and the aafps 2017 declawing position statement before you make your decision. The only circumstances in which the procedure should be considered are those in which all behavioral and environmental alternatives have been fully explored, have proven to be ineffective, and the cat is at grave risk of euthanasia. Declawing position statement american association of.