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Declawing Your Cat

Declawing, also called an onychectomy, refers to the procedure of removing a cat's ability to use its claws. It is most often done to prevent the clawing or scratching of furniture, carpet and other household items. Considered a major surgical procedure, declawing removes more than a cat's claws. It also removes the last joint of a cat's 10 front toes as well tendons, nerves and muscles.

People usually declaw their cats when the cat is less than two years of age. Declawing after that age creates more complications for the pet. Declawing typically requires an overnight stay of one or more days at a veterinary clinic.

Costs of declawing vary based on the specific procedure done and complications associated with the surgery. Pain relief for older animals is suggested after the surgery. Providing such relief immediately following the surgery can reduce recovery time if you continue it for at least two to three days.

To Declaw or not to Declaw
There has been great debate in recent years over whether or not declawing a cat is a safe and acceptable practice. Opponents of the procedure say it has benefits to a cat's owner but offers no benefits to the animal. The procedure is so controversial, in fact, that it has been banned in a number of countries including the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Brazil. In the United States, some communities have passed ordinances banning declawing. In others, some veterinarians refuse to declaw their feline patients.

The argument is that declawing is an excessively painful, potentially crippling surgical procedure that takes away a cat's instinctual behavior to scratch, climb, hunt and adequately defend itself against predators in the wild. According to an article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1/3 of all declawed cats suffer from at least one behavioral problem following declawing or tendonectomy surgery. In addition, up to 1/5 of all cats undergoing such a procedure will suffer long-term complications.

Laser declawing is a new procedure that declaws a cat with less bleeding and swelling than normal surgery. However, the long-term effects of the procedure remain the same.

Experts who oppose declawing argue that declawing causes more problems than it solves. They recommend alternatives to declawing.

Alternatives to Declawing
Cats' scratching behavior is instinctual but it can be deterred through the use of training and by providing a scratching post for cats to use. When an adequate scratching post is provided, many cats will use this preferable alternative to furniture, curtains and rugs.

Pet experts suggest a vertical scratching post that is 28 to 36 inches in height so that cats can fully stretch while scratching. Cats tend to like posts made of natural, soft woods, such cedar and redwood, or rope. Posts are often covered with carpet or another scratchable but satisfying surface.

To encourage cats to use the post versus household furnishings, try rubbing it with catnip to create interest. Cats can also be distracted by the popular carpeted kitty condos, climbing trees and other pet toys that will cause a cat to exercise.

Another option is to regularly and carefully trim your cat's front claws with grooming tools made specifically for this purpose. Other people prefer to use soft plastic caps that cover a cat's claws.



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