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Surgical procedures:
The most common surgical procedure, onychectomy,
or "declawing", is amputation of the claw and the end toe
bone joint. The surgery has a reputation for causing pain for a week or more
and the possibility of postoperative complications, such as infection,
hemorrhage, nail regrowth and altered feeling in the toes for some time after
surgery. There is disagreement as to whether declawing leads to behavioral
problems in cats. There is concern for the welfare of cats who can not defend
themselves or climb to safety if they are able to go outside. A declawed cat
will still scratch but without damage to furnishings.
An alternative surgical procedure, deep
digital flexor tendonectomy, was first described by John
Rife, DVM (Journal AAHA, Nov.1986). This surgery involves severing the tendon
attached to the end toe digit but maintaining the claw in the sheath. It is
not possible to detect the surgery visually but the cat is no longer able to
extend the claws. The technique limits the cat's ability to damage surfaces
when scratching as long as the claws are kept trimmed. It is less painful
(cats recover within 2 days) and it has minimal postoperative risks. However,
ongoing claw trimming is a must or the cat can use its claws again to some
degree and there is a risk of ingrowth into the paw pads. Some veterinarians
have reported joint fusion and arthritis problems. The technique has not been
favored by most veterinarians mainly because of the above negative factors and
the potential of the client's dissatisfaction and ultimate desire for
declawing.
Behavioral aspects:
Animal behaviorists currently believe that
the main function of scratching for the cat is communication. It is natural,
instinctual behavior. Scratching involves not only leaving a visual mark but
it is an attention getting, happiness display. Ideally the cat should be
encouraged in this behavior; however, because of damage to furnishings, most
cat owners reach a compromise with the cat by claw clipping and redirecting to
other acceptable surfaces or using the relatively new claw guards, and most
cats are adaptable enough to accept this arrangement. In addition cats raised
by pedigreed cat breeders can be deterred even further by early kitten
handling. (My own experience indicates that scratching becomes an ingrained
habit which initially surfaces at the time a 4 or 5 week old kitten becomes
aware of the magic of its claws when he pulls himself over the kitten box.
This is when all cat habits, like use of the litter box, start to develop.)
Breeders can greatly minimize the scratching habit, and associated problems,
by not allowing access to attractive home furnishing surfaces (i.e. fabrics,
carpet) and by only making acceptable scratching surfaces available, such as
cardboard or rope posts, until the kitten reaches the age of 8 to 10 weeks.
Cattery raised kittens can have good scratching habits ingrained during this
early period.
The majority of American veterinarians
perform declawing surgery, either routinely suggesting it to clients or as a
last resort for cats that would face euthanasia. Many cat owners who have
their cats declawed because of a perceived cat damage "problem" have
not even tried any other solution first. The veterinary scientific literature
supports the claims that there are no differences in undesirable behaviors of
cats before and after declawing. However, my reading of the studies, executed
in the 80's, which are the basis of this belief, reveals that the
investigators themselves admit that there may have been special circumstances
involved and that the numbers of cats were too few for significant results.
From one article it was stated that an "owner is more likely to undertake
the expense of having a scratching cat declawed when that cat has many
desirable traits". (Effects of declawing on feline behavior; Bennett, et
al; Companion Animal Practice, Dec. 1988.)
There is no question that most humane
shelters have taken a strong stand against declawing and there are numerous
anecdotal reports of behavior problems in declawed cats. In some countries,
such as Great Britain, declawing (except for medical reasons) is not
permitted. Tuffs University School of Veterinary Medicine advocates thoroughly
exploring noninvasive options and only if a client considers getting rid of
the cat performing surgical removal The AVMA policy is as follows: "The
declawing of the domestic cat is justifiable when the cat can not be trained
to refrain from using its claws destructively. (1994)"
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