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Scratching is a natural cat behavior. Unfortunately, the often liberal use of a cat's claws can lead to a certain amount of damage to things around the house. Often, cat owners who are worried about the furniture will take the cat to be declawed. Most cat owners do not actually understand just what the implications of declawing their cat may be.
When you take your cat to the veterinarian to be declawed, there are several different techniques that may be used. Regardless of the method, the outcome is the same: the bones towards the end of the cat's toes connecting the claws will be surgically removed. These bones are where a cat's claws are attached, and by removing the bone, the claw is also removed.
Veterinary research has indicated that cats may experience a great deal pain during the operation and certainly after it as well. So far, there is no studies to confirm the degree of pain the cat is suffering from, however many owners have observed that their cats refusal to put weight on their declawed paws. A cat may continue to experience pain in the paws for days afterward.
Based on the above, why would a cat owner choose to declaw his cat? The most common reason is that the cat scratches a lot, possibly doing damage to property or harming people. But what many pet owners don't realize is that scratching is a very normal behavior for cats. It serves several purposes:
- Defending against predators
- Marking territory (Some studies have shown that cats may have scent glands in their paws)
- Strengthening leg and back muscles
- Removing old tissue from the claw
Even if a cat is successfully declawed with limited pain, the lack of claws and bone may result in poor balance, a weakening of muscles, and in many cases distress as the cat realizes it can no longer scratch. Many cat owners reported that their declawed cats developed behavioral issues and refuse to use the litter box.
Further risks do come with declawing. A cat may respond poorly to medications it is given, the surgery could be performed improperly; hemorrhaging may be a problem, as cats tend to bleed profusely. Some cases of paralysis due to tourniquet use have been reported as have incidents of increased disease brought on by stress and reduced immune system function.
Fortunately, there are a number of alternatives to declawing a cat that may be scratching excessively. The best option is simply to train your cat not to scratch on anything but special surface, like a scratching post. Many cat owners are not aware that it is possible to train a cat. Using rewards and positive reinforcement is often effective in getting a cat to avoid certain behaviors.
Another way is to groom and trim your cat's nails on a regular basis. This may be a challenge for many owners as cats generally do not like to be handled and groomed. This method does not entirely fix the problem as it simply lessen the damages.
You may also decide to apply nail caps to your cat's claws. These plastic caps need to be replaced every month or so, and will only reduce the damage your cat might do to your property or person.
