Choose Modification Rather Than Mutilation
By Tracey Laszloffy, Best Friends VolunteerMikey was a little grey kitty when I met him. He was playful and sweet. He loved tossing his toy mouse, jumping on it, hooking it in his claws and swatting it around. He had been adopted by a young man named Jason who was the son of a friend of mine. From the little I knew of Jason he never kept a companion animal for more than a brief spell. Sure enough, two months later Jason was bored of Mikey and gave him to his aunt.
About a year later I had to stop by Jason’s house to drop something off and he and I began talking. I asked about Mikey and he laughed saying he had a recent picture of him from his aunt. When I saw the photo my heart dropped. Mikey was starring into the camera and the expression on his face was an unsettling combination of what looked like anger and deep sadness. I realize I am at risk here of assuming the presence of feelings that I have no way of proving, but I wasn’t the only one who saw those emotions.
Before I said anything, Jason commented that “It’s a freaky picture, right. He looks pissed and also like he’s gonna cry.”
Jason and I have radically different views of and feelings about animals, yet in spite of our differences, we both had the same interpretation of Mikey’s expression. I realize no one will ever know for certain what Mikey was feeling, but one thing is a fact. A month before that photo was taken Mikey had been subjected to an act of bodily mutilation that caused extreme pain that inevitably lasted for several weeks. His body had been disfigured in a way that would forever rob him of doing the things that are natural and normal for cats to do—things that gave him pleasure, like tossing and grabbing his toy mouse. I may not know for certain if Mikey was feeling mad and sad when that picture was taken, but I do know that having been recently declawed, he certainly had reason to feel that way.
Declawing is a controversial issue. There are some who believe it is an acceptable method of preventing cats from scratching. They argue that the procedure is not inherently cruel, does not negatively affect feline disposition, temperament or behavior, and is justified because it prevents unwanted scratching. Opponents argue that the procedure is tremendously cruel, resulting in severe physical pain and suffering, as well as psychological and emotional trauma that leads to the onset of deviant behaviors and temperament. So which is it?
Scratching Below the Surface of Why Cats ScratchScratching is a natural and appropriate feline behavior. Cats scratch to exercise. When they hook their claws into a surface and pull, they are engaging in a form of isotonic exercise that strengthens their muscles and improves muscle and joint suppleness. Cats also have scent glands in their feet and use scratching to mark territory. In some instances cats may use scratching to communicate frustration, boredom or irritation.
Sometimes humans find cats' scratching annoying and problematic. When this happens, there is a tendency to label this behavior “destructive” scratching. But the destructiveness of the scratching all depends upon whose point of view you are considering. From a human’s point of view scratching is destructive when it is directed at the side of a couch or some part of a person’s body. But from the feline’s point of view, she’s just being a cat. She’s doing what is natural and appropriate and therefore this scratching isn’t destructive to her.
The issue of perspective is paramount to the declawing debate. Positions for and against declawing depend largely on whose interests are being taken into consideration.
What Declawing IsWhile most mammals walk on the soles of their feet or paws, cats walk on their toes. Cats have retractile nails, or “claws” which closely adhere to the bone, and are critically important to walking, balancing and engaging in a series of innate behaviors that are essential for survival and mental and physical well-being.
Declawing is the surgical removal of the claws, which means amputating the entire first joint of each of a cat’s “toes.” This process is akin to amputating all a human’s fingers and toes to the first knuckle.
How do you think it would affect the quality of your life if someone did this to you? Cats use their claws for defense, stretching, exercise, play, balancing, walking, and jumping. Claws are an essential part of normal feline behavior and activity. Declawing cats to eliminate what their human companions describe as “destructive” scratching costs the cats much more than the scratching causes humans.
Consequences of DeclawingThe first and most immediate consequence of declawing is the excruciating pain is causes. (1) While neutering operations are associated with mild pain and spaying operations are associated with moderate pain, veterinarians agree that declawing is associated with severe pain. In spite of this, cats are often sent home a day or two after surgery without any pain medication.
A survey of over a 1,000 veterinarians conduced by Wagner and Hellyer (
JAVMA, December 1, 2002) found that 44% of veterinarians do not administer any pain medication following declawing surgery. Because cats tend to hide their pain, feline pain is often underestimated by observers. Cats tend to not display outward signs of their suffering such as whining, crying or licking. Instead, cats are more likely to curl up in a corner to try to sleep, which is often misinterpreted as peaceful, painless rest.
In addition to extreme pain and suffering, more than 50% of declawed cats suffer from post-surgical complications such as infections, damage to the radial nerve, bone protrusion into the pad and paw, bone chips that prevent healing, painful re-growth of deformed claw inside of the paw (which is not visible to the eye), prolonged intermittent lameness, chronic back and joint pain as shoulder, leg, and back muscles weaken, and abnormal standing posture. (2) (3)
Another consequence of declawing is that it renders cats completely defenseless against other animals, which means they can never be allowed outdoors where they are vulnerable to attack. Moreover, the loss of natural defenses often alters a cat’s personality making him or her more aggressive (which is generally expressed through increased biting) or more fearful and shy.
Declawed cats also tend to develop litter box problems. Reports from veterinarians confirm that unless there is an underlying medical cause, 90% of cats who display litter box aversion have been declawed. (4) This is partly related to the fact that declawing reduces tolerance for stress; when cats experience stress this most commonly is expressed through litter box problems. It also is likely that the pain cats initially experience when using the litter box after declawing surgery becomes associated with the box itself, contributing to litter box aversion.
Ironically, while declawing is employed to eliminate “destructive” scratching, it tends to produce other kinds of behaviors than humans find more troubling than the scratching itself, such as biting and litter box aversion. Of the reasons that humans give for relinquishing cats to shelters, scratching is only cited 3-5% of the time. The most commonly cited reasons are soiling and biting, both of which are linked to declawing. (5)
In other words, declawing cats tends to induce behaviors that increase the probability that guardians will relinquish their cats to shelters, or worse, abandon them on the streets where they are completely defenseless.
"But my declawed cat is just fine!" If you happen to be reading this and you have a declawed cat who did not develop post-surgical complications and has not resorted to biting, litter box aversion, or other signs of distress, you may find yourself feeling defensive and eager to take issue with this story.
It is important to stress that while almost half of all cats suffer from post-surgical complications, this means half do not. And just as 33% of cats develop behavioral problems after being declawed, 67% do not.
If you and your cat can be counted among the seemingly problem-free groups, that’s great. But it doesn’t change the fact that a substantial percentage of cats do indeed suffer unduly after having their claws removed. Moreover, it is important to bear in mind that the absence of overtly negative effects is not the same thing as the presence of a clearly beneficial effect. This is where the issue of whose interests are being considered comes into play.
Declawing serves human interests in two ways: First, cat guardians benefit from the elimination of scratching. Second, veterinarians who perform declawing surgeries rather then educating people about alternatives derive economic benefits. Since declawing operations are fairly easy to perform, they are sometimes used as a means to make a quick buck. Some vets even go so far as to offer “packages” that combine a spay/neuter procedure with declawing for a reduced rate.
In contrast, declawing does nothing to serve the best interests of cats. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) admits that “surgical declawing is not a medically necessary procedure.” From the vantage point of cats, declawing offers no benefits. At best there can only be the minimization of losses, which certainly makes clear that where you stand on this issue has a lot to do with whose interests you are advancing.
The American Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) states: “A major concern that the AVAR has about declawing is the attitude that is evident in this situation. The cat is treated as if he or she is an inanimate object who can be modified, even to the point of surgical mutilation, to suit a person’s perception of what a cat should be. It would seem more ethical and humane to accept that claws and scratching are inherent feline attributes, and to adjust one’s life accordingly if a cat is desired as a companion. If this is unacceptable, then perhaps a different companion would be in order.”
In concert with AVAR’s stance, numerous Western nations have either declared declawing illegal or extremely inhumane (e.g., United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Wales, the Netherlands, Brazil, Slovenia, Israel).
It would be lovely if the United States joined other progressive nations with respect to this issue. But in the meantime, it’s up to individual humans to do their part to equally value their cats' interests as much as their own, and to seek solutions to unwanted scratching through behavior modification, not bodily mutilation. For more on this, please read the next section.
What You Can Do:If you or if someone you know has a cat whose scratching is leading you, or them to consider declawing, please examine these alternatives outlined by the Animal Protection Institute:
• As a diversion, attach bubble wrap, tin foil, slippery wax paper, or double-sided sticky tape to the object your cat scratches.
• Smear citrus-scented liquid or commercial cat repellent on the item your cat likes to scratch.
• Provide a scratching post or other appropriate scratching surfaces in every room of your house. Carpet-covered posts, wicker baskets or hampers, sisal-covered posts, and scratching boxes made of cardboard make good scratching surfaces.
• Vertical scratching posts should be sturdy and high enough for your cat to stretch out when scratching.
• Place the scratching post near the inappropriate item your cat prefers to scratch. For tips on how to set up your scratching post
click here.• When your cat scratches an item that is off-limits, gently carry her to the nearest scratching post and remind her to scratch it by making scratching motions with her claws.
• Praise your cat when she scratches where she should and interrupt her when she scratches elsewhere. A squirt from a squirt bottle of water may provide negative reinforcement when she scratches in the wrong place. Or make a noise, such as clapping your hands, or using a shake can or jar filled with a few pebbles or coins.
• If your cat isn't interested in the scratching surfaces you provide him, sprinkle or spray the surfaces with catnip to entice his interest. Do this on a weekly basis to keep kitty interested.
Trimming Cats' Claws• Ask your veterinarian to show you how to correctly clip your cat’s claws/nails. A cat’s front claws should be clipped every week or two. Trimming the back claws is rarely necessary.
• Getting your cat accustomed to having his or her paws handled is a must prior to initiating nail trimming. Start preparing your kitten or cat for nail trimming sessions by lightly stroking her paws and gently separating her toes so that the claw is visible. Do this on a regular basis until she is comfortable enough with the process to allow you to trim her claws. Trim just enough to make the claws blunt, but not so short that you cut into the quick.
• Try Soft Paws which are lightweight vinyl nail caps that glue onto the cat’s claws. They're great for households with small children and are useful for people who are away from home all day and can’t exercise the watchfulness necessary to train a cat to use a scratching post. Soft Paws® are easy to apply and last about four to six weeks. They come in clear or colors--which can have the added advantage of being more visible when one finally comes off. Then you simply replace it.
Veterinarian Education & OutreachFind out your veterinarian’s policy on declawing. If he or she engages in this practice, express your objections and educate about the facts. If your veterinarian is unwilling to change her or his position on declawing, consider informing other patients about the facts of declawing and encourage them to join you in asking your vet to adopt a no-declawing policy.
Visit the
Paw Project website for information on declawing and how to end this practice.
Bottom Line:If you’ve tried everything that is possible and you are convinced that declawing is the only way to manage your cat’s behavior, it might be time to consider finding another home for your feline. If the choice really comes down to mutilating your cat or finding another home, clearly a new home is the more humane option.
References (1) Mathews KA. (2000). Pain assessment and general approach to management. In K. A. Mathews & W. B. Saunders. (Eds).
Vet. Clin. Of N. Amer. Sm. Anim. Pract. Philadelphia.
(2) Tobias, K.S. (July-August, 1994). Feline onychectomy at a teaching institution: A retrospective study of 163 cases.
Vet Surg, 23(4), pp. 274-280.
(3) Jankowski A.J., Brown D.C., Duval J., Gregor T.P., Strine L.E., Ksiazek L.M., & Ott A.H. (August 1, 1998). Comparison of effects of elective tenectomy or onychectomy in cats.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 213(3), pp. 370-373.
(4) Patronek, G. J. (October 1, 2001). Assessment of claims of short- and long-term complications associated with onychectomy in cats.
JAVMA, 219(7), pp. 932-937.
(5) Patronek, G. P., et al., (1996). Risk factors for relinquishment of cats to an animal shelter.
JAVMA, 209, pp. 582-588.
Posted by Tracey Laszloffy, Best Friends Volunteer
Photo courtesy of © Kerry Muzzey | Dreamstime.com