Declawing Cats
Courtesy of The Massachusetts Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

The MSPCA encourages pet owners to seek alternatives to declawing cats, and the MSPCA's hospitals do not perform declawing surgeries for non-medical reasons. The staff at City Cats does not support declawing unless all of the alternatives have been tried, or certain medical reasons necessitate the procedure.

Claws are important

A cat’s remarkable grace, agility, and sense of balance are in part due to its retractable claws, which allow it to establish footing for walking, running, springing, climbing, or stretching. A cat’s claws are also its best defense mechanism.

A cat's claws are not only a
defense mechanism; they also
give cats remarkable grace,
agility, and sense of balance.

Why do cats scratch?

The outer part of a cat’s claws regularly become frayed. When the cat scratches, it pulls off this outer part and exposes sharp, smooth claws. Scratching is also a way of fulfilling a cat’s instinct to mark its territory. Not only do cats mark objects by visibly scratching them; scratching deposits secretions from glands in their feet. Scratching can also provide valuable stretching and foot-muscle exercise.

The procedure

The standard declawing procedure calls for the removal of the claw and the first bone of the toe. The operation is usually performed on the front feet, and is actually an amputation comparable to the removal of human fingertips at the first knuckle. The cat experiences pain in the recovery and healing process. At City Cats, hospitalization is required for 3 days for pain control and monitoring.

Medical risks associated with declawing
An incorrectly positioned cut during declawing surgery can remove too much of the toe, taking with it part or all of the toe’s pad. But if the whole claw is not removed, misshapen claws can grow back. In addition, if a bone fragment is left at the surgery site, it may become a source of infection. Both claw re-growth and infection necessitate additional surgery. Post-surgical blood loss is another concern, but great care must be taken that bandages wrapped tightly to control bleeding do not cut off circulation.

Safety risks
A declawed cat must never be allowed outdoors; its ability to defend itself or escape from danger has been seriously impaired.

Alternatives to declawing

Introduce a scratching post.
Buy or make a scratching post that’s tall enough so that the cat can stretch completely when scratching, and stable enough so that it won’t wobble when being used. Both vertical and horizontal scratching posts are beneficial, as are tall cat trees (great for climbing as well). The scratching post should be covered with a heavy, rough fiber like the back side of carpeting. Make the post a fun place to be by placing toys on or around it, or by rubbing it with catnip, and put it in an accessible area. If you’re trying to discourage the cat from scratching a particular piece of furniture, try placing the post in front of it, gradually moving the post aside as the cat begins to use it regularly.

Train with a dual approach: encourage the cat to claw the right things, discourage him from clawing the wrong things. Each time you bring the cat to the scratching post or he goes on his own, praise him, pet him, and spend a minute playing at the post. If the cat begins to scratch where he isn’t supposed to, call him by name, firmly telling him “no,” and move him to the scratching post. Put his front legs up on the post and make scratching motions with them. Or keep a spray bottle filled with plain water handy and squirt him on the back when he claws on the furnishings. The favorite household scratching area can be made less attractive by attaching tape that is sticky on both sides or a piece of cotton scented with bath oil to the area.

Keep your cat’s nails trimmed.
Cutting the nails regularly may help keep a cat from scratching furnishings, or at least reduce the damage done by his scratching. Scratching helps the nail keep its shape, as well as wearing off old layers. Trimming the nails can prevent long nails from growing into your cat's foot pads, which can lead to pain and infection.

Get your kitten used to having his feet handled and his nails trimmed while he is young. With an older cat, it may help to begin by handling the cat’s feet under pleasurable circumstances. Then introduce the clipping procedure by approaching the cat while he’s relaxed (or even napping) and clip only one nail per session. Praise your cat while you clip the nail, and reward him with a treat.

If you’re in doubt about what the proper nail length looks like, watch your veterinarian trim the nails. The only equipment necessary is a good pair of cat nail clippers.

Slide the blade onto the nail you will be trimming. Before cutting, look for the pink “quick” that runs down the center of the nail. The clipper blade should be placed about an eight of an inch forward of the quick, and the nail clipped with one smooth squeezing action of the clippers.

Be extremely careful not to cut into the quick. If this happens, the cat will experience pain, and bleeding is likely. The bleeding may stop without assistance, or you may need to hold a soft cloth on the nail or apply "Kwik-Stop," or styptic powder (available at drugstores). If you trim a small amount of nail every couple of weeks, the quick will tend to recede, which in turn makes frequent trimming much easier.

Use a claw-covering product, such as SoftPaws.
SoftPaws allows your cat to extend and retract its claws normally, but prevents scratching of furniture. Visit their website to learn more. Our staff at City Cats would be happy to discuss your declawing alternatives with you.

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why claws are important

why do cats scratch?

the procedure

alternatives to declawing