The standard method of declawing is amputating with a scalpel or guillotine clipper. The wounds are closed with stitches or surgical glue, and the feet are bandaged. Another method is laser surgery, in which a small, intense beam of light cuts through tissue by heating and vaporizing it.
There are three techniques commonly utilized for permanent declaw surgery: the "Resco" or Clipper Blade method, the Disarticulation method, and the Laser declaw. This is probably the most common method used by veterinarians to declaw cats as it is associated with the fastest surgery time.
Declawing cats is illegal in most states within Australia, and for good reason. Veterinarians will not undertake this procedure unless it's within the best interest of the cat's wellbeing.
Right after being declawed, the cat will be in pain. Vets will prescribe medicine to help manage the immediate pain. There may also be bleeding, swelling and infection. One study found that 42% of declawed cats had ongoing long-term pain and about a quarter of declawed cats limped.
Many groups, including the ASPCA and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), discourage declawing and suggests non-surgical alternatives. This major surgery has the potential to result in chronic, lifelong pain, and a change in the animal's gait.
Applying nail caps — Nail caps, such as Soft Paws, can be applied to your cat's nails as a protective shield. While they need to be replaced every couple of months, depending on how quickly your cat's nails grow, they are an excellent alternative to declawing.
Declawing can cause infection, abnormal claw growth within the toe, inflammation, arthritis or behavioral changes such as increased aggression, biting, emotional trauma or litterbox avoidance issues.
A declawed cat might stop using his litter box to minimize soreness in his feet. Surgery can be expensive, including a physical exam to determine the cat's general health, the procedure itself, anesthesia, antibiotics, and possibly an overnight stay. The cost can range from $600 to $1,800.
For this reason, most veterinarians recommend that a cat be declawed at the same time as their spay or neuter – or between 5 and 6 months of age. However, the most ideal period to declaw a cat can be between 3 and 6 months of age since kittens can recover quickly and the trauma experienced may not be as severe.
Mutilation is frequently defined as a type of punishment. Vets who don't want to call it mutilation believe they are declawing cats for a good reason — like saving their lives or homes — and not out of punishment.
Declawing of cats is illegal in Australia and is not ethical.
Safeguarding the welfare of domestic cats. AVMA discourages declawing as an elective procedure and supports non-surgical alternatives. Declawing is a major surgery involving amputation and is not medically necessary for the cat in most cases.
Sick of your cat scratching your furniture and thinking of getting it declawed? There is a better solution to this; make sure you offer your cat a variety of scratch toys and surfaces to scratch! Did you know declawing cats is illegal in Qld under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001?
If you're unsure, veterinary clinics or grooming facilities can often apply claw caps for a minor fee.
Are nail caps safe for cats? According to Mary Molloy, animal behavior counselor and founder of Nirvana Tails in NYC—yes, absolutely. “[The caps] do not prevent the cat from retracting his claw, and if properly applied, they do not cause any pain or damage to the claw bed,” she reports.
Declawing, also known as onychectomy, is the removal of a cat's claws so they will not grow back.
No cat is too old to be declawed. However, the younger the cat is when surgery is performed, the faster the recovery. 8-16 week old kittens are often running all over the house the very next day after surgery.
In 2006, the United States Department of Agriculture enacted a ban on declawing of all wild and exotic animals held by USDA-licensed owners.
Benefits of Declawing
As an owner, the biggest benefit of declawing a cat is that you won't have to worry about painful scratches anymore. Declawing a cat also prevents damage to household items like a rug or a piece of clothing. Some pet owners report better behavior from their cats after declawing.
Declawing is not merely the trimming of the claws. It is the surgical removal of the claws, which are closely adhered to the bone. In order to remove the claw and prevent its regrowth (which sometimes results from incomplete removal), the entire first joint of each of the cat's "toes" is amputated.
The surgery takes approximately 30 minutes. The incisions are closed with surgical glue. We calculate your cat's pain management medication for post-operative comfort. Your kitty will then be moved to the post-operative ICU area.
The Tendonectomy is generally thought to be much easier and less painful to the kitty. Tendonectomy requires bandages after surgery, but healing is much faster than experienced after a typical Onychectomy (declawing).
Cats that have been declawed often suffer from prolonged, long-term anxiety, stress, depression, are more fear, have no ability to protect themselves, and sometimes are more prone to biting if scared, as their first line of defense–their claws–have been removed.
Your pet may be reluctant to walk around, jump up on things or act sore. Some degree of discomfort is expected. In younger cats, pain experienced after the declaw procedure should lessen within 10 days and lameness (limping) should improve within one week. In older cats, this time frame may be longer.
Feeling defenseless without her claws, Kitty may become hostile to people (including you), and to other cats and become more apt to bite. Some cats develop an aversion to their litter box because of the pain associated with scratching in the litter after a declawing procedure.