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Declawing is the surgical removal of the claw and the surrounding tissue that it retracts into. Usually the claws on the front feet only are removed, but sometimes the digits are as well. This is sometimes used as a last resort with inveterate scratchers of furniture, carpet, etc. However, if trained in kittenhood, most cats are very good about scratching only allowable items such as scratching posts. Britain and a few other countries have made declawing illegal. Show cats may not be shown declawed. Many vets will refuse to do this procedure.
Most vets recommend that a cat be declawed between
three to four months of age. The younger the cat is, the more likely it will
adapt quickly to coping without its claws.
The cat is given a general anaesthetic. A tourniquet is used to stop blood
flow to the foot while sterile nail trimmers are used to cut through the last
joint of each toe being declawed. In some cases, the vet cuts through the
bone near the joint. The toes may need to be stitched but in many cases it
is only necessary to bandage the feet. The bandages are usually removed
the next day and the cat is allowed to go home 48 hours after the procedure.
When your cat arrives at home, he/she will be required to rest quietly for the next few days. The cats paws will be tender for a short time so make sure that he/she does not have to jump off a high chair to get down. You will have to substitute your regular cat litter for a special litter designed not to get stuck in the stitches of your cats paws. Some are made from paper that is compressed and rolled into pellet like shapes. it is very absorbent and preferred to shed up newspaper. Full recovery takes about 5-7 days.
Declawed cats often compensate with their rear claws; many can still climb well, although their ability to defend themselves is often impaired and they should not be allowed outside without supervision. Many declawed cats become biters when they find that their claws no longer work; others develop displays of growling. Scratching is one way of marking territory (there are scent glands among the paw pads), so declawed cats will still "scratch" things even though there are no claws to sharpen.
There are many alternatives to declawing such as trimming your cats nails, claw sheaths (they cover the claws but are a little clumsy to the cat) sticky paws or, even better, teaching your cat not to scratch. If you don't want your cat to scratch your furniture or cupboards you must give him/her a viable alternative such as a scratching post. There are many different types of posts available. You can find posts made of corrugated cardboard, sisal, carpeting material, and wood; and such posts come in various styles to accommodate your cats needs. If your cat likes to scratch the floor get him/her a post that can sit on the floor lengthwise, or if your cat likes to stretch long and tall on his/her back legs to scratch get your cat tower with a post on it. If your cat is unaccustomed to a post you may need to help train your cat to choose the post rather than your furniture. You can do this by using a combination of the following:
