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Declawing Your Cat

It's the cat owner's worst nightmare -- walking into a living room full of scratched tables, snagged carpet and shredded cushions. Cat owners should not be so quick to judge their cats. Scratching is a natural behavior for felines. Cats scratch furniture, drapes, etc. to mark their territory, sharpen their claws and stretch or exercise.

Owners have several alternatives to keep their sanity, their cats and their living room furniture. Perhaps the most obvious option is declawing, where the cat's nails and nail beds are surgically removed. Part of the bone gets taken off so the nail will not grow back. Generally, only the front set of claws are removed since the cats do the most damage with them. However, for cats with particularly destructive behavior, both front and back sets may be removed.

Veterinarians suggest that the earlier owners get their indoor cats declawed, the better for their cats. K-State recommends declawing at four to six months of age because it's less traumatic on the cat and the cat can adapt better. The older the cat, the more trauma associated with the procedure.

Declawing outdoor cats may have unfavorable consequences. When you declaw an outdoor cat, you endanger its defenses. Claws help outdoor cats scratch and swat away enemies and climb to safety if needed.

Like any decision, declawing has advantages and disadvantages. Cat owners should weigh the pros and cons for each individual cat before making the decision to declaw.

Cat owners have many other options to cut the damage done by their pets' behavior.

Owners may trim their cat’s claws with special clippers which may be obtained from veterinarians. Ask your veterinarian to show you how before you begin trimming on your own.

Train cats to use scratching posts instead of valuable furniture. Scratching posts may be homemade or purchased at pet stores.

Another way to reduce damage caused by scratching is the Soft Paw system. Here, blunt, smooth plastic nail covers are glued over the cat's claws in the veterinarian's office. Most cats don't mind having the less destructive nail covers glued to their claws, but, Soft Paws are not without disadvantages. They only last for one to three months and must be reglued after they fall off.

Regardless of what option cat owners choose, they should be on the lookout for a decline in the condition of their cat's claws. Warning signs include pus around the claw, pain or swelling in the area. It takes time for cats to normalize their behavior after declawing.

For more information, visit the Pet Health News link of Kansas State University:
www.mediarelations.ksu.edu/WEB/News/NewsReleases/pethealth.html