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Cats use their claws to climb and scratch, to defend themselves, and
to hunt. Displaying their claws and scratching objects are also
considered by many to be a social behaviour of our feline friends.
Outdoor cats may scratch trees to mark their territory and to remove
frayed or worn outer layers from their claws. Unfortunately, this
can pose a problem when indoor cats choose their owners' furniture
or curtains as tree substitutes.
What can you do about your cat's destructive scratching?
A variety of options are available; however, owners often choose
declawing as a means to end destructive scratching in the home.
Declawing is controversial, as it provides no health benefit to the
cat and is done strictly for human benefit. Opponents say it is
unnatural and cruel, and can result in psychological damage to the
cat. Proponents say that declawing has no more negative effects than
does any other surgical procedure, and that by ridding unwanted
behaviour, it could increase the chances for a cat to enjoy a safe,
permanent indoor home.
Your options
 To help caring cat owners decide the best option in their situation,
we've provided some facts on declawing and on alternative methods
that address the problem of destructive scratching by house cats.
Declawing is an irreversible surgical procedure performed by a
veterinarian while the cat is under general anaesthesia.
Hospitalization for one to two days may be required. As the back
feet are rarely used for scratching, the front feet are usually the
only ones de-clawed.
A
cat's toe has three bones; the claw grows from the end of the last
bone. In declawing, the veterinarian amputates the end section of
the last bone, along with the nail. This removes the claw and
prevents it from growing back. The toe is then sewn shut with
absorbable sutures or closed with surgical skin glue, and each paw
is bandaged snugly to control bleeding. Bandages may be removed
within one to two days.
De-clawed cats require special care immediately after the surgery.
Pain medications are often administered for three to five days after
surgery. Although difficult to do, owners need to restrict their
cat's activity, especially jumping, for several days. Until healing
is complete, the cat should be kept indoors, and shredded newspaper
or non-granular litter should be used. Even once the cat has fully
recovered, it is wise to restrict him from the outdoors as he really
has no adequate means of defence.
Most de-clawed cats will resume
normal activities,
including performing scratching motions.
Complication rates are very low if the procedure is performed
properly. Most cats will walk fairly well within two to three days,
although the feet will be tender for about a week or two after
surgery. The cat should be seen by a veterinarian if any of these
signs occur: swelling, discharge from the toes, loss of appetite or
some other change in the cat's health or behaviour. It is normal for
a cat to initially limp or favour a paw following surgery. However,
make sure to contact the veterinarian if this behaviour stops and
then resumes again. Additionally, keep aware of bleeding. Although
some spotting after surgery may occur and is normal, if bleeding
persists, the cat should be rechecked by the doctor.
Laser surgery is another option available for declawing your cat.
Surgical lasers have been used for several years at veterinary
colleges in the USA, but just recently has this technology become an affordable
option for veterinary hospitals to offer to clients. A laser declaw
surgery requires anaesthesia and amputation of the bone and nails
(as described above). However, a surgical laser can offer several
advantages to a scalpel. As it cuts, the laser automatically seals
small blood vessels and nerve endings around the cut, which means
less bleeding and less pain. Patients can thus experience a quicker
return to their normal activities.
It's best to declaw cats at a young age, about two to five months
old. Younger cats tend to recover more quickly and adapt more easily
to the loss of their claws. Many veterinarians discourage declawing
in older cats because these felines will often experience prolonged
and recurrent pain.
Most de-clawed cats will resume normal activities, including
performing scratching motions. With rear claws intact, cats can
still climb small trees, hunt and even defend themselves when
necessary.
Flexor tenonectomy is another surgical procedure you may choose. A
tenonectomy leaves the claws intact but prevents cats from extending
them. The tendon controlling claw extension is cut and a small
portion removed while the cat is under general anaesthesia. After a
tenonectomy, owners must monitor the cat's toenails and keep them
clipped, because the cat's ability to shed and sharpen the claws is
limited.
 Alternatives to surgery
Regular nail trimming can often diminish the destruction caused by
your cat's scratching. This is a relatively simple task that you can
do, but it must be performed properly and routinely. Ask your
veterinarian to show you how to trim your cat's nails.
Nail coverings attach to the claws with a non-toxic adhesive and
provide a blunt nail tip so scratching does not cause damage. About
once a month, the coverings must be removed, the nails trimmed, and
new coverings applied. You can do this yourself, or you can take
your cat to your veterinarian to have it done.
Training your cat to scratch only certain objects, such as
scratching posts, can often be accomplished. Consult your
veterinarian, a pet behaviourist or a good book on cat care and
training for more information on how to train your cat to scratch
appropriately.
As a cat owner faced with the dilemma of destructive cat scratching,
you're now armed with some basic information on the options
available to you. Before making any final decisions, however, you
should discuss these options further with your veterinarian.
source: healthypet.com
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