The Problem With

DECLAWING
And Possible
SOLUTIONS
(The Humane Society of the United States)

(Animal Planet)
Contents

List of Figures .......................................................................................................................................... 3

Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 4
What Is Declawing and Why Do People Do It? ........................................................................................ 4
Declawing ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Why do people continue to declaw their cats? .................................................................................... 4
Why You Should Not Declaw Your Cat .................................................................................................... 5
It is extremely painful .......................................................................................................................... 5
It can cause behavioral problems......................................................................................................... 5
It takes away a vital part of the cat’s physiology .................................................................................. 6
Alternatives to Declawing ....................................................................................................................... 6
Buy at least one cat scratcher .............................................................................................................. 6
Trim your cat’s claws yourself or take them to a groomer .................................................................... 7
Use vinyl nail caps................................................................................................................................ 7
Miscellaneous suggestions to deter destructive clawing ...................................................................... 8
Deal with it .......................................................................................................................................... 8
Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 8
References .............................................................................................................................................. 9

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List of Figures

Figure 1 Image of bone removed during declawing (Cannonvet) .............................................................. 4

Figure 2 Scratching pad for under $10 (Amazon) ..................................................................................... 6
Figure 3 Multi-tiered cat scratcher for under $25 (Amazon)..................................................................... 6
Figure 4 How to trim your cat’s claws (Animal Wised).............................................................................. 7
Figure 5 Cat with claw caps (Family Time Rags) ........................................................................................ 7
Figure 6 Sticky Paws anti-scratch furniture tape (Amazon) ....................................................................... 8
Figure 7 A happy cat (People) .................................................................................................................. 8

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Executive Summary

The Humane Society of the United States is committed to increasing the quality of life for all animals.
Recently, it has come to our attention that people are still declawing their cats without understanding
the pain and danger in which they are putting their pets. This paper aims to educate the public about
this issue and provide alternatives to declawing their cats. In doing so, the Humane Society hopes to
decrease the use of declawing on a national scale, excepting cases of emergency.

What Is Declawing and Why Do People Do It?

Declawing
Declawing is not simply a more permanent version
of trimming your cat’s claws. Declawing (also
called an onychectomy) is the process of removing
a cat’s claw by removing the foremost bone in its
toe (ASPCA). Cat’s claws do not grow similarly to
humans; their nail is embedded in their bone. The
human equivalent of declawing would be removing
the first knuckle on all fingers. However, it is more
serious for cats, as we do not walk on our fingers
as cats do. As will be discussed in depth further on,
declawing your cat can cause them undue pain,
behavioral problems, and the loss of self-
preservation.
Figure 1 Image of bone removed during declawing
(Cannonvet)

It is not illegal to declaw your cat in America, however many other countries (England, Australia,
Germany, and Brazil) either outlaw it completely or only allow in extreme cases (Syufy). Neither the
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) nor the American Association of Feline Practitioners
(AAFP) consider declawing a necessary medical act, however both concede each organization would
rather have a cat be declawed rather than abandoned or euthanized, regardless of the pain it would
cause for the cat in question.

Why do people continue to declaw their cats?

Most are simply uniformed about how much of a toll this procedure will take on their pet. As discussed
in the next section, declawing is a serious surgery that involves anesthesia and serious pain for your cat.

Some are misinformed that it will protect the health of themselves or their loved ones. They believe
that by removing a cat’s claws, the risk of exposure to cat related diseases (such as cat scratch fever) is
reduced. However, this is simply not true. In owning a cat, you are being exposed to their saliva, urine,
and feces regardless of the existence of their claws. If you or a loved one is immunocompromised and

4
face possible health issues resulting from exposure to these, you should consider other pet alternatives
(ASPCA).

Others still are just not prepared to properly take care of cats and would abandon or euthanize them
rather than invest the time to train and take care of their pet. While an increasing number of vets are
only declawing cats in the event of a tumor in the nailbed, some vets will still declaw a cat to prevent its
death.

While clawing is an issue most cat owners face at some point, there are many more humane ways to
deal with this problem besides declawing.

Why You Should Not Declaw Your Cat

It is extremely painful
As I previously stated, cats are digitigrade creatures, meaning they walk on their toes (Syufy). Declawing
a cat is equivalent to having each of your first knuckle amputated and then being forced to walk on them
without the aid of a wheelchair or bedpan. Dr. Nicholas Dodman, author of “The Cat Who Cried for
Help,” stated the following regarding declawing procedures:

The inhumanity of the procedure is clearly demonstrated by the nature of cats' recovery from
anesthesia following the surgery. Unlike routine recoveries, including recovery from neutering
surgeries which are fairly peaceful, declawing surgery results in cats bouncing off the walls of
the recovery cage because of excruciating pain…Partial digital amputation is so horrible that it
has been employed for torture of prisoners of war, and in veterinary medicine, the clinical
procedure serves as a model of severe pain for testing the efficacy of analgesic drugs. Even
though analgesic drugs can be used postoperatively, they rarely are, and their effects are
incomplete and transient anyway, so sooner or later the pain will emerge. (Syufy)

Declawing can also easily lead to infection as there is no way to completely sterilize the claws. If the
procedure is not done correctly, the nail can grow back causing a painful abscess that will need
additional surgery (Eckstein). Other commonly reported issues are tissue necrosis (tissue death), nerve
damage, and bone spurs.

It can cause behavioral problems

Once their claw bones have been removed, full recovery will take anywhere from one to three weeks. In
the meantime, cats will still need to use their litterbox while in extreme pain. This immobility combined
with the now unfamiliar feel of litter leads to many cats going outside of their litterbox.

Increased biting and aggression – and the opposite, withdrawal and depression – are also commonly
reported. Without claws as its first means of defense, a cat may react more aggressively than before the
surgery by biting and lashing out. Or conversely, a cat may hide more and seem less active (Syufy).

The AVMA and AAFP do not officially endorse any empirical studies conducted on cat behavior beyond
owner reports.

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It takes away a vital part of the cat’s physiology
By taking away a cat’s claws, you are taking away not only its first defense but also its sense of balance
and mobility. Cats use their claws for three main purposes: exercise, marking territory, and defense.
Using their claws, cats are able to strengthen and maintain their muscle structure by pulling against
resistance. Cats also have scent glands located in their paws that transfer their pheromones to surfaces
they scratch. This is vital for outdoor cats as they navigate the outside world through scent. And finally, a
cat’s main defense from predators and other cats is its claws. A cat may also bite in defending itself, but
this leaves it vulnerable to more serious attacks because it must get closer to its target to inflict damage
(Syufy). Therefore, declawed cats can never be allowed outside unsupervised as they have no way of
protecting themselves in the outside world.

Alternatives to Declawing

Buy at least one cat scratcher

Buying or making at least one cat scratcher
encourages your cat to act out their natural
instincts on items other than you or your
furniture. Cardboard is a cheap and effective
material to use to make your own post or you
can purchase a common carpeted one from
most major retailers. If you have multiple levels
in your home, be sure to have at least one on Figure 2 Scratching pad for under $10 (Amazon)
every floor.

Another way to occupy your pet is to have

multiple raised platforms (such as shelves) with
different textures to give them variety and a
sense of control over there space. In doing this,
you are giving your cat more intriguing places to
lay and scratch. This however does not prevent
them from scratching your person while
enjoying pets.
Figure 3 Multi-tiered cat scratcher for under $25 (Amazon)

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Trim your cat’s claws yourself or take them to a groomer
To curb the pain of a happy cat, invest in a pair of cat claw trimmers. These devices are and only need to
be used every three to four weeks. Be careful of trimming too close to the quick or you could risk
bleeding. While usually not dangerous, you should monitor the area if this does occur to watch for
infection.

Figure 4 How to trim your cat’s claws (Animal Wised)

If you are nervous about cutting the quick or your cat does not like to stay still, you can take your cat to
your local groomer or vet. These skilled professionals can usually clip a full set of nails in under ten
minutes for under $15.

Use vinyl nail caps

If you are a more fashionable person, you may
want to try vinyl nail caps. These caps are glued
on to your cat’s nails and naturally fall off when
your cat sheds their nail husk (usually four to six
weeks). These come in all different colors –
from clear to colorful to sparkly – from many
different vendors. Amazon is currently selling a
100-piece pack for around $11, which should
last you about six months.

While more affordable in the long run than

taking your cat to the grooming, nail caps are
slightly more labor intensive than other
solutions. These nail caps require that you trim
your cat’s nail prior to adhesion and the glue Figure 5 Cat with claw caps (Family Time Rags)
must set for five minutes to last the full four to
six weeks.

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Miscellaneous suggestions to deter destructive clawing
There are some sprays on the market that supposedly deter scratching, but
many of these have mixed reviews and only work with some cats.

Buying furniture covers can protect your furniture from much of the damage
scratching causes. A side benefit from this is that, since they are removable,
covers are much easier to clean.

You can also buy double-sided sticky tape to put on the sides of your furniture
to completely deter scratching. Cats do not like tape.

Figure 6 Sticky Paws anti-scratch furniture tape (Amazon)

Deal with it
Understand that your cat is in fact an animal that has basic needs that need to be tended to. If you are
not prepared to be scratched by a cat, do not own a cat. If the aforementioned solutions do not appeal
to you and you would still rather declaw, do not own a cat. If you are not willing to provide simple
dignity for your cat, do not own a cat. If this applies to you and you still feel the need to own a pet,
consider a different animal.

Conclusion

Owning a cat can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Contrary to the popular conceptions of cats,
they are fun, loving, and loyal creatures. Although most cats rely on humans for their basic needs, they
are still fiercely independent. Declawing a cat is a painful procedure that removes that sense of
independence and should only be done if the cat’s life is in danger. Cosmetic declawing causes an
incredible amount of unnecessary pain, changes a cat’s behavior, and takes away a main part of their
physiology. There are many safe, and even enjoyable, alternatives to declawing available on the market.
By buying a scratching post and/or elevated textured surfaces, you are enriching both the life of your cat
and your own as well. Trimming or capping your cat’s nail prevents painful injuries from an excited pet.
Furniture covers and double sided sticky tape will protect your furniture and deter scratching.

Consider this: would you have your first knuckle

removed rather than clipping your nails every few
weeks? No? Neither does your cat. Reconsider
declawing. Your cat will thank you.

Figure 7 A happy cat (People)

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References
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with-Catnip-Wide/dp/B0032GEE8S/ref=sr_1_15?s=pet-
supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1520190363&sr=1-15&keywords=cat+scratching+post>.

—. "Cat Scratching Post." n.d. Picture. February 2018. <https://www.amazon.com/Go-Pet-Club-F3019-

Scratcher/dp/B017P1QSC0/ref=sr_1_33?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1520183607&sr=1-
33&keywords=cat+scratcher>.

—. "Sticky Paws." n.d. Picture. February 2018. <https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Pet-Sticky-

Deterrent-White/dp/B007I08FI4/ref=sr_1_102?s=pet-
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Animal Planet. "General Cat Care Tips." n.d. Picture. February 2018.
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Animal Wised. "How to Trim Your Cat's Claws." n.d. Picture. February 2018.
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ASPCA. "Position Statement on Declawing Cats." 2018. ASPCA. February 2018.

<https://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/position-statement-
declawing-cats>.

Cannonvet. "Declaw." n.d. Picture. February 2018. <http://www.cannonvet.com/images/declaw.jpg>.

Eckstein, Sandy. "Declawing Cats: Positives, Negatives, and Alternatives." September 2012. Web MD.
February 2018. <https://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/declawing-cats-positives-negatives-
alternatives#1>.

Family Time Rags. "Jax Soft Paws ." n.d. Picture. February 2018.
<http://www.familytimerags.com/images/jaxsoftpaws.jpg>.

People. "Cuddle Cat." n.d. Picture. February 2018. <http://people.com/pets/dream-job-cat-cuddler/>.

Syufy, Franny. "Declawing and Humane Alternatives." 11 October 2017. The Spruce. February 2018.
<https://www.thespruce.com/declawing-and-humane-alternatives-552089>.

The Humane Society of the United States. "Declawing cats: Far worse than a manicure." 2018. Humane
Society. February 2018. <http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html>.

—. "Global Logo." n.d. Picture. February 2018.

<http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/images/global/logo.png>.