Is it smart and safe or inhumane and stupid to have my male kitten
de-clawed? Oh, one thing . . . he is a house cat and I have a terrible
time trying to clip his nails. What should I do?

My husband and I have opened our hearts and our home to many cats (and
a few well-chosen dogs) for several decades. We are volunteers in a
local animal rescue organization that helps to find loving homes for
both cats and dogs. I consider myself to be an animal lover, but I am
not a fanatic: I do believe that there are times when the needs of the
humans in a household must override the needs of the pets.

The matter of declawing cats is a very controversial issue. The
opponents of declawing sometimes go to extremes, calling the practice
"torture" and "mutilation" and other emotionally-charged words. Since
there are few proponents who feel very strongly about declawing, the
Internet is crowded with sites condemning the practice.

I'm going to try to give you a balanced view, but I'll admit up front
that I have an opinion on this issue. I have declawed several of my
cats in the past, but if I had the decision to make over again, only
one of them would have been declawed: this was a rather spastic little
kitty who was so inept with his claws that he stuck to the carpet as
he walked across it, and he became entangled in almost anything that
had a nap or texture to it. My personal feeling is that a cat should
not be declawed solely because he or she is destructive with
furniture. There are better ways to handle behavioral problems, and
there are some interesting and effective alternatives to declawing and
nail-clipping.

I have gathered some online viewpoints, pro and con. This should help
you to evaluate your situation and make a humane decision for yourself
and your kitten.

=================================
 DECLAWING: SOMETIMES IT'S OKAY
=================================

"Declawing of domestic cats should be considered only after attempts
have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively
or when its clawing presents a zoonotic risk for its owner(s).

The AVMA believes it is the obligation of veterinarians to provide cat
owners with complete education with regard to feline onychectomy. The
following points are the foundation for full understanding and
disclosure regarding declawing:

1.  Scratching is a normal feline behavior, is a means for cats to
mark their territory both visually and with scent, and is used for
claw conditioning ("husk" removal) and stretching activity.

2.  Owners must provide suitable implements for normal scratching
behavior. Examples are scratching posts, cardboard boxes, lumber or
logs, and carpet or fabric remnants affixed to stationary objects.
Implements should be tall or long enough to allow full stretching, and
be firmly anchored to provide necessary resistance to scratching. Cats
should be positively reinforced in the use of these implements.

3.  Appropriate claw care (consisting of trimming the claws every 1 to
2 weeks) should be provided to prevent injury or damage to household
items.

4.  Surgical declawing is not a medically necessary procedure for the
cat in most cases. While rare in occurrence, there are inherent risks
and complications with any surgical procedure including, but not
limited to, anesthetic complications, hemorrhage, infection, and pain.
If onychectomy is performed, appropriate use of safe and effective
anesthetic agents and the use of safe peri-operative analgesics for an
appropriate length of time are imperative. The surgical alternative of
tendonectomy is not recommended.

5.  Declawed cats should be housed indoors.

6.  Scientific data do indicate that cats that have destructive
clawing behavior are more likely to be euthanatized, or more readily
relinquished, released, or abandoned, thereby contributing to the
homeless cat population. Where scratching behavior is an issue as to
whether or not a particular cat can remain as an acceptable household
pet in a particular home, surgical onychectomy may be considered.

7.  There is no scientific evidence that declawing leads to behavioral
abnormalities when the behavior of declawed cats is compared with that
of cats in control groups."

American Veterinary Medical Association: AVMA position statement on
the declawing of domestic cats
http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/apr03/030415c.asp

"Declawing is a procedure whereby a veterinarian amputates the end
digit and claw of a cat's paws?similar in scope to cutting off a
person's finger at the last joint. The Humane Society of the United
States opposes declawing when done solely for the convenience of the
owner. Scratching is a natural behavior for cats and can be directed
to appropriate items.

However, if you feel that you must either declaw your cat or give her
up, we would rather see your cat stay in her home and be your lifelong
companion. If you do decide to have your cat declawed, we suggest that
you have the surgery done at the same time she's spayed (or neutered,
if your cat is a male). Never have rear paws declawed, and be sure to
always keep your cat indoors; without claws to defend herself or climb
to escape, your cat is in much greater danger outdoors?and the great
outdoors is a very unsafe place for cats to begin with."

St. Augustine Humane Society: Destructive Scratching
http://www.staugustinehumanesociety.org/destructive_scratching.htm

"Careful consideration should be given to whether or not you declaw
your cat. Declawing is the surgical removal of the claw and the
surrounding tissue that it retracts into. Usually, only the front
claws are removed, but sometimes the digits are removed as well.
Declawing is often the last resort for cats who have become veteran
scratchers of furnishings. Most cats can be trained from kittenhood
not to scratch the furniture or to scratch a scratching post when they
want exercise, but all cats will continue to scratch, with or without
claws, as scratching is one way of marking their territory.

Before declawing, you might want to consider soft plastic covers for
your cat's paws. In general, these should be put on by a vet and will
last about a month, despite your cat's efforts to remove them. Used in
conjunction with techniques to redirect clawing and scratching, covers
for your cat's paws may serve as an alternative to declawing.

If your cat is consistently destroying your home furnishings and all
other efforts have failed, you might want to have it declawed, but
first there are a few things of which you should be aware. Declawed
cats often compensate with their rear claws. They can still climb
well, but their ability to defend themselves will be impaired.
Declawed cats should not be allowed outside without supervision. Some
declawed cats will become biters when they discover that their claws
no longer work. Others may begin to growl."

Yahoo! Pets: Caring For Your Cat's Claws 
http://pets.yahoo.com/pets/cats/hn/caring_for_your_cat's_claws_

"You alone must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of declawing a
cat but if it is a kitten don't take to long to make your decision
-the earlier the better(between 3-5 mos old is usually recommended)...

Try not judge people for decisions made as long as they were thought
out and without malice or cruelty involved. There was a man who loved
his cat dearly and the cat would play fight him. Unfortunately, this
man had AIDS and risked serious infection with the slightest scratch.
It was an older cat and being mean spiritted was not a candidate for
adoption. He chose to declaw the cat and the cat recovered well and he
continued to play fight with his owner.

I personally do not have any declawed cats nor believe in it but,
there are many incidents similar to the one above or have the same
mental stress involved that I have wrestle with what is right for the
owner and the cat. It is only those who take it callously that I
question.

Remember, declawing is not a natural nor health saving process, though
it may be the only way for you and your pet. And it is harder on the
cat."

Talk to the Vet: Declawing Your Cat
http://www.talktothevet.com/ARTICLES/CATS/catdeclawing.HTM

========================
 DECLAWING: DON'T DO IT
========================

"Declawing involves more than simply trimming a cat's nails to the
quick; it actually involves amputation of the tips of the digits,
bones and all. 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. Cats that are more stoic huddle in the corner of
the recovery cage, immobilized in a state of helplessness, presumably
by the overwhelming pain. Declawing fits the dictionary definition of
mutilation to a tee. Words such as deform, disfigure, disjoint, and
dismember all apply to this surgery. Partial digital amputation is so
horrible that it has been employed for torture of prisoners of war,
and in veterinary medicine, the clinical procedure servesas 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.

'The operative removal of the claws, as is sometimes practiced to
protect furniture and curtains, is an act of abuse and should be
forbidden by law in all, not just a few countries.'(highly regarded
British textbook by Turner and Bateson on the biology of cat behavior)
However quickly cats forget the hideous experience of declawing, and
even though they may not hold grudges, that doesn't seem sufficient
justification for putting a family pet through such a repugnant
experience."

Kitten Rescue: To Declaw or Not to Declaw?
http://www.kittenrescue.org/declaw.htm

"Claws are involved in almost everything a cat does during her waking
hours. In the morning, she digs her claws into her scratching post and
pulls against the claws' resistance to energize and tone her upper
body. During playtime, her claws snag flying toys out of the air and
hold them in place. When she runs across the house and up the stairs,
her claws act like cleats to provide extra traction. When she scales
her kitty condo, she uses her claws like miniature mountaineering
crampons that let her reach the top with ease.

A cat uses claws to scratch an itch, manipulate catnip mice, grip a
narrow catwalk, hoist her body up to a high-up perch, and grab onto a
chair for stability during grooming. Claws are even used in
self-expression; for example, a slight extension of the claws is a
subtle way to say "I'm tired of being held and am ready to get down."

In some circumstances, claws are lifesavers, enabling a cat to climb
to safety or thwart an attacker.

All this and much more is lost when a cat is declawed.

Most of the world does not declaw. In practically every country where
cats are companion animals, declawing is illegal or effectively
banned. It is still common in the U.S. and Canada."

The Animal Spirit: Why Cats Need Claws
http://www.theanimalspirit.com/declaw.html

"Is Declawing cruel? Yes, it is. To remove a cat's claws is far worse
than to deprive cat owners of their fingernails. This is because the
claws have so many important functions in the life of a cat. A
declawed cat is a maimed cat, and anyone considering having the
operation done to his pet should think again. People hastily declaw
cats hoping to protect their furniture as well as themselves from
potential scratches. It's natural for a cat to scratch, but with a
little human effort, you can direct that energy so that you, your cat,
and your furniture can comfortably live together...

In addition to destroying the animal's ability to groom, climb, defend
itself against rivals, and protect itself from enemies, the operation
of declawing also eliminates the cat's ability to hunt. This may not
be important for a well-fed family pet, but if ever such a cat were to
find itself lost or homeless, it would rapidly die of starvation. The
vital grab at a mouse with sharp claws extended would become a useless
gesture.

In short, a declawed cat is a crippled, mutilated cat, and no excuse
can justify the operation."
 
Pet Station: Is Declawing Cruel?
http://www.petstation.com/declaw.html

=======================================
 ALTERNATIVES TO DECLAWING OR TRIMMING
=======================================

"Sticky Paws for Furniture keeps cats from scratching furniture. It
will also keep them off anything that you want. It has been applied to
wherever cats like to go but shouldn't be. It has proven effective as
a cat behavior modification tool to keep them away from stereo
speakers, drapes, counter-tops, even your favorite pillow. It also is
proving effective in deterring inappropriate elimination! See article
by noted cat writer, Dusty Rainbolt - Peeing Outside the Box

Additionally, it completely solves any moral dilemma about declawing
cats, which is half of the reason our product was developed in the
first place!"

StickyPaws
http://www.stickypaws.com/

"Purrfect Paw: 
The virtually invisible solution to kitty shredding the corners of
your expensive furniture. These lightweight, crystal clear acrylic
shields can be attached to
the corners of most sofas and chairs in 5 minutes and are guaranteed
to immediately stop even the most aggressive scratcher.

Purrfect Paw
http://www.purrfectpaw.com/

"Developed by a veterinarian, Soft Paws are vinyl nail caps that glue
on to your cat's claws. This amazing product effectively covers the
claws so no damage occurs when your cat scratches."

SoftPaws
http://www.softpaws.com/

"The Scat Mat is a touch sensitive training pad which says 'No', when you can't.
It quickly conditions pets to avoid prohibited areas with harmless,
low-power electronic pulses similar to static electricity. Place the
flexible vinyl Scat Mat in a room entrance, on your sofa, counter top
or the hood of your car. The touch sensitive pad will silently protect
prohibited areas from trespassers.

When touched, the battery sends small pulses to the mat for 3 seconds.
These surprising little 'zaps' quickly repel most animals who stay
away after one or two exposures - even after the mat is removed."

Pet Expo: Scat Mats
http://www.pet-expo.com/scat_mats.htm

=================
 ADDITIONAL INFO
=================

The Cat's Meow: Training Your Cat or Kitten to Scratch Appropriately
http://www.the-cats-meow.ca/declaw7.html

Little Big Cat: Declawing: A Rational Look
http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&show=002

San Francisco Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: The Paws and The Claws
http://www.sfspca.org/behavior/cat_library/Paws-and-Claws.pdf

Amby: DECLAWING CATS: Issues & Alternatives
http://amby.com/cat_site/declaw.html

About Cats: How to Manage Your Cat's Claws
http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanagement101/a/manage_claws.htm

Declawing: What You Need to Know
http://www.declawing.com/

Cat Scratching Solutions
http://www.catscratching.com/

======================================================================

My Google Search Strategy:

Google Web Search: "to declaw or not"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22to+declaw+or+not

Google Web Search: "your cat's claws"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22your+cat%27s+claws

======================================================================

I hope this is helpful. If anything is unclear or incomplete, please
request clarification; I'll gladly offer further assistance before you
rate my answer.

Best regards,
pinkfreud

Hi successhotline,

Perhaps these links will be helpful to you.


http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/declawvettch.html

http://www.declawing.com/htmls/declawing.htm

Declawing is outlawed in these countries
http://www.declawing.com/htmls/outlawed.htm

The right way to trim 
http://www.declawing.com/htmls/trimming.htm

http://www.softpaws.com/

Hi there....

I too have an awful time clipping my cat's nails. He howls and hisses
at me the entire time.

I have not had him declawed because my previous cat was declawed and
he was super sensitive if anyone touched his paws. He would run away
immediately if someone touched them.

Just my two cents...

Steph53

You might try wrapping that cat in a towel, that is what I do.

There is also the appropriately named Cat Sack that zips up around the
cat and haz zippered holes for the paws so you can get at them one at
a time.
http://www.fourflags.com/FFOA-3.html

I have been volunteering at an animal shelter for over 9 years.  Every
year we see many, many declawed cats who have been given up by their
owners because the cats won't use the litter box.  As mentioned above,
declawing is essentially 10 amputations, taking off the end joints of
the cat's toes.  The pain from the surgery, and from the often
slow-to-heal wounds, is exacerbated by the scratchiness of kitty
litter.  It is very difficult for the cat to use litter without
getting some into the wounds on his/her paws.  This teaches the cat to
avoid the litter box and use a nice soft carpet instead.  Often these
cats end up living their lives in cages in no-kill shelters or being
euthanized in other shelters.  This doesn't happen with every
de-clawed cat, but it happens a LOT.

Please don't de-claw your kitten.  If you can't deal with clipping his
nails, or with the destruction he causes, please give him up to a
shelter.  A fast euthanization without torture beforehand or a chance
at a life with other people is preferable to the severe pain of
cutting off his toes, the cat's misery afterward and the behavioral
problems that often result.

There are other solutions to claw problems then de-clawing a cat.  In
my experience this can be a clear detriment to the cat and even worse
for a growing kitten.

I recommend trimming the nails, if this is something you don't feel
comfortable doing yourself you should ask your Vet as many will trim
cat and dog nails for a small fee.  This can be a much healthier way
of dealing with the situation then the drastic and traumatic affects
of de-clawing.

since there has been many anti-declawing links posted, I thought I
would post one pro-declawing to attempt balance a little

http://www.geocities.com/declawing

Just to make the link active,

<a href="http://www.geocities.com/declawing">http://www.geocities.com/declawing</a>

One issue that hasn't been raised here, is the cruelty of cats. 
With their claws they not only kill mice and birds, but torture 
them before. They maim them, then "play" with them until they die. 
And they do this for fun, not for food; they will do this even if 
they are given as much food as they want by their owner. So declawing 
a cat may be cruel for the cat, but it can save the life of many 
little birds. 

Mary

A cat will be healthier and happier with it's claws.  Since scratching
is a natural behavior, the best thing you can do for your cat is to
get a good solid piece of cat furniture.  Whether you get a fancy cat
tree or a simple cat scratcher, you want to make sure the piece is
durable and stable.  It won't do you or your cat much good if you get
a scratcher that is shredded and unusable in a month's time or an
unstable one that tips or wobbles when your kitty uses it.  If it's
unsteady, your cat won't want anything to do with it.

I have 6 indoor cats and all my couches and chairs are still intact. 
The best cat furniture I've been able to find is at this site:
<a href="http://www.cats-furniture.com">http://www.cats-furniture.com</a>