The doctors at Greendale Village Vet have exciting news to share with its clients. After careful consideration and research, the doctors have decided to discontinue offering declaw surgeries for cats. Declawing was previously a routine procedure; however, research suggests that patients may experience long-term complications.

“This is a decision all six doctors made after we carefully studied research that shows the procedure may cause long-term ramifications for cats,” said Dr. Kathy Passinault. “In recent decades, declawing was a very common practice in the United States and Canada, but now we know preventing a cat from scratching by way of surgery isn’t what we once believed it was.”

When doctors declaw cats, they amputate the end bones of the toes at what are called the third phalanxes. The procedure, called an onychectomy, is the human equivalent of removing the first knuckle from fingers. “What research has taught us is cats losing those toes can lead to cats having chronic discomfort and pain,” said Dr. Paige McMahon.

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s policy on declawing cats opposes veterinarians performing any procedure that prevents an animal from normal use of its claws, unless it is medically necessary.

Data accumulated over the years has led to changed positions on the declawing practice throughout the world. Currently, all 27 European Union members, seven other countries and 10 Canadian provinces ban declawing for nonmedical reasons. The World Population Review documents six US states with bans, one with conditional bans, and dozens of cities – including Madison – that have local laws against it. There are also communities nationwide that are looking at making legislative changes at local levels, and thousands of individual clinics nationwide have internal policies opposing declawing.

Claws and overall health

Claws affect a cat’s mental and physical well-being. “For example,” said Dr. Bailey Ryback, “from a physical health perspective, claws are part of exercising. Their nails provide anchors when they stretch their backs. Cats who climb use their claws like pull-up bars, and cats who knead with claws out strengthen their leg, shoulder and back muscles.”

She explained the physical workouts are just part of overall health, though. There are also mental advantages for cats with claws. “The act of scratching can have a calming effect for stressed-out kitties,” said Ryback. “Scratching is also an instinctual way cats mark territory, because the pads below the nails on the paws leave their scent. Of course, claws are also included in their self-defense toolboxes.”

So what exactly can cause long-term pain from declawing? “Cats walk on their toes,” McMahon explained, “so if their toes are missing, their gait is off. Over time, not being able to get a good grip while stretching and exercising can lead to arthritis, back and shoulder pain.”

Another problem can happen from the surgery itself. “Even when surgeons use proper technique, sometimes bony fragments are left behind, which increases the risk of infection, chronic pain and nail regrowth.

Cat behaviors

Cats’ nails grow in layers. Similarly to the way snakes shed their skins for new growth, cats need to shed the outer layer of their nails every few months, leaving a new nail in place. “Some cats pull those dead husks off themselves, and sometimes the old layers come off when cats scratch posts, rugs or blankets. Either way, it is an important part of keeping our feline friends healthy,” said Passinault.

Diagram courtesy of Humane World for Animals

There are a variety of ways to discourage undesirable scratching behavior without removing toes, though. If furniture is the problem, owners should offer alternatives such as scratching posts or corrugated scratching boxes. “There are also spray repellents or guards that can be applied to furniture,” said McMahon.

Cats dislike certain textures, such as foil or sticky things. Applying specially designed double-sided tape or wrapping aluminum foil around targeted areas on furniture can discourage damaging behavior. Soft nail caps might also be a good choice for some cats.

Declawing cats might eliminate undesirable scratching, but it can also lead to other negative behavioral changes. If they are in pain, cats might avoid the roughness of gravel and soil areas outside of litter boxes.

“They instinctively know when they lose their defenses, too, and that can lead them to feel more wary, nervous and fearful,” Ryback explained. “Pets in pain or discomfort often become more aggressive, and scratching is often a warning sign before a cat’s next move: a bite.” For immunocompromised people fearful of diseases spread through scratches, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes bites pose more of a health risk of harm to people than do scratches.

“The CDC recommends cat owners give their cats standard flea and tick prevention. It also urges keeping cats inside to prevent them from interacting with strays, so they don’t engage in rough play or fighting with animals that could have diseases,” said McMahon.

The doctors at Greendale Village Vet now declaw only when medically necessary. “Just like with any animal, cats can be injured, experience chronic infections or develop tumors. There are other medical conditions, too, that might merit declawing,” said Passinault. “Those cases aren’t common, though, so declawing would be our last resort.”

There is no hard data on how many clinics in Wisconsin have stopped performing declawing procedures, but it has become a more widespread position among veterinarians. Some of the larger corporate animal hospitals and clinics, academic institutions like the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and independent veterinary practices such as Greendale Village Vet have stopped offering declawing as elective surgery.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 414-421-1800 or visit Greendale Village Vet.