me
From our mail, it's apparent
that the debate over the appropriateness of declawing cats is highly charged,
with some people adamantly opposed to the process while others accept it
as essential and even helpful for cats in some families.
CatWatch
has asked two experts, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
behaviorist Katherine Houpt,
VMD, PhD, and James Serpell,
PhD, associate professor of humane ethics and animal welfare, School of
Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), to answer
several questions on the topic.
CatWatch:Why does an owner decide to declaw his/her cat?
Dr. Houpt: Many people have their cat declawed as a matter of routine when the animal is neutered. Most people have it done because the cat has begun to claw the furniture or they previously had a cat who clawed. Less often, the cat is scratching people.
Dr. Serpell: Usually because the cat has damaged furniture, wallpaper or drapes by scratching its claws on them, or the owner believes that the cat/kitten will do so if not declawed.
Dr. Serpell: The short-term effect of declawing is moderate to severe postoperative pain that may continue for anything from one to three days after surgery. There appear to be few adverse long-term effects, although post surgical complications may result in prolonged or chronic tenderness or lameness in a small proportion of cases, depending on the experience and skill of the veterinary surgeon and the surgical technique used.
Dr. Houpt: Some cats are incompletely declawed or the site becomes infected. There may also be neuroma (nerve cell tumor) formation. There are no long-term behavioral effects. There have been three surveys comparing clawed and declawed cats, which is why I can say that with some authority. The declawed cats may be slower to climb trees and less able to defend themselves.
CatWatch: Why are some people vehemently opposed to declawing?
Dr. Serpell:
Usually
this is due to a combination of reasons:
1)
because the end (owner convenience) doesn't justify the means (causing
unnecessary pain to the cat);
2)
because other, less harmful alternatives to declawing exist [Editor's note:
See CatWatch,
April 1998, for article on Soft Paws ]; and
3)
because claws are part of the nature or "catness" of cats.
Overall, the view is that it is ethically inappropriate to remove parts of an animal's anatomy, thereby causing the animal pain, merely to fit the owner's lifestyle, aesthetics, or convenience. I would also emphasize that "some people" includes virtually the entire adult population of Europe.
Dr. Houpt: It is a painful mutilation; the toes are amputated. Afterwards, the cats should be kept indoors, which some people believe is cruel.
CatWatch: Is there ever a situation in which declawing is a good thing?
Dr. Houpt: Declawing may not be bad if it saves the life of a cat who would otherwise be thrown out or sent to an animal shelter and euthanized, or prevents a baby from being scratched in the eyes.
Dr. Serpell: Not that I am aware of. The veterinary justification for declawing is that the owner may otherwise dispose of the cat, perhaps cruelly. I would counter this argument by suggesting that it is ethically inappropriate, in the long term, for veterinarians to submit to this form of moral blackmail from their clients.
Neither Drs. Houpt nor Serpell consider declawing a procedure to be done routinely on cats. Obviously, for some cat owners, declawing will never be an option. Training your cat to use a scratching post, locking the cat out of the room with the expensive furniture, and, if necessary, applying Soft Paws may be your best bets if you want to keep your furniture unscathed. Another surgical option is tendonectomy, a procedure in which a small piece of a tendon in the toe is surgically removed. Cats who have undergone this procedure are no longer able to extend their claws and cause damage. This procedure is much less invasive than declawing, but the claws still need to be trimmed or else they grow around and into the pad. Owners who are unable to trim their cats' nails should not consider this option.
If, however, your cat tends to scratch you or your children, more drastic measures, such as behavioral therapy or pharmacological treatment, may be necessary. If declawing is an option at all for you, it may be a last resort. Consult with your veterinarian to determine what is best for you, your family, and your cat.—Eds.
