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The Cat’s Claws
Unlike most mammals who walk on
the soles of the paws or feet,
cats are digitigrade, which
means they walk on their toes.
Their back, shoulder, paw and
leg joints, muscles, tendons,
ligaments and nerves are
naturally designed to support
and distribute the cat's weight
across its toes as it walks,
runs and climbs. A cat's claws
are used for balance, for
exercising, and for stretching
the muscles in their legs, back,
shoulders, and paws. They
stretch these muscles by digging
their claws into a surface and
pulling back against their own claw hold - similar to isometric
exercising for humans. This is
the only way a cat can exercise,
stretch and tone the muscles of
its back and shoulders. The toes
help the foot meet the ground at
a precise angle to keep the leg,
shoulder and back muscles and
joints in proper alignment.
Removal of the last digits of
the toes drastically alters the
conformation of their feet and
causes the feet to meet the
ground at an unnatural angle
that can cause back pain similar
to that in humans caused by
wearing improper shoes.
Understanding Declawing
(Onychectomy)
The anatomy
of the feline claw must be
understood before one can
appreciate the severity of
declawing. The cat's claw is not
a nail as is a human fingernail,
it is part of the last bone
(distal phalanx) in the cat's
toe. The cat’s claw arises from
the unguicular crest and
unguicular process in the distal
phalanx of the paw (see above
diagram). Most of the germinal
cells that produce the claw are
situated in the dorsal aspect of
the ungual crest. This region
must be removed completely, or
regrowth of a vestigial claw and
abcessation results. The only
way to be sure all of the
germinal cells are removed is to
amputate the entire distal
phalanx at the joint.
Contrary to
most people's understanding,
declawing consists of amputating
not just the claws, but the
whole phalanx (up to the joint),
including bones, ligaments, and
tendons! To remove the claw, the
bone, nerve, joint capsule,
collateral ligaments, and the
extensor and flexor tendons must
all be amputated. Thus declawing
is not a "simple", single
surgery but 10 separate, painful
amputations of the third phalanx
up to the last joint of each
toe. A graphic comparison in
human terms would be the cutting
off of a person's finger at the
last joint of each finger.
Many vets
and clinic staff deliberately
misinform and mislead clients
into believing that declawing
removes only the claws in the
hopes that clients are left with
the impression that the
procedure is a "minor" surgery
comparable to spay/neuter
procedures and certainly doesn't
involve amputation (partial or
complete) of the terminal-toe
bone, ligaments and tendons.
Some vets rationalize the above
description by saying that since
the claw and the third phalanx
(terminal toe bone) are so
firmly connected, they simply
use the expression "the claw" to
make it simpler for clients to
"understand". Other vets are
somewhat more honest and state
that if they used the word
"amputation", most clients would
not have the surgery performed!
Onychectomy in the clinical
definition involves either the
partial or total amputation of
the terminal bone. That is the
only method. What differs from
vet to vet is the type of
cutting tool used
(guillotine-type cutter, scalpel
or laser).
Onychectomy (Declawing) Surgery
The below
is a clinical description of the
declawing surgery taken from a
leading veterinary surgical
textbook. Contrary to misleading
information, declawing is not a
"minor" surgery comparable to
spaying and neutering
procedures, it is 10, separate,
painful amputations of the
distal phalanx at the joint
(disjointing).
"The claw
is extended by pushing up under
the footpad or by grasping it
with Allis tissue forceps. A
scalpel blade is used to sharply
dissect between the second and
third phalanx over the top of
the ungual crest . The distal
interphalangeal joint is
disarticulated (disjointed), and
the deep digital flexor tendon
is incised (severed). The
digital footpad, is not incised.
If a nail trimmer is used, the
ring of the instrument is placed
in the groove between the second
phalanx and the ungual crest.
The blade is positioned just in
front of the footpad. The blade
is pushed through the soft
tissues over the flexor process.
With the ring of the nail
trimmer in position behind the
ungual crest, the blade is
released just slightly so that
traction applied to the claw
causes the flexor process to
slip out and above the blade. At
this point, the flexor tendon
can be incised and
disarticulation of the joint
(disjointing) completed. Both
techniques effectively remove
the entire third phalanx."
(Excerpted from: Slatter D;
Textbook of Small Animal Surgery
2nd ed vol I, p.352 W.B.
Saunders Company Philadelphia.)
Complications
Declawing
is not without complication. The
rate of complication is
relatively high compared with
other so-called routine
procedures. Complications of
this amputation can be
excruciating pain, damage to the
radial nerve, hemorrhage, bone
chips that prevent healing,
painful regrowth of deformed
claw inside of the paw which is
not visible to the eye, and
chronic back and joint pain as
shoulder, leg and back muscles
weaken.
Other
complications include
postoperative hemorrhage, either
immediate or following bandage
removal is a fairly frequent
occurrence, paw ischemia,
lameness due to wound infection
or footpad laceration, exposure
necrosis of the second phalanx,
and abscess associated with
retention of portions of the
third phalanx. Abscess due to
regrowth must be treated by
surgical removal of the remnant
of the third phalanx and wound
debridement. During amputation
of the distal phalanx, the bone
may shatter and cause what is
called a sequestrum, which
serves as a focus for infection,
causing continuous drainage from
the toe. This necessitates a
second anesthesia and surgery.
Abnormal growth of severed nerve
ends can also occur, causing
long-term, painful sensations in
the toes. Infection will
occasionally occur when all
precautions have been taken.
"Declawing is actually an
amputation of the last joint of
your cat's "toes". When you
envision that, it becomes clear
why declawing is not a humane
act. It is a painful surgery,
with a painful recovery period.
And remember that during the
time of recuperation from the
surgery your cat would still
have to use its feet to walk,
jump, and scratch in its litter
box regardless of the pain it is
experiencing." Christianne Schelling, DVM
"General
anesthesia is used for this
surgery, which always has a
certain degree of risk of
disability or death associated
with it. Because declawing
provides no medical benefits to
cats, even slight risk can be
considered unacceptable. In
addition, the recovery from
declawing can be painful and
lengthy and may involve
postoperative complications such
as infections, hemorrhage, and
nail regrowth. The latter may
subject the cat to additional
surgery."
The Association of Veterinarians
for Animal Rights (AVAR)
Two recent studies published in
peer-reviewed veterinary
journals (Vet Surg 1994
Jul-Aug;23(4):274-80)
concluded "Fifty percent of
the cats had one or more
complications immediately after
surgery.... 19.8% developed
complications after release."
Another study (J Am Vet Med
Assoc 1998 Aug 1;213(3):370-3)
comparing the complications of
declawing with Tenectomy
concluded "Owners should be
aware of the high complication
rate for both procedures."
Many cats also suffer a loss of
balance because they can no
longer achieve a secure foothold
on their amputated stumps.
Vet Surg
1994 Jul-Aug;23(4):274-80
Feline
Onychectomy at a Teaching
Institution: A
Retrospective Study of 163
Cases.
Tobias KS
Department
of Veterinary Clinical Sciences,
Washington
State University, College of
Veterinary Medicine,
Pullman
99164-6610.
"One
hundred sixty-three cats
underwent onychectomy..... Fifty
percent of the cats had one or
more complications immediately
after surgery. Early
postoperative complications
included pain...,
hemorrhage...., lameness....,
swelling...., or
non-weight-bearing.....
Follow-up was available in 121
cats; 19.8% developed
complications after release.
Late
postoperative complications
included infection....,
regrowth...., P2 protrusion....,
palmagrade
stance....,
and prolonged, intermittent
lameness....".
J Am Vet
Med Assoc 1998 Aug
1;213(3):370-3
Comparison of Effects of
Elective Tenectomy or
Onychectomy in Cats.
Jankowski AJ, Brown DC, Duval J,
Gregor TP, Strine LE, Ksiazek
LM, Ott AH
Department
of Clinical Studies, Veterinary
Teaching Hospital,
School of
Veterinary Medicine, University
of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia 19104, USA.
"Objective:
To compare short- and long-term
complications after Tenectomy of
the deep digital flexor tendons
or onychectomy.
Animals:
20 cats undergoing Tenectomy and
18 cats undergoing onychectomy.
Procedure:
Cats undergoingTenectomy or
onychectomy were monitored for a
minimum of 5 months to enable
comparison of type and frequency
of complications.Type and
frequency of complications did
not differ between procedures.
Clinical
Implications:
Owners should be aware of the
high complication rate for both
procedures."
Psychological & Behavioral
Complications
Some cats
are so shocked by declawing that
their personalities change. Cats
who were lively and friendly
have become withdrawn and
introverted after being
declawed. Others, deprived of
their primary means of defense,
become nervous, fearful, and/or
aggressive, often resorting to
their only remaining means of
defense, their teeth. In some
cases, when declawed cats use
the litterbox after surgery,
their feet are so tender they
associate their new pain with
the box...permanently, resulting
in a life-long aversion to using
the litter box. Other declawed
cats that can no longer mark
with their claws, they mark with
urine instead resulting in
inappropriate elimination
problems, which in many cases,
results in relinquishment of the
cats to shelters and ultimately
euthanasia. Many of the cats
surrendered to shelters are
surrendered because of
behavioral problems which
developed after the cats were
declawed.
Many
declawed cats become so
traumatized by this painful
mutilation that they end up
spending their maladjusted lives
perched on top of doors and
refrigerators, out of reach of
real and imaginary predators
against whom they no longer have
any adequate defense.
A cat
relies on its claws as its
primary means of defense.
Removing the claws makes a cat
feel defenseless. The constant
state of stress caused by a
feeling of defenselessness may
make some declawed cats more
prone to disease. Stress leads
to a myriad of physical and
psychological disorders
including suppression of the
immune system, cystitis and
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)..
"The
consequences of declawing are
often pathetic. Changes in
behavior can occur. A declawed
cat frequently resorts to biting
when confronted with even minor
threats. Biting becomes an
overcompensation for the
insecurity of having no claws.
Bungled surgery can result in
the regrowth of deformed claws
or in an infection leading to
gangrene. Balance is affected by
the inability to grasp with
their claws. Chronic physical
ailments such as cystitis or
skin disorders can be
manifestations of a declawed
cat's frustration and stress"
David E. Hammett, DVM
Moral, Ethical and Humane
Considerations
The
veterinary justification for
declawing is that the owner may
otherwise dispose of the cat,
perhaps cruelly. It is ethically
inappropriate, in the long term,
for veterinarians to submit to
this form of moral blackmail
from their clients.
"The Association of
Veterinarians for Animal
Rights is opposed to
cosmetic surgeries and
to those performed to
correct 'vices.'
Declawing generally is
unacceptable because the
suffering and
disfigurement it causes
is not offset by any
benefits to the cat.
Declawing is done
strictly to provide
convenience for people.
The
Association of
Veterinarians for Animal
Rights (AVAR)
Some veterinarians have
argued that some people
would have their cats
killed if declawing was
not an option. We should
not, however, allow
ourselves to taken
'emotional hostage' like
this. If a person really
would kill her or his
cat in this case, it is
reasonable to question
the suitability of that
person as a feline
guardian, especially
when there are millions
of non-declawed cats
living in harmony with
people."
Most people are vehemently
opposed to declawing 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 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
without any benefit to the cat.
It should be emphasized that
"most people" includes virtually
the entire adult population of
Europe and many other countries
around the world.
Many
countries are particularly
concerned about animal welfare
and have banned declawing as
abusive and causing unnecessary
pain and suffering with no
benefit to the cat.. One highly
regarded veterinary textbook by
Turner and Bateson on the
biology of cat behavior
concludes a short section on
scratching behavior with the
following statement: "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."
The
following is a partial list of
countries in which declawing
cats is either illegal or
considered extremely inhumane
and only performed under extreme
medical circumstances:
England -
Scotland - Wales - Northern
Ireland - Germany - Austria -
Switzerland - Norway - Sweden
-
Netherlands - Denmark - Finland
- Brazil - Australia - New
Zealand
Cat
Fanciers Association
Declawing
of Cats - CFA Guidance
Statement: Approved by the CFA
Board of Directors - October
1996
by Joan
Miller, CFA Health Committee
"CFA's
Health Committee proposed the
following guidance statement on
the declawing of cats after
review of the Canadian
Veterinary Medical Association's
(CVMA) position concerning
declawing, and after research of
scientific articles and
information from the Cornell
Feline Health Center, from Joan
Miller's files of Cat Fancy and
animal shelter materials and by
talking with veterinarians,
feline behavioral specialists,
The American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA), the
President of the American
College of Behaviorists and the
Director of Ethical Studies at
the San Francisco SPCA. At
the October
1996 meeting, the CFA Board
unanimously approved this
guidance statement on the
declawing of cats:
CFA
perceives the declawing of cats
(onychectomy ) and the severing
of digital tendons
(tendonectomy) to be elective
surgical procedures which are
without benefit to the cat.
Because of post operative
discomfort or pain, and
potential future behavioral or
physical effects, CFA
disapproves of declawing or
tendonectomy surgery."
World Small
Animal Veterinary Association
Section
10-Non-therapeutic Surgical
Operations on Pet Animals
i) Surgical
operations for the purpose of
modifying the appearance of a
pet animal for non-therapeutic
purposes should be actively
discouraged.
ii) Where
possible legislation should be
enacted to prohibit the
performance of non-therapeutic
surgical procedures for purely
cosmetic purposes, in
particular;
d.
Declawing and defanging.
iii)
Exceptions to these prohibitions
should be permitted only if a
veterinarian considers that the
particular surgical procedure is
necessary for veterinary medical
reasons."
The
Association of Veterinarians for
Animal Rights (AVAR) position on
declawing cats:
"A major
concern that the AVAR has about
declawing is the attitude that
is evident in this situation.
The cat is treated as if he or
she is an inanimate object who
can be modified, even to the
point of surgical mutilation, to
suit a person's perception of
what a cat should be. It would
seem more ethical and humane to
accept that claws and scratching
are inherent feline attributes,
and to
adjust
one's life accordingly if a cat
is desired as a companion. If
this is unacceptable, then
perhaps a different companion
would be in order."
Dr.
Nicholas Dodman, Professor of
Behavioral Pharmacology and
Director of the Behavior Clinic
at Tufts University School of
Veterinary Medicine and
internationally known specialist
in domestic animal behavioral
research, explains declawing:
"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 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 serves as
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."
(Excerpted from The Cat Who
Cried For Help, Dodman N,
Bantam Books, New York).
Declawing
robs a cat of an integral means
of movement and defense. Because
they cannot defend themselves
adequately against attacks by
other animals, declawed cats who
are allowed outdoors may be at
increased risk of injury or
death. Scratching is a natural
instinct for cats and declawing
causes a significant degree of
privation with respect to
satisfying the instinctive
impulses to climb, chase,
exercise, and to mark territory
by scratching. Cats simply enjoy
scratching. The sensible and
humane solution to undesirable
scratching is to modify the
cat's conduct by making changes
in the environment and direct
the cat’s natural scratching
behavior to an appropriate area
(e.g., scratching post) rather
than surgically altering the
cat, thereby causing the animal
pain, merely to fit the owner's
lifestyle, aesthetics, or
convenience.
The fact
that many cats recover from the
hideous experience of declawing
without untoward effects, and
even though they may not hold
grudges, that doesn't seem
sufficient justification for
putting a family member through
such a repugnant experience. In
short, a declawed cat is a
maimed, mutilated cat, and no
excuse can justify the
operation. Your cat should trust
you, and depend upon you for
protection. Don't betray that
trust by declawing your cat.
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