CatDeclaw at declaw (onychectomy) continues to be a topic in the news for the public, animal welfare groups, and the veterinary profession. The CVMA’s position is that veterinarians should counsel cat owners on the pros and cons Cof the procedure, and the risks of surgery, so the client can make an informed decision. The CVMA believes the procedure is appropriate in some cases only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or when its clawing presents a medical risk for its owner.

The CVMA asked Dr. Elizabeth Colleran to share her thoughts on the issue. Her article starts on the following page .

Dr. Colleran, a 1990 graduate of Tufts University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, owns and operates the Chico Hospital for Cats in Chico, CA and the Cat Hospital of Portland, OR. She is President-elect of the American Association of Feline Practitioners.

CVMA Position Statement on Cat Declaw The decision to declaw a cat should be made by the owner in consultation with their vet- erinarian. The declawing of cats may become necessary for medical or behavioral reasons and should be used instead of abandonment or euthanasia.

California Veterinary Medical Association | www.cvma.net . . . 9 CatDeclaw: An Issu By Elizabeth J. Colleran, DVM, MS

lack and white, Balanced against that, a kitten for his children brought home from a unequivocal, no grey, no Hannah meant someone to love feedstore. As the kittens grew they discussion. Some issues and be loved by. Ellen gave in, and started to do all the things kittens do. are just like that, but Hannah got two cats. However, Mostly they played and slept. only for some people. because of her health issues, Ellen Declawing cats is an had them declawed. The problem was the cats liked issue that inspires passion mainly Franklin’s furniture. As time went B on, the expensive chairs in the living for those unequivocally opposed to Before the surgery, Ellen sat with it. Those who perceive grey do not her veterinarian, who described the room began to show the eff ects of tend to feel passion. It is diffi cult to procedure so there would be no their behavior. Ruined furniture be passionate about something that mistaking how serious a decision this would not do. Franklin made an appointment with his veterinarian to might have two or more sides to it. was. Ellen assured her veterinarian that the kittens would never be have the kittens declawed. It is true that declawing is a surgery allowed outdoors. that involves the amputation of 10 or The receptionist asked him to come The kittens would be admitted the night in and speak with the doctor about more digits of the forelimb that is not before surgery and fentanyl patches his concerns. Reluctantly, Franklin medically necessary for the cat. Put would be applied. These would become agreed. During the appointment, the like that it is hard to see a place for eff ective before any perception of veterinarian fi rst listened carefully to it in the veterinary repertoire. There pain occurred. During the surgery, an Franklin’s concerns. In response, she might be more to it, however, when intravenous catheter would be in place explained the reasons why cats scratch, you consider both the future of the for anesthetic induction and access to a suggested alternatives to declawing, cat and the client. vein should any problems occur. and reviewed the procedure.

Ellen & Hannah Because laser surgery has been shown “Scratching is an expression of As a single mom, Ellen was raising to be less painful, more precise and normal behavior,” she began. “Tree her daughter Hannah. When she was eliminate the need for a tourniquet, a scratching is widespread among ten, Hannah asked for a kitten. laser would be used for the surgery. Prior cats and has multiple functions, to amputation, a ring block of anesthetic including removing loose claw layers, The problem was that Ellen was would be placed around each foot. depositing scent and stretching. If immunocompromised. In the The feet would be bandaged afterward there aren’t alternatives, household seventies, Ellen had contracted to protect the incisions. An anti- items ‒ furniture, carpet, fi rewood or breast cancer and undergone a infl ammatory would be added for pain other wood ‒ will be used. Once an radical mastectomy. In the end, she management as soon as blood pressure object is chosen as a favorite it can thrived but for the lymphedema that was back to normal. After the second be diffi cult to discourage scratching aff ected her left arm and left it twice night in the hospital, the kittens would it without an acceptable substitute. the diameter of her right. As time be discharged. Ellen listened carefully Scratching posts or similar items are went on, Ellen contracted frequent to the description and understood the necessary to preserve the furniture. infections because of the edema complexity of the surgery. and poor circulation. She was often “The ideal physical characteristics of bandaged and on antibiotics. Minor Franklin a scratching post or board depend on the preference of each cat, but cuts and scrapes became major Franklin had a busy life: two kids, certain characteristics are important. health challenges. Given that, a kitten a working spouse, commuting Some cats prefer scratching a in her home could be lethal. and a good job. He also now had horizontal surface, others a vertical Phoebe and Luigi, two stray kittens

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one. In both cases, the object must and education, be stable so the cat can rest on its some clients might hind limbs and reach out to scratch. wish to have their Alternatives to the selected household cats declawed. object should have a similar texture. No veterinarian Carpet, sisal, cardboard and wood should ever feel can be favored. Catnip may help. The compelled to do so number of such products on the market and no veterinarian indicates how varied cats’ preferences should do so can be: catnip infused rope, horizontal without appropriate cardboard, corrugated paper － the list protocols for is long. By being aware of the texture analgesia and the cat prefers, an appropriate material safe surgery. A can be selected.” careful history and discussion with the Acknowledging that he understood, owner is imperative There is no evidence that declawing Franklin still felt that he had a to understand the motivation for their alters the personality of the cat or problem that only declawing surgery request. Often, the behavior can be increases the likelihood of biting. On would solve. The doctor went on to altered with good planning and detailed the other hand, studies have shown suggest that nail trimming along with coaching. A cat who is engaging in play that 70-90% of cat owners report scratching materials would be helpful aggression, for example, may seem like an improvement in the cat-owner to reduce the damage. She explained a natural candidate for declawing if relationship after the procedure. that temporarily covering the furniture there are children present. Interactive Indeed, veterinarians estimate that Phoebe and Luigi had selected while toys and behavior modifi cation half of owners would choose to training them to use the scratching post techniques with positive reinforcement surrender the cat if they did not could also be useful. Perhaps the chairs may be a more appropriate plan. have this surgery. In these cases, could be removed from the room for Children can be taught how to properly declawing is a life-saving procedure. awhile. She went over other training handle their cat and how to avoid injury. The decision to declaw a cat should techniques that might be helpful, Still, some cats simply are resistant to be made carefully and with the full including a motion-activated fan, two- training and may not respond. consideration of the circumstances sided tape and positive reinforcement of the cat and the owner. The of the desired scratching behavior. Use Some medical conditions might warrant veterinarian must also be faithful to of the kittens’ favorite treats would declawing. Though some would say his or her own beliefs and decide go a long way to reinforce the use of that people with compromised immune whether to perform this surgery or scratching posts or pads. In addition, systems or chronic illness should not not. The skill of the surgeon, his or there were claw covers which could own a cat, there is ample evidence that her ethical position regarding the be placed on the kittens. While they pets improve the quality of peoples’ surgery, the time devoted to client fall off as the nails grow out, they are lives in many ways. To deprive a person counseling, and the analgesia protocol easily replaced. After this discussion, of the opportunity to enhance their all enter into the equation and will Franklin agreed to try claw covers, lives can be seen as heartless or cruel. aff ect the outcome for the patient, the scratching posts and temporary covers Compromised immune function can veterinarian and the client. on the chairs. The veterinarian off ered be a part of many diseases, cancer to demonstrate application of the claw chemotherapy, and natural aging. Time Do you have an opinion on this covers with the family present. should be set aside to allow for an issue? Go to the CVMA’s Facebook in-depth discussion of the procedure, page and reply to the “Cat Discussion aftercare and the importance of Declaw”topic on the discussion There are a number of circumstances keeping the cat indoors. tab. in which, with the proper guidance

California Veterinary Medical Association | www.cvma.net . . . 11