In an ideal world, shelters wouldn’t even have to think about the issue of declawing because pet owners would be willing to try alternatives. But in reality, what is supposed to be a “last resort” is often the first one, leaving shelters in the position of having to balance their desire to place animals and preserve the human-animal bond against their desire to prevent unnecessary and possibly pain-inducing procedures. While pain in the short-term recovery period is common (but becoming less so with the use of modern procedures and drugs), no one knows for sure how else cats may be affected by declawing surgeries. And no one knows for sure whether declawing will prevent relinquishments or keep adopters from going elsewhere, making it difficult for shelters to develop specific policies.

“In many shelters, if that cat doesn’t get adopted by that person, then the tradeoff may well be that it ends up in the euthanasia room,” says Tufts University assistant clinical professor Gary Patronek. “And that gets into the whole thing of are we preventing suffering or preventing death? And since the suffering is somewhat questionable and the death is certain, that’s pretty tough calculus.”

Community attitudes may well determine a shelter’s stance on declawing; one shelter manager in Nebraska said his organization believes the issue of declawing is a private matter between the veterinarian and the client. Another in California said potential adopters who are adamant about declawing would get a red flag in their files—but it’s rarely necessary because most people in her community let their cats outdoors and thus don’t believe in declawing. And of course, in the past and still to a certain extent today, shelters often forbade adoption of a cat to anyone who said he was going to declaw.

But many organizations these days seem to fall somewhere in the middle, straddling the line between trying to prevent as many declaw surgeries as possible on the one hand and trying to prevent as many relinquishments as possible on the other. While The HSUS is opposed to declawing of cats and encourages pet owners to explore more humane alternatives, animal shelters are in a difficult position and must develop their own policies based on public and veterinary attitudes in their communities and the realities of their own situations.

Ultimately, as with anything, education is key to bridging these gaps, and the following statements—as well as the ideas from shelters that have been presented in this article—can help shelters gain credibility for their own policies while also providing useful tools for teaching people how to be the best pet owners they can be.

Do you want to help pet owners prevent destructive scratching? Or provide local vets with problem-solving resources on cat aggression, rough play, or litter box issues? Find helpful information on all that and more at www.petsforlife.org—and refer potential adopters and local veterinarians interested in educating clients to the website as well. To obtain a CD featuring the complete set of printable cat and dog behavior tip sheets, send your request along with $2 to PFL CD-ROM Offer, The Humane Society of the United States, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037. Allow six to eight weeks for delivery.

The Humane Society of the United States

The Humane Society of the United States opposes tail myotomy, tail neurectomy and tongue myotomy in equines, ear-cropping and tail-docking of dogs, and declawing of cats when done solely for the convenience of the owner and without benefit to the animal. Further, we oppose any other unnecessary surgical procedure that is painful, distressful, or restrictive of the function of the body part involved when done for cosmetic purposes or to disguise natural imperfections of any animal.

Cat Fanciers’ Association

The Cat Fanciers’ Association recognizes that scratching is a natural behavior of cats and that cats may be defenseless without full use of their claws if they, either intentionally or unintentionally, go outdoors. Scratching damage to household furnishings can be minimized or avoided by routine clipping of the claws, the use of claw covers and by redirecting the cat’s activity to acceptable surfaces.

CFA perceives the declawing of cats (onychectomy) and the severing of digital tendons (tendonectomy) to be elective surgical procedures that are without benefit to the cat. Because of the discomfort associated with any surgery and potential future behavioral or physical effects, CFA disapproves of routine declawing or tendonectomy surgery in lieu of alternative solutions to prevent household damage. In certain situations, including high risk of injury or disease transmission to owners with bleeding disorders or compromised immune systems, declawing may be justified in order to maintain the cat-human bond.

American Veterinary Medical Association

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:

• 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.
• 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.
• Appropriate claw care (consisting of trimming the claws every 1 to 2 weeks) should be provided to prevent injury or damage to household items.
• 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.
• Declawed cats should be housed indoors.
• 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.
• 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 Animal Hospital Association

Declawing of domestic cats should be considered only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or when clawing presents a significant health risk for people within the household.

As with any elective surgery, the client should be advised of all advantages, disadvantages, and available options. Veterinarians have an obligation to provide cat owners with complete education with regard to declawing prior to performing the procedure. The following points are the foundation for full understanding and disclosure regarding declawing:

• 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.
• Prior to considering declawing, owners should attempt to manage undesirable scratching by providing 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. In addition, appropriate claw care, consisting of trimming the claws every one to two weeks, should be provided.
• Declawing is not a medically necessary procedure in most cases. While rare in occurrence, there are inherent risks and complications with any surgical procedure including, but not limited to, anesthetic complications, side effects associated with analgesics, hemorrhage, and infection.
• Declawing of the forefeet is usually sufficient.
• Declawed cats should be housed indoors.

In households where cats come into contact with immunocompromised people, client education about potential disease transmission should be provided, ideally by both verbal and written methods, and documented. Declawing may warrant consideration.

Scientific studies indicate that cats with destructive clawing behavior are more likely to be euthanized, 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, declawing may warrant consideration.

If declawing is performed, safe and effective anesthetic agents should always be used. Furthermore, the use of safe and effective peri-operative analgesics for an appropriate length of time is imperative.

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association

POSITION:
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) recognizes that onychectomy is an option for domestic cats that would otherwise be denied a home or face euthanasia.

BACKGROUND:
A review of the literature suggests there are no behavioral abnormalities associated with onychectomy. As with any elective surgery, the client should be advised of the advantages, disadvantages, and available options. Onychectomy on the forefeet is usually sufficient.