San Diego Veterinary Clinic

Declawing Your Cat

When considering whether or not to declaw your cat there are several important facts and possible risks that you should be informed about. Many cat owners choose the procedure as a way to avoid behavioral issues such as scratching people and clawing at furniture. Declawing is not simply removing a cat’s nails. It is a surgical procedure that involves risks, as with any procedure, and special attention and care in recovery.

What is Declawing?

Declawing is a surgical procedure performed on domestic cats to remove their claws. It involves removing the last bone of each of the ten front toes, as well as severing tendons, nerves, and muscles. The cat is under general anesthesia when the procedure is performed. Veterinarians typically require that kittens be at least four months old before they undergo declawing.

Potential Complications

As with any major surgical procedure, there are potential risks and complications involved with declawing your cat. These complications could occur after surgery and include:

• Pain
• Biting
• Joint stiffness
• Arthritis
• Litter box problems
• Death

Some Alternatives

When performed on older cats, this surgery can have a long and even painful recovery time. Before turning to declawing there are some alternatives that will help save your furniture and your cat’s natural defense mechanism. Cats scratch things as a way to shed dead nails. Putting a scratching post into their environment is a great way to stop them from clawing at inappropriate items.

Learn More at a San Diego Veterinarian Clinic

If you own a cat and are considering having your cat declawed, contact your local San Diego vet clinics for more information today.