Declawing

Declawing is the surgical removal of a cat's claws. This is generally done to prevent damage to furnishings and sometimes injury to people. Since the procedure is optional, there is some controversy about performing this surgery. Here is how we view the situation at Companion Animal Hospital :

Each individual cat owner should review the circumstances and requirements of their environment and their relationship with their cat. Does your cat spend most of its time indoors or outside? Do you live in a relatively secluded area with few other cats nearby or in an area where your cat will frequently come into contact with other animals? Are there very young or very old members of the family who could accidentally be injured by the cat's claws? How will you respond if your cat damages furnishings such as chairs or sofas? Can you train your cat to use a scratching post instead of the furniture? Can you trim your cat's nails on a weekly basis? Would you consistently be able to apply nail caps (SoftPaws) each month? Answering these questions should help you to decide if declawing is appropriate for your lifestyle.

The next question is "Should I subject my beloved cat to a surgical procedure which some consider to be painful and inhumane?". From our perspective, having performed many declaws over 30 years, we feel that the procedure is minimally uncomfortable for 3-5days just as any surgical procedure. In years gone by this procedure may have been performed in a less than humane manner.

Today at Companion Animal Hospital we offer the very best in anesthetic safety, surgical technology, and comfort control for your cat — period. Our declawed patients are comfortable, well-mannered and affectionate pets. We do not see personality changes after this procedure.

Laser surgery eliminates the need for tourniquets and bandages thus eliminating the injury to tissue which occurs after these devices are removed and blood flow resumes. Laser surgery also eliminates bleeding and minimizes pain and swelling by sealing blood vessels, nerve endings and lymph vessels.

At CAH we are very sensitive to preventing any discomfort for your pet. Pre- and postoperative pain killers and anti-inflammatory medications effectively keep our patients happy. In our opinion, these state-of-the-art procedures make having your cat declawed a very positive experience if your lifestyle and environment indicate it would be desirable. If you are still in doubt we invite you to visit one of our post-op patients and see for yourself. Give us a call to arrange a visit or if you have any other questions about declawing or laser surgery.