The American Veterinary Medical Association {AVMA} is holding a 4 day convention from July 16th-19th in St. Louis, Missouri with declawing being one of the topics of discussion.

Below is the current policy regarding the declawing of cats.  The CatAWhack Crew aligns with the points indicated in GREEN and provides additional commentary within the policy indicated by italicized text:

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). (We would suggest that those “owners” at risk do not acquire a feline family member; If the “owners” had the cat before a risk developed, we would suggest finding an alternative home for the feline or taking protective measures during visits with the cat or during handling)

The AVMA believes it is the obligation of veterinarians to provide cat owners with complete education with regard to feline onychectomy. (There are concerns regarding the offering of education and/or the quality and extent of education – See comments below) 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 should 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 surgical onychectomy is performed, appropriate use of safe and effective anesthetics and perioperative analgesics for an appropriate length of time are imperative. Pain management is necessary (not elective) and required for this procedure. (We would prefer that it doesn’t occur; However, if it will, we are glad that pain management is required) Multimodal pain management is recommended, and there should be a written aftercare plan. The surgical alternative of tendonectomy is not recommended.
• Temporary synthetic nail caps are available as an alternative to onychectomy to prevent human injury or damage to property. Plastic nail caps are usually applied every 4 to 6 weeks.
• Declawed cats should be housed indoors.
• Scientific data do indicate that cats that have destructive scratching 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. (This is a systemic issue that often sets up an either/or ethical moral dilemma for veterinarians…Either I perform the procedure or the cat will be relinquished, released, abandoned, or euthanized.  For example, some landlords will not allow tenants to have cats unless they are front declawed; Vets may know that their available shelters and rescues are often at capacity leading to higher rates of euthanasia, unhealthy crowded living conditions for unadopted animals, or desperate adoption attempts that lead to unfit homes)
• 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.

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The CatAWhack Crew appreciates the efforts made by AVMA in outlining a policy that encourages education concerning feline scratch practice, cat scratch alternatives, and appropriate claw care.  However, there is concern that declawing is being performed before or in the absence of educational efforts often being coupled with other procedures such as neuter/spay before a cat scratch assessment has been completed and an intervention has been implemented.  I have spoken with new adopters of feline family members who assert that at the time of initial vaccinations or the first scheduled appointment with their chosen veterinarian that no information was presented regarding the details of onychectomy procedures, cat claw trimming, species specific care essentials, or the means and methods of directing cat scratch practice to designated surfaces, posts, or textures within the home.  Those who actually request information regarding declawing find that it is described in a casual tone as a common routine procedure that is often necessary to secure a cat a permanent home.  I have also been informed that it is often recommended by veterinarians as a form of prevention against potential damage done by claws to home furnishings and interiors.  This “nip it in the bud” approach does not provide a feline with a scratchin’ chance to develop a natural healthy scratch practice or assist human caregivers in redirecting the scratch of an established feline with claws.  One could argue that veterinarians are not animal behaviorists and therefor ill equipped at providing practical methods, tools, applications, approaches, and investments of time that assist the caregiver who wishes to support their feline in the establishment of a scratch practice that promotes understanding, appreciation, and a successful cohabitation between human and feline.  I would like to see animal behaviorists employed at veterinarian clinics or utilized on a consulting basis.

Due to the concerns regarding consistent standardized disclosure and information dissemination, I also hold concerns about the criteria used to determine whether a human caregiver has effectively utilized alternatives to declawing, has the ability to accurately describe the scratching behavior of the feline, or has invested a sufficient amount of time and energy to change the outcome.  The question arises, “Is there a rush to declaw or is it done prematurely?”  Has a list of interventions been established that can aid caregivers in their attempts?  Have they been given the tools, resources, and information necessary to be successful?  Another words, have they been given instructions about HOW to utilize scratching posts, where to place the scratching surfaces, how to determine the scratch texture or scratch direction preferred by their felines, what types of positive reinforcements to use, how to employ positive reinforcers, etc.?

If declawing is viewed by the AVMA as a last resort to destructive scratching, I would advise a specific and exhaustive check-off list of interventions that would be used to assess the success or failure of current or previous attempts before discussions of declawing took place.  There has to be clear ways of assessing these interventions.  Otherwise, caregivers and/or veterinarians can simply perform or choose this procedure without attention to AVMA recommendations and without incurring responsibility.

During the application of interventions one could also assert that new relevant information would be discovered not only about scratch behavior, but the individual traits, temperment, and responsiveness of the feline.  This could contribute greatly to the development of creative innovative approaches that are not only species specific, but also tailored toward the distinct personality of the feline for which the intervention was created.  Greater understanding could result as part of the process unfolds as well as bonding between caregiver and feline family member.  Bonding is what keeps animal companions and their people together.  People who are bonded to their animal companions are less likely to relinquish them to shelters and are more likely to accept inconveniences.  Ultimately, this approach has the potential of increasing the odds of successful home retention and claw retention.

Regarding the last point of the policy: “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.”

Since surgical onychectomy or declawing is an amputation of each of the distal toe digits, I would also imagine that the same long term side effects experienced by human amputees may also be experienced by feline amputees.  All beings with amputated limbs or an alteration in function adjust based on a number of factors:

• the extent of the original injury or anatomical structure and function at the time of surgery
• health and general condition at the time of the amputation
• the method of amputation used and the skill and experience of the surgeon performing the procedure
• pain management before, during, and after the procedure
• the recuperation, recovery, and rehabilitation process
• the quality of the home environment and support network
• post-surgical modification of the environment to aid the change or alteration in function or ability

Varied Implications of Amputation:

• adjustment to a change in functional capacity
• amputations of lower extremities susceptible to injury and infection at the stump site
• changes in level of activity and activities of daily living
• particular activities may be more difficult to perform such as jumping
• rheumatoid conditions affecting the joints, connective tissue, and muscle
• pain; inflammation; fatigue; changes in gait, coordination, or tactile sensitivity; deformity and stiffness
• unpredictable remissions and exacerbations that contribute to stress  and irritability

If I’m experiencing any of the implications of amputation listed above, I would suspect that I would also exhibit changes in behavior including mood, disposition, and motivation to engage in activities of daily living.  I would also suspect that it would change the way that I interact with my family and the way that I adjust to environmental changes and stressers.  A lack of scientific evidence does not mean that there are not changes in behavior.  It may simply mean that there have not been sufficient studies, published studies, or studies that employ standardized measurements for assessing or corroborating behavior change.

Overall, I appreciate the AVMA’s attempts to create a position and policy on declawing.  I understand how difficult it can be when you consider all of the moving parts that must be considered in the Proclaw-Declaw Debate and the systemic issues that exist.

However, I continue to dream of a day when declawing is no longer seen as a solution and successful interventions are created and implemented that set up the conditions for mutually beneficial cohabitations between human and feline.