This procedure is very painful and requires general anesthesia. The decision to declaw your cat should not be taken lightly. All alternatives should be considered before making the decision to declaw. This procedure cannot be reversed.
Declaw Surgery – The cat is placed under general anesthesia for the surgery. Many times it is recommended to couple the surgery with the cat's spaying or neutering. This way the cat does not have to go under anesthesia a second time. A tourniquet is used to cut the blood supply to the paw. The claw is surgically removed, along with the cells responsible for growth, and the third phalanx. This procedure can be done with either sterile nail clippers, a surgical blade, or a laser.
The incisions are either closed with sutures or a surgical skin glue. The paws are bandaged and the cat is hospitalized for one to two nights, so it can be monitored for bleeding.
Laser Surgery – Many veterinarians now prefer to do this procedure with a laser. The laser seals nerve endings and small blood vessels as it cuts. This means less pain and less bleeding for your cat. There is no need for a tourniquet or bandages when a laser is used, and the cat may not need to stay as long in the hospital. Laser surgery is considerably more expensive then the conventional method but your cat's smoother recovery may be worth it.
Recommended Age - The younger the cat, the fewer the complications. Older, overweight cats tend to have a tougher recovery due to having considerably more weight on their paws. The procedure is handled best by young cats and kittens between the ages of 3 – 6 months. That said, a declaw can be preformed at any age, barring other health problems.
Pain Medications and Antibiotics – Post operative pain medications are necessary for the comfort of your cat. The pain can be controlled with oral medications or an injection, given by your veterinarian, that lasts several days. If your veterinarian did not prescribe your cat pain medications, ask for them. Antibiotics are not always prescribed for this procedure; your veterinarian will decide if the use of antibiotics is warranted.
Complications – Complications to declawing your cat include, but are not limited too:
- Infection – The cat's feet can become infected and need antibiotics and additional trips to the veterinary office.
- Pain – The pain can linger for many days and the pain medication given may not be strong enough. Many cats continue to limp, or pick up their paws after jumping, months (in some cases years) following surgery.
- Bleeding – Blood spotting is normal following this procedure. Many veterinarians require a 1 – 2 night post operative hospital stay to monitor for this complication.
- Bone Regrowth – If the third phalanx is not removed a misshapen nail can grow back. This can be painful for the cat and requires additional surgery.
- Litter Box Issues – It is recommended to use shredded paper or pellet litters, like Yesterday's News or Feline Pine, as litter for 7 – 10 days following surgery. The clay or sand litters maybe painful on your cat's feet leading to litter box issues.
Charla Dawson - I work as a veterinary nurse in a busy veterinary hospital in Wichita, KS. I love my job but it can be difficult when the abuse cases come ...
