Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 30 October '85 51

^ ^ BY MARK W. LOGAN, V.M.D.

The abosulte majority of cat owners across the country never even think of having their cats declawed. However, there is a small percentage of cat owners who would not own a cat if it had its front claws. There is no doubt that some individual cats are very destructive and no matter how often the nails are clipped, furniture damage will occur. Most veterinarians actively discourage cat owners from declawing their cats if at all possible. The first solution to wanton clawing of household articles is to keep your cat's claws cut. A good frequency for checking the length of the claws is once per week. PURCHASE A good pair of nail clippers specifically designed for cats. Miller's Forge makes an excellent pair of clippers which are sharp and function by cutting rather than crushing the nail. Pet suppliers and some veterinary offices carry this type of clipper. You can learn how to cut your cat's nails properly by asking your veterinarian, one of his staff or a groomer to show you how. Scratching is a natural behavior which along with scent marking constitutes your cat's ability to establish territory. In the wild, scratching would be done on trees and the ground; in the house, scratching behavior usually results in carpet and furniture damage. YOUR CAT will usually pick loose-woven material or textured fabric to scratch. Picking

upholstery- material which is cat-proof is virtually impossible, but some tightwoven materials may be helpful. The scratching post is a frequent helper with destructive cats. The loose weave carpet material on most posts in an attractive place for the destructive cat to sink his claws into. A bit of catnip sprinkled on the scratching post may heighten the attraction and derail your cat's destruction of furniture. THERE IS .NO readily availalbe medical solution to scratching such as tranquilizers or behavior modification drugs. Surgery to remove the last section of each digit is the only available treatment for those cat owners who demand that their cats be declawed. EjUptially the deciaw operWfci is the equivalent to a human's having his finger tips, including the nails, removed. The surgery is painful and requires a period of hospitalization and then recuperation at home. IF DECLAWING is decided upon early in a cat's life, it should be done around 12-16 weeks of age, depending on the policy of your veterinarian. Call your veterinarian's office and ask about his preferred protocol. Older cats have a toughter time healing because their digits are larger and the surgery can be more extensive. Older cats should be declawed only as a last resort, after looking into frequent nail clipping, scratching posts and other alternatives such

as at home behavior modification or even putting up with your cat's natural instincts. "YOUR CAT has no sense of what your upholstery is worth, and really can't be blamed for yielding to his own habits. Under no circumstances should rear claws be removed. Before declawing your cat, you should be absolutely sure that your cat will be kept indoors for the rest of its life. Declawed cats do not belong outdoors under any circumstances. Occasionally a declawed cat may in the future start biting in defensive situations because the front claws are no longer available to use as weapons. AS YOU WOULD expect, the organizations which oversee cat shows and breed specifications will not allow any cat which has been declawed to be shown. This applies to both purebred and household pet categories. This applies to both purebred and household pet categories. This policy is in force because breeders and cat fanciers do not approve of declawing. The declawing decision rests with the cat owner. Surgery for removal of claws must be used only as last resort. The operation is | painful and serious enough that extensive thought should be given to the matter before authorizing the surgery. Your veterinarian will be happy to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of declawing to you and help you arrive at an informed decision concerning your cat's claws.

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