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MEDICAL
In addition to the need for general anesthesia, which always
presents a certain degree of risk to the patient's health
and life, infection and blood loss are possible surgical
complications of declawing. An incorrectly positioned cut
can remove too much of the toe, taking with it part or all
of the toe's pad. But if the whole claw is not removed,
misshapen claws can grow back, requiring additional surgery.
If a cat's nail is brittle or the trimmer is dull, the bone
may shatter and cause what is called a sequestrum, which
serves as a focus for infection, causing continuous drainage
from the toe. This necessitates a second anesthesia and
surgery. Abnormal growth of severed nerve ends can also
occur, causing long-term, painful sensations in the toes.
Great care must be taken after surgery that bandages wrapped
tightly to control bleeding do not cut off circulation.
BEHAVIORAL
Although no definitive studies have been conducted on the
effects of declawing, owners and veterinarians have noticed
personality changes in some declawed cats. Formerly lively,
friendly animals have become withdrawn and introverted.
Others, deprived of their primary form of defense, become
nervous, fearful, and/or aggressive, often using their only
remaining defense, their teeth. The constant state of stress
caused by a feeling of defenselessness may make some declawed
cats more prone to disease. Some cats stop using their litter
pan; this may be associated to the discomfort of scratching
in the litter after the surgery.
SAFETY
A declawed cat must never be allowed outdoors; its ability
to defend itself or escape from danger has been seriously
impaired. Even indoors, a cat without claws faces dangers.
One physical effect of declawing is a gradual weakening
of the muscles of the legs, shoulders, and back; balance
is impaired. This combined with the fact that despite its
grace, a cat's surefootedness depends on its ability to
grasp quickly with its claws, means that a declawed animal
can easily be injured in a fall.
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