Arden Veterinarian and Animal Hospital

Few topics in veterinary medicine cause more discussion than the declawing of cats. Before making this decision for your own pet, a thorough understanding of normal scratching behavior, the onychectomy procedure itself, as well as potential risks is warranted.

Scratching is a normal behavior of cats. It conditions the claws, serves as a visual and scent territorial marker, allows the cat to defend itself, and provides healthy muscle engagement through stretching. In many cases, a cat can be trained to scratch only appropriate surfaces. Different approaches will work for different cats, so be sure to try several tactics to find the best fit for your cat.