5850 Brannen Road South
Lakeland, Florida 33813
863-646-7722
www.spcaflorida.org
SPCA Florida’s Declaw Policy
SPCA Florida believes scratching is a natural feline behavior.
Declawing, an elective surgical procedure, is considered by SPCA
Florida to be a form of mutilation. Solutions to deter potential
damage to household goods are economical and simple to
implement while maintaining the physical and emotional well-being
of the animal. Such solutions include scratching posts, scratching
platforms, synthetic nail caps, routine nail trimming, and adhesive
furniture protectors, many of which are offered for sale through
SPCA Florida’s Adoption Center.
SPCA Florida does not provide declawing at its Medical Center and
does not adopt kittens or cats from its Adoption Center to anyone
planning to declaw because declawing may render the cat
defenseless, inflict unnecessary pain and adversely affect behavior.
Sources:
Position Statement on Declawing Cats. (2015-Last Updated).
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
http://www.aspca.org/about-us/aspca-policy-and-position-statements/positionstatement-on-declawing-cats
Welfare Implications of Declawing of Domestic Cats (2009, April 2).
American Veterinary Medical Association. https://www.avma.org/KB/
Resources/LiteratureReviews/Pages/Welfare-Implications-of-Declawing-ofDomestic-Cats-Backgrounder.aspx
Destructive Scratching. (2012, March 11). Humane Society of the United States. http://
www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/destructive_scratching.html
Declawing: Far Worse Than a Manicure. (2014, May 12).
Humane Society of the United States.
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/declawing.html
Declawing
101
Basic Info
Why Do Cats Scratch?
The act of scratching is a completely natural behavior and serves a vital
role in a feline’s well-being. Cats may scratch for a variety of reasons:
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Exercise: Scratching keeps the muscles in your kitty’s front legs,
back and shoulders in shape. Scratching to exercise is very
important in maintaining strong muscles throughout the cat’s life.
Think of it as kitty yoga.
Conditioning the Nail: The claws on your kitty’s paws shed in
layers every so often, so it is necessary for your cat to scratch to
remove the now dead outer layer of the claw to reveal the fresh
layer underneath.
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Scent Marking: Cats deposit scent markers by scratching. They
have glands in their paw pads that release their special,
individualized scent when scratching. They claim their favorite
scratching post just as they do when they knead on you.
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Stress Relief: Cats use scratching as a means of expressing
healthy, emotional releases for feelings associated with happiness,
anxiousness, frustration and excitement.
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A cat’s claws are its main defense mechanism. If for any reason
your cat were to end up in the outside world, those claws may be
necessary for survival.
Preventing Destructive Scratching
For the majority of cats, a few different scratching posts placed
around the house are sufficient to encourage positive scratching
behavior. There are times, however, where you may need some
additional help.
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Double sided tape made specifically for furniture (so that
it does not harm the fabric) is an effective way to keep
your kitty from scratching on inappropriate surfaces. A
cat’s paw pads are very sensitive, and the feel of the tape
is very aversive. Cats learn to avoid that feeling again.
Aluminum foil is another good deterrent to place on
furniture or walls.
Soft Paws
One of the more effective ways
to curb unwanted scratching
behavior outside of providing
scratching posts is to use a
product called Soft Paws—soft,
vinyl caps that are glued to the
cat’s nails in order to blunt the
nail tips. The caps come in
different sizes and colors and
are reapplied every 4-6 weeks.
You can purchase Soft Paws at
SPCA Florida at the time of
adoption. The pack comes with 40 tips, which is a four to five month
supply. Ask our staff for additional information.
Promoting Good Scratching Behavior
Now that you know scratching is a completely normal and important
feline behavior, and since you will be sharing the same household, it
is important to know how to promote proper scratching behavior.
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Keep your cat’s nails trimmed.
Nonchalantly touch your cat’s paws and spread the toes
apart while he is lying comfortably on your lap to get him
used to the sensation of having his paws touched so that
when it is time to clip his nails the experience will be much
more pleasant and quick.
Provide scratching posts, preferably more than one, in
multiple locations—especially if you have more than one cat.
If you notice your cat scratching certain unapproved areas,
take note of the type of surface it is and whether it is vertical
or horizontal. Not all cats will prefer the same surface. Most
cats prefer vertical scratching, but some like horizontal
surfaces. Some like both. Whichever you choose, make sure
the post is sturdy and stable, since the cat will likely avoid a
shaky or rocking scratcher.
Provide many varieties of scratchers: corrugated cardboard,
sisal rope, carpet, wood.
Place catnip on the scratching post to attract your cat.
Play with your cat on the post to encourage him to begin
scratching on it.
Reward appropriate scratching with treats and praise.
A vertical, sisal rope scratcher
Horizontal, corrugated
cardboard scratcher
Common Reasons Well Intentioned Pet
Owners Declaw Cats
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They always have had declawed cats
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Their friend’s or family’s cat is declawed
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They don’t know how to avoid inappropriate scratching
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They want to prevent the cat from scratching family
members
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They want to protect furniture or other property
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They don’t realize that cats need scratching posts
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They unsuccessfully tried one or two methods to train the
cat, so they gave up
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Their other cat is declawed and they want to “level the
playing field”
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Their veterinarian recommends declawing
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They have never considered an alternative
What Is Declawing?
First things first: declawing is not a manicure. Declawing, or
onychectomy, is an invasive procedure in which the first knuckle of
each toe is amputated:
If you were to perform this procedure on a
human, it would look like this:
The Physical Effects of Declawing
The Psychological and Behavioral
Your cat’s body is perfectly designed for the grace, agility and beauty
commonly associated with felines, and their claws are an important
part of that design. Declawing this vital part of their anatomy alters
the conformation of their feet. Some cats face physiological and
psychological changes after declawing:
Effects of Declawing
Physical Damage:
Declawing changes the way your
cat’s feet meet the ground. This
can cause pain in the foot and
back, since the cat must learn to
walk and move differently.
Imagine all of that weight sitting
on feet missing a portion of their
knuckle. The cat may then shift
more weight onto his back legs to compensate, particularly right after
surgery. If the cat continues to hold this posture, it can cause stress
on the legs and spine, leading to arthritis. Joint stiffness in the
declawed paw is another point to consider. After declawing, the
tendons that control the toe joints retract leaving these joints
“frozen,” also causing arthritis. Some declawed cats will continue to
practice clawing and scratching motions in an effort to stretch these
stiff joints and muscles of the feet, legs, shoulder and back. Phantom
pain is also a very real consequence of declawing.
In addition to the physical changes that occur, infection at the
surgical site may develop as well as nerve damage and claw
regrowth if the nail bed is not completely removed.
Remember, by nature and instinct cats are stoic animals and are
masters at hiding pain and discomfort until it is so severe they are
unable to mask their distress. Although declawed cats may not show
overt signs of discomfort, this does not mean they are not living with
pain.
In addition to physical changes that occur to a cat’s body after
declawing, are there psychological and behavioral changes that
might also take place? The answer is a definite “Yes.” Psychological
and behavioral changes may not be evident immediately following
declawing. In most cases they develop over time and are
permanent.
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Some declawed cats may begin to feel threatened by the
loss of their claws which are their primary defense and begin
biting. A defenseless feeling often coupled with pain
frequently results in a biting, declawed cat.
Litter box aversion is also a potential result of declawing.
Digging around in the litter box may be difficult for painful
paws, causing the cat to eliminate somewhere other than in
the designated area.
Personality changes may also be evident in declawed cats.
Some people report their cat has “never been the same”
since his declaw surgery.
Cats who begin exhibiting these negative behaviors may be
left outside to fend for themselves without the aid of their
most essential defense mechanism: their claws.
If not put outside, declawed cats that develop these issues
are frequently surrendered to shelters.
Shelter workers know what to expect from a large
percentage of declawed cats admitted to their adoption
centers: highly stressed and fear-reactive felines who are
difficult if not impossible to adopt.