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Abstract
Declawing is controversial. To date, there has been little research to support the negative statements (of physical and emotional harm) by those critical of the procedure. Similarly, veterinary recommendations may be based on years of experience but little factual data. Cat associations and even the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) does not support declawing. Of the 276 owners of declawed cats surveyed for this study, all stated that declawing successfully met their objectives, and, in many cases additional benefits were listed as well. While 10 owners (4%) had a negative opinion of declawing, only two of their cats developed problems (one behavioral and one medical). Ninety-six percent of owners had a positive or very positive attitude about declawing at the time of the survey, and at least 70% reported Improved relationships with their cats. Forty-one percent of the cats went outdoors without problems after declawing. Cats declawed after age 1 had a higher incidence of postsurgical discomfort and took longer to recover.
... Short-term complications following onychectomy occur in as many as 50% of cases, and include pain, lameness, hemorrhage, decreased appetite, personality change, infection, lethargy, and cystitis (1,(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Long-term complications following onychectomy are infrequently reported but include claw regrowth, lameness, chronic pain, sore paws, flexor tendon contraction, and increased biting (4,(6)(7)(8)(9)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). ...
... Although claw regrowth is a well-recognized complication of onychectomy, only 4 publications have reported regrowth of claws in cats following onychectomy, with a reported regrowth rate ranging from 1.8% to 10% (1,9,15,17). All reported cases of claw regrowth have occurred followed guillotine onychectomy. ...
... In this study, the frequency of claw regrowth following the guillotine method was 15.4%, which is higher than previous reports of 1.8% to 10% (1,9,15,17). This result was unexpected, given that the surgeries were performed by experienced veterinarians, unlike previous reports in which senior veterinary students performed the onychectomies (1,15,17). ...
The frequency of claw regrowth, bony remnants, and complications in cats that underwent forelimb onychectomy using laser, scalpel, or guillotine techniques were evaluated. Eighty-seven client-owned cats were recruited from 27 veterinary clinics in the Canadian Atlantic provinces. At least 1 year after onychectomy the cats underwent a physical examination, gait analysis, and radiographic evaluation by 1 of 2 authors. There was no significant difference in the frequency of claw regrowth among the 3 methods (P = 0.283). Significantly more cats had bony remnants following guillotine onychectomy (P < 0.001). Bony remnants were significantly associated with claw regrowth (P = 0.001). Cats that underwent laser onychectomy had significantly less post-operative complications (P = 0.023). The long-term outcome was not significantly different among the 3 methods. We conclude that leaving remnants of the third phalanx in situ is associated with an increased frequency of claw regrowth. Laser onychectomy may be preferred to reduce the risk of post-operative complications, bony remnants, and claw regrowth.
... After declawing, cats may also "become biters because they are in pain and no longer have their claws for defense" (HSUS 2023), thus upsetting and altering their natural coping mechanisms. Furthermore, guardians of declawed cats have reported behavioral changes such as a disliking of paws being handled after surgery as compared to before (Landsberg 1991). By causing negative emotional changes in cats and problematizing the handling of now-clawless paws, declawing stands to significantly reduce cats' capabilities for (dealing with) emotions and emotional experience-whether directly (i.e., by causing stress and anxiety) or indirectly (e.g., by diminishing bonding experiences with their guardians). ...
... One of the functions of scratching, for instance, is territorial marking (Cozzi et al. 2013), which cats can no longer engage in without the use of their claws. The finding that declawed cats experienced an increase in biting and/or harder biting post-surgery (Landsberg 1991) suggests that at least some declawed cats may develop trouble interacting with their environment. Biting is but a pale substitute for scratching, yet it may be the only way that cats still try to exert some kind of control over the world around them after having been declawed. ...
Onychectomy involves the surgical amputation of a cat's claws. Tendonectomy entails surgically cutting tendons to prevent the extension and full use of a cat's claws. Both surgeries practically declaw cats and are not only painful but also associated with high complication rates. While feline declawing surgeries have been banned in various places around the world, they are still elective in many countries and U.S. states. This article provides an ethical analysis of declawing cats. It discusses the harms posed by feline declawing surgeries, like pain and complications, which are not offset by any benefits to cats. Drawing on Martha Nussbaum's capabilities approach, it also offers an additional and broader ethical argument against declawing, namely that removing cats' claws is unjust because it thwarts important capabilities for feline flourishing (e.g., play, bodily integrity, control over one's environment). It concludes that declawing cats for non-medical purposes is unethical and must be opposed.
... outside litter box) would increase with age, particularly with advanced age (Landsberg et al., 2013). • Declawed cats would display less activity/playfulness, predatory behavior and scratching of inappropriate objects than cats with intact claws (AVMA, 2016;Landsberg, 1991;Landsberg et al., 2013). • (Clawed) cats with outdoor access would display more predatory behavior and less scratching of inappropriate objects than (clawed) cats without outdoor access (Bernstein, 2007;Buffington, 2002;Heidenberger, 1997;Rochlitz, 2007). ...
... Contrary to the implications of some previous reports (e.g. AVMA, 2016;Landsberg, 1991), the present study found highly significant behavioral differences reported by the owners of declawed and non-declawed cats. While most of these differences could be construed as beneficial, either from the owner's (less destructiveness) or the environmental (less predation) perspective, the observed reduction in activity/playfulness in declawed cats suggests a possible negative impact of this procedure on feline welfare. ...
A questionnaire instrument for obtaining quantitative behavioral evaluations of pet cats from cat owners was developed and validated. Exploratory Factor Analysis of 2608 questionnaire responses to 149 behavioral questions/items extracted a total of 23 distinct factors that measured most of the more common dimensions of cat behavior. Seventeen of the 23 factors demonstrated adequate-high internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.712-0.923). Questionnaire validation was accomplished by determining: (a) whether owners' subjective ratings of the severity of their cat's behavior problems were associated with cats' actual scores on expected questionnaire factors, (b) whether expected associations between specific demographic and/or lifestyle characteristics and behavior were confirmed by cats' factor or item scores on the questionnaire, and (c) whether breed rankings based on owner-reported factor scores matched those previously derived from the opinions of experts (veterinarians). The results of these various tests confirmed the overall construct validity of the questionnaire.
... While some argue that declawing causes a range of physical, psychological, and behavioral problems and should therefore be banned, others feel it is a better alternative than relinquishment or euthanasia (Atwood-Harvey, 2005;Wechsler, 2007). One study by Landsberg (1991) found that 96% of owners who chose to declaw their cat feel positive about the decision, yet in our study we found that many owners (19%) feel guilty about their choice. There are numerous alternative nonsurgical options to declawing and most veterinarians discuss these options with clients (Ruch-Gallie et al., 2016). ...
Numerous studies have found pets to have a beneficial effect on people’s psychological well-being, yet a growing body of research suggests that the positive impact of pet ownership is more complex than once thought and does not always lead to improved owner physical and mental health. One potential drawback to pet ownership is pet-related guilt. Research pertaining to work-family conflict and parental guilt has traditionally focused on human family members, yet the majority of pet owners consider their pets to be family members. Similar to parental guilt, dog-related guilt has been found to be associated with feelings of anxiety, depression, and reduced psychological health. The current study was designed to expand on dog-related guilt research by assessing cat owners. An online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey was distributed through Prolific and resulted in 604 responses for analysis. Multiple linear regression was used to predict owner depression. Gender, age, social compensatory techniques, and two guilt factors (Attention and Veterinary-related) significantly predicted depression scores. Participants’ anxiety scores, assessed with multiple linear regression, were predicted by gender, age, social compensatory techniques, and three guilt factors (Attention, Veterinary-related, and Lifestyle). Our results suggest that cat-related guilt, analogous to parental guilt, is a significant predictor of anxiety and depression. It is imperative that society recognize cat owners’ guilt, often disenfranchised; unrecognized; and unacknowledged, and help support owners’ efforts to mitigate this guilt in healthy ways.
... This attitude may not be unrealistic, as behavioral problems are the most common reason for the relinquishment or euthanasia of cats [7]. As owners who choose to have their cats declawed generally reported that the procedure met or exceeded their expectations [2,17], as well as reporting an improvement in the owner-cat relationship as a direct result of the declawing [2,14], owners may feel that this is an optimal treatment for problematic behaviors. Additionally, some states allow landlords to require that any cat on the property be declawed [5]. ...
Simple Summary
While people are familiar with the practice of declawing domestic cats, it is also performed on non-domesticated species, such as lions and tigers, to extend the period of safe human interaction for entertainment purposes. Although declawing (removing not only the claw itself, but also the bone from which it grows, whether in part or in whole) clearly affects the skeletal system, the impact on the musculature has not been studied. As the mass of an animal increases cubically as a product of its volume, while the areas of its paws only increase as a square, larger cats have higher foot pressures and, therefore, the surgery may have a greater effect on larger cats. In this study, we evaluate the forearms of clawed and declawed cats to investigate the effects of declawing on muscle architecture. We found that the deep muscles that flex the digits, which are the muscles most directly affected by declawing, are significantly lighter (~73%) and less powerful (46–66%) in animals that have been declawed, while other muscles do not make up for these reductions. Thus, declawing has a substantial effect on the muscular capabilities of cats, and because these deficiencies are not compensated for in larger cats, it probably has even more functionally devastating consequences for these species.
Abstract
While people are familiar with the practice of declawing domestic cats, “onychectomy”, as it is also known, is also performed on non-domesticated species, including pantherines, to prolong their use for entertainment purposes. Although the surgery (the partial or complete removal of the distal phalanx) has clear osteological implications, its myological effects have never been studied. As the mass of an animal increases cubically as a product of its volume, while the areas of its paws only increase as a square, larger felids have higher foot pressures and, therefore, the surgery may have particularly substantial functional effects on larger cats. In this study, we evaluate the forearms of clawed and declawed non-domestic felid specimens that spanned the body size range of the whole family to evaluate the effects of onychectomy on muscle fiber architecture. We found that the deep digital flexors (the muscles most directly affected by onychectomy) of declawed felids are significantly lighter (~73%) and less powerful (46–66%) than those of non-declawed felids, while other muscles do not make up for these reductions. Thus, onychectomy has a substantial effect on the myological capabilities of cats, and because these deficiencies are not compensated for in biomechanically disadvantaged larger felids, it probably has even more functionally devastating consequences for these species.
... The onychectomy procedure consists of the surgical amputation of the third phalanx in both fore-and hindlimbs to prevent the claws from growing back [66,67]. The supposed benefit of carrying out this procedure is to avoid behavioral problems that are not desired by the owner, such as the destruction of furniture [68,69]. Scratching is a natural behavior in cats, useful for visual and chemical communication. ...
Simple Summary
In several countries, there are practices, ideologies, rooted traditions, or legal gaps that represent challenges to animal welfare. These particularly relate to the consideration of the welfare domains of nutrition, environment, health, behavior, and corresponding mental state. In this article, we discuss some of the challenges with respect to animal welfare that arise in Latin America. Controversial topics concerning aesthetic and management practices in small animals and with the keeping of wildlife in Latin American regions are discussed. The focus is on the legal and ethical aspects, as well as the current efforts, that these countries are making to address and incorporate global welfare standards into domestic and wild animal practice and regulation.
Abstract
Animal welfare is a societally relevant issue that is globally attracting increased attention. This is in addition to the importance placed on welfare for the animals themselves. However, the content and application of laws protecting animals’ welfare vary across countries. In Latin America, there are a range of common practices or activities involving certain animal species, many of which are legal, that can impair an animal’s quality of life. These include the performance of aesthetic surgical procedures; bull-, cock-, and dog fighting; and the existence of circuses that exhibit animals. The extent and impact of these practices being dependent on the socioeconomic, cultural, territorial, and regulatory landscape of each country. Particularly, Ibero-American regions face welfare challenges that might be influenced by traditions and relevant legal gaps. The objective of this article is to review controversial practices carried out in companion and entertainment animals in Latin America, with a focus on legal aspects, as well as the current efforts being made to address and incorporate global welfare standards into domestic and wild animal practice and regulation.
... Declawed cats also were no more likely to be euthanized at the shelter compared to cats that were not declawed; however, declawed cats stayed at the shelter longer. Owners surveyed after the procedure stated that they were generally satisfied or very satisfied with the procedure, and evidence of negative outcomes on behavior is limited (119)(120)(121)(122)(123). These numbers could be influenced by bias on the owners' part, as they elected to have their cats declawed. ...
Veterinarians perform surgery for a number of reasons, from treating a problem to preventing future problems. There is an inextricable link between the physical and psychological aspects of an animal's health, and surgery is often a conduit to bridge that gap. Some surgical procedures can affect an animal's behavior, such as castration, and some pose an ethical dilemma, such as ear cropping and declawing. Ameliorating pain, decreasing stressful experiences for the animal, and identifying and treating concurrent problem behaviors are hallmarks of improving animal welfare. The purpose of this article is to outline some of these interrelationships and ethical dilemmas, providing evidence-based verification as applicable.
... Scratching of furniture is the primary reason that owners choose to declaw their cats, particularly in the USA, with a 1991 survey finding that 86% of people presenting their cat for a declaw surgery did so due to household damage. 19 Declawing was long believed to be a benign solution but emerging science finds it can cause significant behavioral and health problems, such as aggression between housemate cats, house-soiling, chronic pain, reduced play behaviors and gait abnormalities (see box below). It should thus never be considered a solution for destructive scratching given that effective, humane prevention and treatment options are available. ...
Practical relevance:
While scratching is a normal, beneficial behavior for cats, it can create problems when cats scratch objects owners deem as inappropriate. However, if veterinarians make suitable recommendations from the first veterinary visit, owners will be able to implement effective preventive strategies to develop good scratching patterns for life. Educating owners as to why cats scratch, how to guide cats to scratch only on desirable surfaces (ie, a scratching post), which types of scratching posts are preferred by most cats, the benefits of pheromone products, as well as other strategies to avoid destructive scratching, helps to preserve the cat-owner bond and reduces the risk of relinquishment.
Clinical challenges:
Clients may not directly ask veterinarians for their assistance regarding their cat's destructive scratching, and may not be aware that anything can be done except for declawing their cat.
Evidence base:
Published studies on scratching are limited. Destructive scratching has been documented as a reason for the relinquishment of cats to shelters and the negative effects of declaw surgeries are being increasingly discovered. Among recent scientific publications are studies assessing kitten and cat preferences for scratching substrates, and the use of pheromones to encourage appropriate scratching behavior. This review draws on these studies, among other resources, as well as the authors' personal experiences.
... [3][4][5][6][7] Inappropriate scratching is a major reason for owner distress, breakdown of the humananimal bond, may lead to relinquishment of the cat, [7][8][9] and appears to be the primary reason for onychectomy or tendonectomy in the USA and other countries. 4,[10][11][12][13] A number of recommendations have been given in the veterinary literature to prevent inappropriate scratching. [14][15][16] To our knowledge supportive data are limited to two recent publications, 4,17 and no data currently exist on relevant features of inappropriate scratching, such as preferred target items or materials. ...
Objectives
The objective of this study was to collect preliminary data on relevant features and preventative measures of feline inappropriate scratching. Preliminary data could then be used to inform future randomized controlled studies.
Methods
A paper questionnaire was distributed to 140 cat-owning clients of a small animal practice. The response rate was 82.9%. Questions related to features of inappropriate and designated items scratched, frequency of the behavior and how owners attempted to modify the behavior. The frequency of scratching was ranked and analyzed with repeated-measures models for differences between features of items. The effectiveness of techniques to modify scratching was analyzed with Student’s t-tests comparing frequencies of scratching between cats of survey participants who did and did not use specific techniques.
Results
Scratching of inappropriate items was reported for 83.9% of cats. Most cats (81.5%) scratched chairs or other furniture and 64.1% scratched carpet. The frequency of scratching inappropriate items was significantly influenced by type and material of the items scratched, with furniture and carpet, and fabric and carpet, respectively, being scratched most often. Most cats (76.1%) had a designated scratching item. The frequency of scratching designated items was significantly influenced by type, with cats using scratching posts and other items more often than scratch pads. Owners used a variety of punishment- and reward-based techniques to stop inappropriate scratching and encourage scratching of designated items; only one technique was found to have a significant effect, with the frequency of scratching designated items being significantly lower in cats that were placed near the item.
Conclusions and relevance
Furniture covered with fabric was an object frequently scratched. Fabric should be further investigated as a potential material to encourage desired scratching behavior. Scratch pads appeared less desired than scratching posts. Punishment was a common strategy to deter scratching but did not appear to influence the frequency of scratching.
... Owners have also reported long-term behavioral changes in cats following onychectomy such as house soiling and an increased resistance to allowing the paws to be handled or an increased incidence or severity of biting, compared with behavior before the procedure. 51 Alternatives to declawing include regular nail trimming and use of artificial nail caps to minimize property damage and provision of appropriate scratching surfaces such as scratching posts and substrates. 52 A study 53 of 128 Italian cat owners found that sexually intact male cats were more likely to scratch other surfaces when a scratching post was absent from the environment, and Cozzi et al 39 reported that a feline interdigital semiochemical, a cat pheromone replacement made of fatty acids, can be used to control excess behavioral scratching through placement of this substance on a desired scratching location. ...
... When comparisons are made of this Afro-Caribbean community with the treatment and interaction of American cat and dog owners, it is clear that there are large differences between the caregivers in the two countries. For example, 66% of American dog caregivers and 85% of cat caregivers neutered their pets (Ralston Purina, 2000) Both cat and dog caregivers were against declawing of cats-a finding at variance with cat caregivers in Canada (Landsberg, 1991)-but less so than the long-term chaining of dogs. These findings need further exploration; however, in the case of chaining dogs, the response may be linked to some dog caregivers considering it cruel to confine dogs . ...
This article offers the first comparison of actions and attitudes of Afro-Caribbean caregivers who keep only cats or only dogs. A total of 330 Bahamian caregivers found that women primarily keep cats; men primarily keep dogs. Cat keepers were more attached to their companion animals but no more sensitive toward nonhuman animal-welfare issues than dog keepers. When considering actions toward pets, the study noted few differences between the two types of caregivers. Both types reported low neutering rates and lack of confinement. Findings suggest that although both cat and dog caregivers thought themselves good pet caregivers, both types would benefit from animal-welfare education. In communities where cat populations pose a threat to indigenous wildlife and current care-keeping practices may be a cause for concern, caregivers may need education as to the implications of their actions. Given the similarity in dog-keeping practices in the West Indies, the findings about cat caregivers reported here may be applicable to other Afro-Caribbean communities. Further research on cats should be done to allow better understanding of the dynamics and behavior of cat populations on small islands.
Cats are unique amongst domestic species in that they have evolved from a solitary ancestral species to become one of the most beloved household pets today. Interestingly the cat's physical appearance and sensory systems remain almost identical to their wild counterparts. Recognition of the perceptual parameters allows us to better understand how the domestic cat responds to environment and communicates with social partners. Sociality is unequivocally the aspect of feline life most affected by the domestication process. Cats can display a wide range of social behaviors, and evidence indicates that early exposure to a variety of social and environmental stimuli is the most important postnatal factor for a well‐adjusted life in a domestic setting and resiliency to basic stressors. By gaining an understanding of feline natural behavior, communication, learning, and cognition, shelter staff can provide cats with an ideal environment, change unwanted behaviors, and improve the welfare of our cats.
Objective: Feline house soiling is a significant and multifactorial problem that critically affects the human-animal bond in the United States. Many cats that display house soiling are relinquished to animal shelters by their owners, where they are at risk of being euthanized. Understanding the factors that influence house soiling is important in order to reduce the likelihood of this behavior problem and by extension, reduce the likelihood that cats will be relinquished. Many different factors have been hypothesized to influence house soiling. One of these factors is declawing. Declawing (onychectomy) and surgical method used to declaw could increase the likelihood that cats will house soil. The objective of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between declaw status, surgical method of declaw, and feline house soiling.
Design: This cross-sectional study surveyed cat owners of both declawed and clawed cats to determine the prevalence of house soiling in these two populations.
Sample and Procedures: Using a random-digit database, 281 cat owners completed phone survey interviews involving the behaviors and health history of 455 cats in Polk County, Iowa.
Results: Declawed cats trended towards a greater prevalence of house soiling compared to clawed cats. Surgical method of declaw was a risk factor for house soiling, as cats declawed using non-laser methods had a statistically higher rate of house soiling compared to those declawed using a carbon dioxide laser (CDL) procedure.
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: In a cross-sectional telephone survey of cat-owning households, house soiling in cats was associated with being declawed using a non-laser method of declaw. These results may impact decision-making of cat owners and veterinarians alike when electing to pursue or undertake elective declaw of cats.
OBJECTIVE To determine whether associations existed between onychectomy or onychectomy technique and house soiling in cats.
DESIGN Cross-sectional study.
SAMPLE 281 owners of 455 cats in Polk County, Iowa, identified via a list of randomly selected residential phone numbers of cat owners in that region.
PROCEDURES A telephone survey was conducted to collect information from cat owners on factors hypothesized a priori to be associated with house soiling, including cat sex, reproductive status, medical history, and onychectomy history. When cats that had undergone onychectomy were identified, data were collected regarding the cat's age at the time of the procedure and whether a carbon dioxide laser (CDL) had been used. Information on history of house soiling behavior (urinating or defecating outside the litter box) was also collected.
RESULTS Onychectomy technique was identified as a risk factor for house soiling. Cats for which a non-CDL technique was used had a higher risk of house soiling than cats for which the CDL technique was used. Cats that had undergone onychectomy and that lived in a multicat (3 to 5 cats) household were more than 3 times as likely to have house soiled as were single-housed cats with intact claws.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of this cross-sectional study suggested that use of the CDL technique for onychectomy could decrease the risk of house soiling by cats relative to the risk associated with other techniques. This and other findings can be used to inform the decisions of owners and veterinarians when considering elective onychectomy for cats.
Opponents of declawing contend that it causes behavioral problems, whereas others, including the American Veterinary Medical Association, state that because destructive scratching is a risk factor for relinquishment and euthanasia, declawing is a reasonable alternative. If declawing causes behavior problems, the declawing of cats would put them at higher risk of surrender and euthanasia. If declawing is assumed to cause behavior problems, declawed cats could be at higher risk for lack of adoption and subsequent euthanasia at shelters. We compared the estimate of the percentage of declawed cats in the general population to that found in the shelter population. We also examined the possible relationships between declawing and biting behavior, length of stay in a shelter, and euthanasia. Finally, we compared the number of actual biting cats in the shelter to estimates of cats surrendered to shelters at large for the stated reason of biting. In post hoc exploratory analyses, in addition to declaw status, we included other variables that could contribute to predicting the likelihood of a cat biting, of being euthanized or of staying longer in a shelter. Biting behavior was operationalized as contact between a cat’s teeth and a human such that the human’s skin was broken. We found that declawed cats were significantly underrepresented in the shelter as compared to estimates in the population at large (p < 0.001). We found no significant correlation between declawing and biting behavior (p = 0.456), or between declawing and euthanasia (p = 0.579). We found a significant increase in the length of time that declawed cats spent at the shelter before being adopted (p < 0.001). We also found that biting behavior was rarer in the shelter cats than would be expected based on owner reports for reasons of surrender on average to a shelter (p < 0.001). Exploratory analyses of variables contributing to the risks of biting, lack of adoption, and euthanasia revealed a number of alternative explanatory factors.
Research activities on the welfare of domestic cats have increased greatly in recent years. Of particular note is the emergence, especially in the USA and to a lesser extent in the UK, of shelter medicine as a veterinary specialist discipline in its own right. Its emergence is immensely gratifying, and is already leading to major improvements and refinements in the ways that overpopulation, one of the most important global issues in cat welfare, is being tackled. Significant advances are being made in the ways shelters are managed and cats are cared for. In addition, we are beginning to understand better why cats end up in shelters, what to do about it and how to promote successful adoptions. As a result, the number of healthy cats and kittens euthanised in shelters has decreased in some countries, although it still remains much too high. There have also been improvements in our understanding of the needs of cats and how they can be met, whether cats are housed in the home, the shelter or boarding cattery, the veterinary surgery or the research facility. Innovative ways of enriching the environment of cats in order to meet these needs and improve their welfare are being developed and applied in practice. By enriching the lives of cats under our care, we also enrich our own lives.
The most commonly kept domestic animal in the developed world, the cat has been a part of human life for thousands of years. Cats have been both worshipped and persecuted over this long period - either loved or hated for their enigmatic self-reliance and the subject of numerous myths and fables. Highlighting startling discoveries made over the last ten years, this new edition features contributions from experts in a wide range of fields, providing authoritative accounts of the behaviour of cats and how they interact with people. Thoroughly revised and updated to include information on the basic features of cat development and social life, the history of their relations with humans, health and welfare problems, and the breeding of cats for sale and for show. It is intended for all those, whether specialist or general reader, who love or are simply intrigued by these fascinating animals.
These behavior problems are widespread - but needn't be inevitable. Beginning with the first office visit, you can teach clients ways to minimize or even prevent these two common problems.
Objectives:
To systematically review published studies evaluating pain associated with onychectomy in cats, and to assess the efficacy of the analgesic therapies applied.
Databases used:
Four sources were used to identify manuscripts for review. Databases searched were those of the National Library of Medicine, EMBASE and CAB International. In addition, pertinent references in the bibliographies of included articles were retrieved.
Results:
Twenty manuscripts published in refereed journals were reviewed. These included papers reporting 18 clinical trials and two studies conducted in conditioned research cats. Twelve analgesics were evaluated, including seven opioids, four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and one local anesthetic. Nine studies involved a direct comparison of analgesic agents. Limb use was abnormal when measured at 2 and 12 days following onychectomy, and neither fentanyl patch nor butorphanol administration resulted in normal use of the surgical limb. In another study, cats evaluated at 6 months after this surgery were not lame. Differing surgical techniques were compared in six studies; the results indicated that pain scores were lower after laser surgery than after scalpel surgery. The difficulties associated with assessing pain in cats and the lack of sensitivity of the evaluation systems utilized were highlighted in many of the studies. Huge variations in dose and dosing strategies had significant impacts on drug efficacy. Statistically significant differences among treatments were found in most studies; however, no clearly superior analgesic treatment was identified. A combination of meloxicam or robenacoxib with an opioid may provide more effective analgesia and should be evaluated.
Companion or pet animals are an integral part of many societies. Ownership rates of at least one pet for every two households (50%) have been reported in numerous countries, including the UK (Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association 1996), The Netherlands (Endenburg et al 1990), Poland (Fogle 1994), the USA (Rowan 1992), France (Anon 1995a) and Australia (Anon 1995b). While on one hand the animals gain from their close association with humans by being sheltered, fed and loved, they can also suffer neglect, cruelty, abandonment, unnecessary euthanasia, and may develop behaviour problems. The quality of our relationships with these animals is indeed variable.
The present study investigates how characteristics of both the dog, Canis familiaris, and their owner influence the quality of life (QoL) of the pet dog. The investigation was carried out using a multiple approach: (1) three questionnaires which investigated characteristics of the dog and their owner and care given to the dog, (2) simple physical examination of the dog, (3) the Strange Situation Test to investigate the dog's attachment to their owner and (4) the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS) test.A sample of 104 dog–owner dyads participated in the study. The level of care was found to be positively influenced by marital status (single) and negatively by the age of the dog, length of the dog–owner relationship and neutering. The best physical condition was found for pure breed dogs belonging to men and to people who prefer dogs among pets while physical condition decreases for aging dogs or those with a long relationship with their owner. Attachment to the owner was stronger for dogs with a long relationship and those belonging to people who had had previous experience with pets and those with many emotional bonds. Conversely, the attachment level was lower for pure breed dogs and those whose owners shared the property with other people. LAPS was influenced only by owner features: people more attached to their dogs are those who do not live with children and who do have many emotional bonds. Finally, the majority of dogs had a high level of QoL which was influenced positively by the number of emotional bonds of the owner and negatively by the dog's age and length of the dog–owner relationship.
This paper reports the attitudes and actions of 614 Bahamian pet caregivers towards their pets, irrespective of the type of pet kept. The results are discussed in the context of an American study by Pamela Carlisle-Frank and Joshua Frank, published in 2006, which posed similar questions. While Bahamians appeared to interact less with their pets than Americans (e.g., 56.9% of Bahamians took pets on walks compared with 71.5% of Americans), they had some important attitudes towards animals in common with Americans, such as disapproving of declawing of cats (67.9% of Bahamians and 71.1% of Americans) and long-term chaining of dogs (83.0% of Bahamians and 84.9% of Americans), and the recognition of the need to help animals (85.0% of Bahamians and 90.5% of Americans). Some Bahamian respondents voluntarily suggested that white people and black people cared for animals differently. The results suggest that the differences between the two communities, in terms of actions and attitudes towards pets, may explain why some American visitors to The Bahamas think that Bahamians do not care for their pets. These differences are of potentially great economic importance, as most tourists visiting The Bahamas come from the US.
Eighteen cats that each underwent an elective onychectomy were evaluated using a double-blind study design to determine if wound irrigation with bupivacaine prior to wound closure would decrease postoperative pain. The cats were divided alternately into an experimental group (n = 9) and a control group (n = 9). The experimental patients received bupivacaine in each incision prior to closure. The control patients received saline in each incision prior to closure. The patients were evaluated for postoperative pain using a pain-score system. The bupivacaine-treated patients had a significantly higher mean pain score at two hours following recovery from anesthesia than the saline-treated patients. At three hours following recovery from anesthesia, pain scores were not significantly different.
To compare the incidence of behavior problems following tendonectomy or onychectomy in cats, as well as attitudes of owners following these procedures.
Nonrandomized clinical trial.
18 cats that underwent tendonectomy and 39 cats that underwent onychectomy.
Owners of cats that underwent tendonectomy or onychectomy between February 1993 and May 1998 were contacted by telephone and asked several questions regarding reasons for surgery as well as complications and behavioral changes in cats following surgery.
The most common reason for considering tendonectomy or onychectomy was to avoid damage caused by the cat scratching household materials. Avoidance of injury to humans or animals was chosen more often by owners whose cats underwent onychectomy than those that underwent tendonectomy. Tendonectomy was more likely to have been recommended by veterinarians than onychectomy. Significantly more cats that underwent tendonectomy (67%) than onychectomy (44%) returned to normal activity within 3 days after surgery. Significant differences were not detected regarding behavior problems after surgery.
Although tendonectomy and onychectomy involved some medical complications and behavior changes following surgery, owners had positive attitudes regarding both surgeries after the immediate postoperative period. Tendonectomy may be a humane alternative to onychectomy, although owners need to be advised that nail trimming is still necessary in cats after surgery.
A survey of a computer group interested in pets was conducted to determine the incidence of behavior problems in cats and whether it varied with the sex of the cat, with declawing, or with the number of cats in the household. In addition, information on the brand of cat food and litter was obtained, along with details of litter hygiene. Sixty owners of a mean of two cats responded. The percentages of cats exhibiting behavior problems were: jumping on counters or tables, 60%; scratching furniture, 42%; eating house plants, 36%; acting aggressively toward other cats, 25%; stealing food, 25%; house soiling, 16%; inappropriate vocalizing, 16%; acting aggressively toward people, 12%; chewing fabric, 7%; hissing at people, 5%. A significantly greater percentage of declawed cats, as compared to intact cats, was reported to jump on counters or tables. There was significantly more meowing and also more jumping on counters among cats in single-cat homes than among those in multiple-cat homes. There was no difference between the sexes in the proportion exhibiting the various behaviors. This information can be used to advise owners as to the type of misbehaviors cats may display. It also indicates that declawed cats are not prone to have more problems than do clawed cats.
Scratching is an inherited, normal behavior in cats that is used as a visual and olfactory territorial mark and as a stretching exercise for the forelegs. In addition, it serves to condition the claws by removing the old, worn-out external sheath and exposing the healthy, new claw. When scratching occurs indoors, it often is disruptive and undesirable unless it can be directed to an acceptable object such as a scratching post. During playing, jumping, climbing, and aggressive displays, cats also may injure people with their claws. With appropriate behavior modification techniques, most undesirable scratching can be prevented or eliminated. Although somewhat controversial, declawing is another alternative for those owners who are unwilling or unable to control the undesirable scratching. Declawing can successfully correct most scratching problems with no adverse behavioral effects; in fact, most owners of declawed cats indicate that there is an improved relationship (bonding) between cat and owner. On the other hand, declawing is often unnecessary, because appropriate behavior modification techniques can be used to correct most scratching problems successfully.