Declawing involves removal of the last digit of a cat's toe.  It is irreversible and very rarely can cause permanent discomfort for a cat, especially if it is older when it is declawed. 

Not only does declawing keep your cat from scratching your furniture, but it also removes your cat's first line of defense against potentially aggressive animals (dogs, other cats, racoons, etc.) and also reduces its ability to flee by climbing a tree or other steep object.

For these reasons, declawed cats must NEVER be allowed outside.  Additionally, declawing is not a good option for people with aggressive cats that scratch their owners when they get annoyed.  Such cats, once declawed, often resort to a much more painful tactic - biting!

San Francisco Pet Hospital will declaw your cat, but we will discuss these other methods with you first to make sure that there isn't a less invasive way to keep you and your cat happy together.

1.  The first thing to do is to invest in a high quality scracthing post.  If your house is carpeted, try a post other than the carpet-covered kind.  Your cat may not distinguish its post from your carpet!  There are many great textures for you to choose from:  rope, carboard, and natural wood to name a few.  Make sure that the post is tall (or long) enough for your cat to stretch out fully.  Cat's don't just scratch to sharpen their nails; they also use it to stretch, exercise, and mark territory.  Posts can sit upright or horizontally against the floor - find out what your cat likes best.  Scrathing areas should be in a social area, like the living room or kitchen.  If your cat is already scratching your furniture, place the post against the area where your cat scratches.  Have at least one post for each cat in your household.  If your cat likes catnip, rub some on the post.  Give your kitty lots of praise (even a treat) when it properly uses the scratching post.

2.  Make sure that you cat has plenty of cat toys other than the furniture and stairs to play with.  Interactive battery-powered toys that shake and roll are great.  Inexpensive feather toys, fake mice, and little balls with bells in them are also good choices.

3.  Behavioral modification is usually very successful, especially with younger cats.  Placing aversive textures, like double-side sticky tape or aluminum foil, on the inappropriate areas where your cat likes to scratch are often effective.  If you see your cat scratching inappropriately, shake a loud can of pennies or drop a book.  Do not let your cat see you do this, however, and don't let it know you're watching - If your cat know that you're creating the noise, it will continue to scratch when you're not around.  Again, don't forget to praise your cat when she/he uses the post!

4.  Soft Paws, an acrylic nail cover, is also an alternative to declawing.  When behavioral modification doesn't work, applying Soft Paws to your cats nails is often all that's needed.  Feel free to schedule an appointment with one of our technicians for a Soft Paws application.  At that time, we'll determine the proper size for your cat and also show you how to apply the covers at home.  Remember, because Soft Paws covers your cats nails, you will need to keep your cat inside.

Visit the Soft Paws Website for more information.