Montreal, Sep 5 (The Conversation) The lack of comprehensive long-term studies on cat declawing has meant that the detrimental consequences of this practice have frequently been overlooked. However, new research conducted in Quebec offers compelling evidence that declawing leads to irreversible nerve damage and chronic suffering, making the case for a worldwide ban on this practice undeniable.
I have been deeply involved in researching animal pain throughout my career. During my training in anesthesia and pain management, I was shocked to see the distress of declawed cats being so easily dismissed. For over 20 years, my research has been driven by a strong desire to address this issue.
In my work with the Quebec Animal Pharmacology Research Group (GREPAQ) at the University of Montreal, we had unparalleled access to a group of cats suffering from natural osteoarthritis—a painful condition that worsens with age. This enabled us to develop and validate non-invasive tools to measure pain and nerve function in cats, using methods ranging from clinical veterinary tests to gait analysis, brain imaging, and nerve conduction studies.
Our primary goal was to differentiate the pain caused by osteoarthritis from the additional suffering resulting from declawing. Our findings, published in Nature Scientific Reports, revealed that declawing results in long-term nerve damage, increased pain sensitivity, and worsened mobility issues, especially in heavier cats. The nervous systems of these animals are overstressed from an early age, leading to chronic fatigue, hypersensitivity, and diminished well-being.
In essence, declawing condemns cats to a lifetime of pain.
An Amputation, Not a Nail Trim Declawing is far more than just trimming nails; it involves amputating the last phalanx of each toe, typically on the front paws, but sometimes on all four. This procedure, performed using a scalpel, surgical laser, or sterilized claw clippers, is often justified by proponents as a means to keep cats in their homes.
The American Veterinary Medical Association noted in 2022 that the scientific evidence surrounding declawing was "conflicting." As a scientist, I recognized that this perceived conflict was due to a research void—a lack of in-depth studies on the chronic pain declawing causes.
Why This Research is Necessary After earning my Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in Lyon, France, in 1992, the same year the EU banned declawing, I was shocked upon arriving in North America to find the practice prevalent. As an advocate for animal welfare, I have always viewed declawing as mutilation done for the convenience of pet owners.
I recall reading a 2006 letter from Dr. Michael W. Fox, a specialist in ethology and animal behavior, who argued against the normalization of declawing. He stated, "Caring and responsible cat owners teach their cats to use scratching posts… rather than resorting to routine declawing, which is mutilation for convenience." Nevertheless, some veterinarians downplayed the severity of the pain involved, prioritizing it over the risk of cats being abandoned.
Although the practice is banned in Quebec as of 2024, it remains common in parts of the United States and Canada. Estimates suggest that by 2025, around 25 million cats in North America will be declawed.
An Unequivocal Scientific Finding Our research involved comparing a group of healthy cats to those with arthritis and a group with both arthritis and a history of declawing. Although compiling the necessary data took over a decade, the results were unmistakable: declawed cats exhibit heightened sensitivity to touch and worsening neurosensitization, especially when also suffering from osteoarthritis. These changes, coupled with changes in gait and behavior, particularly impact heavier cats.
Altered behaviors in declawed cats include aversion to jumping, litter box avoidance due to paw pain, negative reactions to touch, and uncharacteristic aggression. Our research, led by Dr. Aude Castel, a veterinary neurologist, utilized electrophysiological tests to demonstrate direct nerve damage. This confirms the neurosensitization and behavioral changes observed.
Awareness and Education Veterinarians are charged with the responsibility to safeguard animal welfare, and by continuing to perform declawing, we fail in this duty. The evidence is now irrefutable: declawing is not a trivial procedure but an ethically indefensible practice with significant and enduring impacts.
In light of these findings, veterinarians must educate cat owners about the severe long-term repercussions of declawing and promote alternative solutions such as behavioral training, regular nail trimming, and the use of scratching posts. Other procedures, like tenotomy, should also be avoided due to their associated chronic pain and behavioral disruption.
Regulatory bodies, including the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association, should integrate scientific research into their policy frameworks to ensure feline welfare is prioritized.
It is time to enact a ban on declawing, particularly in North America. (The Conversation)
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