Tendons cut-an alternative to declawing?

**JenBKR** · 07-19-2005, 08:15 AM

Just curious...My aunt had her cats' tendons cut, it's supposed to be an alternative to declawing. They still have their claws, but can't retract them. Has anyone ever heard of this? Is it safe? She said she brought her cats home the same day, and did not notice any behavior changes.

**catnapper** · 07-19-2005, 10:20 AM

I've heard of it. Its an alternative that is slightly better because it leaves their skeletal system in tact, but people often forget to trim their cats claws because the cat isn't using them - and the claws can grow too long and into the pads of their foot. This is a serious problem and causes serious infections.

It also still completely takes away their ability to stretch their muscles, since cats use their claws to stretch.

Behavior changes don't always happen over night. It could take weeks to notice. Consider yourself... you have a toothache, but don't say anything about it, just pop aspirin for the pain. The next day you still have the toothache and don't eat breakfast because you can't think of eating.... a week goes by, you're out of aspirin but still have the toothache. You never mentioned the toothache to anybody, but they notice that you're not eating as much and you've lost some weight. But nobody stops to consider why you're looking leaner. More time goes by. Now you're only eating yogurt and drinking Slim Fast shakes because anything else kills your aching tooth. Soon, everyone notices that you've lost weight and aren't eating. But people do not put the weight loss to your tooth since you never told anyone about your tooth.

Same is true for cats. The pain med the vet gave might last a while, then wear off. The cats might start little behavior modification to deal with the pain. Nobody might notice until weeks later when they modify their behavior so much that they no longer use their litterbox, etc. Cats do not show pain -- in the wild, its a sign of weakness and a preditor will eat them. The instinct never went away, even after we domesticated them.

Also, you might never see a side effect, in that they have no reason to protect themselves. But one day might come along where they need to protect themsleves, then realize they have no protection and turn to bite instead of scratch. Biting is a behavioral side effect of a declaw.

**JenBKR** · 07-21-2005, 08:58 AM

hmm, I was just curious. I really don't have a need for it personally, but I know a lot of people who talk about declawing, and I was wondering if this would be a good alternative. My aunt has 3 cats, all of them have had this done, and she says she hasn't noticed any side effects (it has been several years since they have been done). She also takes good care of their nails, which may help. Thanks!

**moosmom** · 07-21-2005, 02:54 PM

Catnapper's right. Besides, even though they can't retract their claws, the claws still have to be trimmed. I just don't understand why people think they need to modify a cat's normal behavior. Oh well.

**G535** · 07-22-2005, 12:11 AM

Originally posted by moosmom
Catnapper's right. Besides, even though they can't retract their claws, the claws still have to be trimmed. I just don't understand why people think they need to modify a cat's normal behavior. Oh well.

I agree!

I'm off to hug my normal cat and let him know that he's staying that way.

**TopCat3** · 07-30-2005, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by G535
I agree!

I'm off to hug my normal cat and let him know that he's staying that way.

Ditto for TopCat1 and Ditto for TopCat2.
I believe removal of fingernails was a torture reserved for prisoners of war in WW2.
Mutilation is mutilation, the intent makes no difference.

**trayi52** · 07-30-2005, 09:39 AM

I don't how it would affect a cat, but here I sit trying to type with one finger because I had an accident and severed a tendon. Had surgery to reconnect the tendon. From the moment of the accident, my right thumb has been numb! This has been going on for weeks.

So I just don't think I would put my cat through it.

Willie

**rosethecopycat** · 07-31-2005, 08:11 AM

nice info, Catnapper.

**sasha the cat** · 07-31-2005, 10:03 AM

Mew, lucky for me my purrents would never, ever declaw a feline [or clip off any parts of a canine]. Claws are the first defense for felines. Meeeouch! why a cat lover would declaw a feline is beyond me.

To read more on both declawing and deep digital flexor tendonectomy, visit the website:
http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/Hea...clawinginCats/

This site http://www.declawing.com/ provides information too and you can check out my google search at:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&l...ng&btnG=Search