Is Laser Declawing Better?

Laser declawing is still the amputation of the last bone of a cat's toe.

Declawing a cat involves surgery to remove the last bone in each toe, and it's often done with a scalpel blade. However, some veterinary practices use a laser for declawing. Often, people claim laser declawing is more humane than scalpel declawing because it is not as traumatic to the tissues, which should lead to less pain.

But is this true?

No matter how a declaw procedure is performed, it is still the amputation of the distal phalanx (the part of the toe up to the first joint) on each toe. The reason an amputation must be performed during a declaw is because the germinal tissue, which is responsible for the formation of the claw, resides in that distal phalanx. Simply cutting or removing the claw alone will not result in a permanently declawed cat. The claw will simply grow back from that germinal tissue. Amputation of the end of each digit must be performed for a permanent declaw to occur.

Declaw Surgery Is Painful

No matter how the surgery is performed, declawing is excruciatingly painful for cats. It is ten separate amputations—or eighteen if all four paws are done. Cats don't walk on the balls of their feet like humans. They walk up on their toes (digitigrade). Therefore, after a declaw surgery, a cat must walk directly on all those amputation sites.

Not only is declawing painful in the short-term, but it can also cause a cat chronic pain due to the formation of arthritis or the deformation and breakdown of other joints in the paw as a result of an altered walking position.

Declawing Changes a Cat's Walking Position

Cats use their claws for more than scratching. They are also crucial for traction and balance. They're part of the reason why cats are known for their remarkable agility, coordination, and balance.

Normally, cats can climb, jump, run, maneuver, and balance with ease. But when their claws and the last bones on their toes are removed, those abilities can be seriously negatively affected. Cats may be prone to injuries from falls, or they may simply stop being as athletic as they were before.

Declawing Is Traumatic for Cats

The pain associated with declaw surgery is traumatic for cats. The surgery is also psychologically traumatic, as the cat realizes it doesn't have its claws for getting away from danger or defending themselves. This can cause fear, anxiety, and depression that often leads to behavioral issues.

Because cats use their claws as a natural defense mechanism and to mark their territory, removing them can make them feel vulnerable and stressed. That can lead to changes in their behavior such as:

Yes, though it may seem like two separate issues, cats may begin to avoid their litter box after being declawed. This is because, during the recovery time, balancing on sore paws and using them to dig around in the litter can lead to extra pain. The kitty may associate that extra pain with the litter box and begin to avoid it. This will inevitably lead to frustration on the part of the owner but also on the part of the cat, as they are fastidious by nature.

Alternatives to Laser Declawing

There are many ways you can manage your cat's claws without resorting to having them declawed.

Here are some alternatives to declawing:

Laser declawing is still declawing, with all the negative impacts on cats as scalpel declawing. It's best for a cat's short and long-term health and happiness to avoid it.