Pain and adverse behavior in declawed cats

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Behavior
• Surgical Outcomes

Background:

• Onychectomy (declawing) is a surgical procedure performed on cats.
• Potential long-term health and behavioral consequences of onychectomy require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of onychectomy on the development of back pain and unwanted behaviors in cats.
• To evaluate the role of residual P3 fragments and surgical technique in adverse outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study involving 137 declawed and 137 non-declawed cats.
• Physical examinations for pain and barbering, review of medical history for unwanted behaviors, and radiography for P3 fragments.
• Statistical analysis using chi-squared, t-tests, and logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Declawed cats showed significantly higher odds of back pain (OR 2.9), periuria/perichezia (OR 7.2), biting (OR 4.5), and barbering (OR 3.06).
• 63% of declawed cats had residual P3 fragments, which were associated with increased odds of back pain, periuria/perichezia, and aggression.
• Even with optimal technique, declawed cats had increased odds of biting and elimination issues compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Onychectomy increases the risk of adverse behaviors and potentially back pain in cats.
• Inadequate surgical technique and retained P3 fragments are common and exacerbate negative outcomes.
• Declawing poses significant risks, and even improved surgical methods do not eliminate these risks.