There are no medical benefits in declawing. Recovery is not an easy process for cats. It’s usually painful and lengthy. It’s interesting to note that complications from declawing are higher than other routine surgeries that do provide medical benefits. In fact there are multiple complications including: severe pain, damage to radial nerve, hemorrhage, bone chips, joint pain, regrowth of deformed claw, infection, abscess, and paw ischemia.
As you can see, there is a long list of possible complications. The scary part is that about half of declawed cats will have one or more complications. Unfortunately, those complications are a start of the problems to come.
Personality
Change
A complete personality change is common in declawed cats. Playful, friendly
cats may become withdrawn and isolate themselves. Other changes include
being fearful, nervous, and aggressive. The trauma from declawing can
cause cats to spend their time hiding in areas out of reach, such as cupboards
and on the top of bookcases. A few cats are brought to humane societies
after the owners notice the change, because they don’t want a mean
or unfriendly cat.
Litter
Box Problems
It’s common for cats to develop problems using their litter box.
They will use the carpet, walls, beds, and other furniture. Urine can
cause great damage; sometimes causing thousands of dollars spent replacing
carpets and walls. The reason behind the problem is simple. Because they
can no longer scratch to leave their scent behind, the substitute is urine.
Now
Defenseless
Cats are defenseless without their claws. Cats with an aggressive nature
will result to biting if they feel threatened. This is not a good situation
for homes with children or those with compromised immune systems.
Their fear and feelings of being defenseless can cause stress, causing physical and emotional disorders, just like in humans. Diseases that stem from stress include cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and a suppressed immune system.
Chronic
Pain
It is difficult to measure the amount of chronic pain declawing causes.
Declawed cats probably experience phantom pains similar to those felt
by humans when they are amputated. The pain ranges from low to severe.
For humans the phantom pain continues, for life. We cannot be sure that
the same is true for cats, but we have no reason to believe otherwise.
Between joint stiffness and walking incorrectly, the cats surely experience
enough pain, without the thought of them having phantom pains too.