Laser surgery is an option for declawing. The surgery is completed with no bleeding or trauma to any bone. Bandages are not needed in most cases. Most cats have so little pain or discomfort that they are jumping and running before nature has had time to complete the healing process.

Flexor tendonectomy is a surgical procedure that offers an alternative to declawing. This involves the removal of a small segment of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). The DDFT retracts and extends the claws. If this tendon is cut, the claws are permanently retracted and cannot cause damage when cats scratch. The advantage to this procedure is that it is less painful because it involves cutting the skin and the tendon but does not affect the joint. The main disadvantage of this procedure is that because the nails do not extend normally, they cannot be worn down and will continue to grow. If the nails are not trimmed on a regular basis, they will continue to grown until they grow into the footpad, which can be extremely painful. This procedure should not be performed on cats in whom regular nail trims are not possible.

Regular nail trimming is also a very effective method of maintaining short, blunt nails that are much less likely to damage the home. Cats' nails should be trimmed every 1-2 weeks. It is very important to start trimming your cat's nails and handling their feet when they are very young so they get used to it.

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