Читать книгу Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff - Группа авторов - Страница 68

Newborn kittens are able to withdraw their claws at four weeks of age, and they begin adult‐like scratching behavior by the fifth week (Mengoli et al. 2013). Scratching on surfaces serves to maintain claw health by aiding in removal of aging nail sheaths and sharpening claws (Hart and Hart 2014a). Although claw health is theoretically vital for successful hunting and long‐term survival, declawed cats are reportedly efficient hunters (Landsberg 1991). By depositing chemical signals originating from interdigital glands, scratching also disseminates olfactory signals. The act of scratching and slashes resulting from scratching may also convey a visual marker (Feldman 1994). Indoor cats may scratch to gain attention from humans or as a stress‐displacement behavior (Mengoli et al. 2013).

Scratching is a normal and necessary part of the feline behavioral repertoire, and attempts to stop a cat from scratching completely will not only be unsuccessful but can diminish the cat’s welfare. Suggested parameters for the ideal object designated for scratching (scratcher) include a vertical post more than 3 ft. in height or of sufficient length for full forelimb extension and a stable base width between 1 and 3 ft. (Wilson et al. 2016; Zhang and McGlone 2020). There may be some preference for vertical compared to longitudinal orientation of the scratcher in adult cats. Cats in a controlled study seemed to use scratchers covered in sisal rope or cardboard more often than posts with carpet or fabric (Zhang and McGlone 2020), though cat owners frequently reported their cats scratch furniture or flooring covered with soft material (Moesta et al. 2018). An important factor that may help explain these inconsistent findings is the location of the scratcher. The optimal placement of scratchers is in prominent social areas (Mengoli et al. 2013; Moesta et al. 2018). Studies suggest that synthetic interdigital chemicals (Cozzi et al. 2013) and plant‐based attractants (silver vine and catnip) can increase the use of scratching posts (Zhang and McGlone 2020).

Up to 50% of cats exhibit inappropriate scratching behavior, and it is a commonly reported factor in relinquishment (Wilson et al. 2016). Therefore, several methods have been proposed to diminish damage caused to homes by cat scratching behavior. In addition to posts with attractive attributes, outdoor access, deterrents from unacceptable objects, and nail‐altering procedures have been suggested. These procedures range from basic nail trimming and covering to removal of the distal portion of the phalanges (Moesta et al. 2018). Onychectomy, or declawing, is still widely performed in the United States and Canada (Lockhart et al. 2014).

Onychectomy is controversial because it involves removal of the distal phalanges and has the potential for complications including hemorrhage and pain, claw regrowth, chronic draining tracts, radial nerve paralysis, infection, wound dehiscence or incomplete healing, protrusion or loss of the adjacent phalanx, and persistent lameness. Force plate analysis of cats following onychectomy has demonstrated abnormal gaits for at least 12 days post‐surgery, making appropriate anesthesia and analgesia imperative (Romans et al. 2005; Lockhart et al. 2014). Evidence of inadequate surgical technique was common in one study population (Martell‐Moran et al. 2017). The same study also strongly suggested that declawed cats are more likely to display other behavioral problems such as increased aggression, biting, and housesoiling.