WFAH’s Policy on Declawing

West Friendship Animal Hospital does not perform feline elective surgical declaws.

We recognize that declawing cats was a common routine practice in the past, but cats express happiness and play through their scratching behavior as well as structurally sharpening and shortening their nails. These behaviors are essential to cats' well- being.

Cats may have individual preferences on the substrate they scratch-hemp, wood, cardboard, cloth, and carpet. They all have different places they like to scratch. Observing their preferences will help you make optimal choices for scratching post-placement.

Training cats to use scratching posts is usually readily done when they are young. Older cats may be more set in their ways. Nail trimming and more protracted training with toys and cat wands and positive reinforcement may be needed.

Please ask us! We want to help you live happily with your cat.