IS “CAT SCRATCH FEVER” A REASON TO DECLAW?
Declawing is absolutely NOT a necessary or effective reason or prevention for “cat scratch fever”, medically known as B henselae infection. According to this information from a veterinary journal, FLEA CONTROL for the cat and HAND WASHING for the human are the most effective preventions for cat scratch fever, NOT DECLAWING! “Performance of onychectomy (declawing) in cats has also been suggested, but this procedure has a limited value because infection can be transmitted from cat to cat by fleas. Therefore, flea control appears to be one of the major control measures to prevent infection of cats with B henselae, its spread from cat to cat, and potentially the spread from cats to humans. The most effective means of preventing B henselae infection (also know as “cat scratch disease”) are commonsense precautions, hygiene, and possibly modification of behavior of the cat owners themselves. For example, it is recommended that cat owners wash their hands after handling pets and clean any cuts
