What is the experience of animal shelter and rescue workers with respect to declawing and behavioral problems?
Ample evidence shows that declawing does result in increased biting and litter box avoidance, the behaviors that scientific researchers and shelter workers agree are the most common behavioral problems cited as reasons for relinquishment. Many animal shelters publicly discourage declawing, including those run by San Francisco Care and Control (“some declawed cats become more nervous biters; others are known to become even more destructive to furniture than before the operation; and many cats stop using the litterbox”), East Bay SPCA (“deprived of their primary form of defense, declawed cats become nervous, fearful, and/or aggressive, often using their only remaining defense, their teeth. Some cats stop using their litter pan. This may be associated to the discomfort of scratching in the litter after the surgery”), and Palo Alto Humane Society (“we have a no-declaw policy”). These organizations and the individuals working there are obviously highly motivated to find each cat a home and
