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Q.: Recently purchased two female cats from shelter. Cats will remain indoors. Would like to know at what age they can be declawed? Are there any side effects to declawing (front only)?
A.: Since I live in a country (Denmark), where declawing is illegal and besides considered unnecessary, I can't tell you when it is opportune to have it done.
As far as side effects are concerned, there are of course the usual hazards of any kind of surgery: reactions to anesthesia, risk of infections in the wounds etc.
Psychological problems have also been known, since the cat feels very uneasy not being able to cling to surfaces while climbing etc.
If declawing were legal in Denmark, I would still advise anyone against it. Since it is possible to get scratching posts in any size and color and also possible to teach the cat not to scratch anywhere else, I fail to see why this operation should be necessary.
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