Large Feline Dilemma: The Harms of Declawing Tigers and Other Large Cats

New research investigating the effects of declawing reveals that this procedure severely impairs the muscle function of big cats, far more so than their smaller counterparts.

The study reveals that declawing has a marked effect on the muscular abilities of large felines, more so than on smaller cats. Even though the surgical alteration of exotic animals is prohibited in the U.S., declawing continues, particularly for lion and tiger cubs.

The contentious practice of declawing domestic cats to prevent scratching of people and furnishings has been outlawed in some countries and parts of the U.S., but this procedure isn’t confined to household cats. A new study investigates the consequences of declawing on larger feline species, revealing that the impact on their muscular capacities is far more significant than on their smaller counterparts.

“From a biomechanical perspective, declawing results in far more destructive anatomical effects in larger species.” — Lara Martens

Declawing Among Exotic Cats

Although surgical modifications on exotic animals are illegal in the U.S., declawing is still performed on large felines like lions and tigers, often to allow for safer handling of cubs in photo opportunities or for entertainment.

“Many may not understand that declawing a cat is not akin to trimming human nails; it involves removing part or all of the last bone of each digit,” explains Adam Hartstone-Rose, professor of biological sciences at North Carolina State University and the study’s corresponding author. “Like humans, each cat finger consists of three bones, and declawing equates to amputating that third bone at the joint.”

Research Findings and Consequences

In the study, the researchers examined the muscular anatomy of more than a dozen exotic cats to determine the impact of declawing on their forearm muscles. The species varied in size from smaller cats like bobcats, servals, and ocelots, to lions and tigers.

They assessed muscle density and mass, and analyzed muscle fibers from both declawed and non-declawed exotic cats. They found that declawing led to a 73% decrease in muscle mass in the forearm’s digital flexors (muscles used for unsheathing claws) in larger species. Furthermore, overall forelimb strength decreased by 46% to 66%, depending on the animal’s size, with other forelimb muscles failing to compensate for these reductions.

Specific Consequences for Large Cats

“When you contemplate the functional implications of declawing a domestic cat, you consider changes in scratching, walking, or using the litter box,” says Lara Martens, an NC State undergraduate student and the study’s lead author. “However, with large cats, there’s more pressure exerted through the paws. Altering them likely leads to more extreme effects.”

This is due to the paw size and body mass not scaling up at an equal rate. Paw area increases slower than body mass (which is proportional to volume), meaning larger cats have smaller feet relative to their body size and their paws must endure more pressure.

“Moreover, large cats rely more on their forelimbs – they carry most of the weight, and these larger cats use their forelimbs to grapple as they hunt much bigger prey,” Martens explains. “Therefore, biomechanically, declawing results in far more destructive anatomical effects in larger species.”

Final Observations

“As scientists, we strive to document the effects of this surgery on animals objectively,” Hartstone-Rose states, “but it’s difficult to disregard the cruelty of this practice. These are incredible creatures, and we shouldn’t be allowed to incapacitate them, or any animals, in this manner.”

The research was published on July 30 in the journal Animals.

Reference: “The Effects of Onychectomy (Declawing) on Antebrachial Myology across the Full Body Size Range of Exotic Species of Felidae” by Lara L. Martens, Sarah Jessica Piersanti, Arin Berger, Nicole A. Kida, Ashley R. Deutsch, Kathryn Bertok, Lauren Humphries, Angela Lassiter and Adam Hartstone-Rose, 30 July 2023, Animals.
DOI: 10.3390/ani13152462

NC State undergraduates Sarah Piersanti, Arin Berger, and Nicole Kida, and Ph.D. student Ashley Deutsch, also contributed to the research. The work was done in partnership with colleagues from Carolina Tiger Rescue, a sanctuary that rescues exotic carnivores, especially big cats, who have often been neglected or mistreated.

Abstract:
Though the practice of declawing domestic cats, or “onychectomy,” is well known, this procedure is also carried out on non-domestic species, including pantherines, to extend their use in entertainment opportunities. Despite clear osteological implications from the surgery (partial or complete removal of the distal phalanx), the myological effects have remained unstudied. Considering that an animal’s mass increases cubically as a product of its volume and the areas of its paws only increase as a square, larger felids endure higher foot pressures, making the surgery potentially more harmful for them. This study evaluates the forearms of both clawed and declawed non-domestic felid specimens across the body size range of the entire family to determine the effects of onychectomy on muscle fiber architecture. It was found that the deep digital flexors (the muscles most directly affected by onychectomy) of declawed felids are significantly lighter (~73%) and less powerful (46-66%), and that other muscles do not compensate for these reductions. Consequently, onychectomy has a substantial effect on the myological capabilities of cats, and as these deficiencies are not compensated for in biomechanically disadvantaged larger felids, the procedure is likely even more devastating for these species.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Declawing large cats

More about Declawing large cats

• The Effects of Onychectomy (Declawing) on Antebrachial Myology across the Full Body Size Range of Exotic Species of Felidae
• North Carolina State University
• Carolina Tiger Rescue