found that, although the cats undergoing tendonectomy appeared to suffer less pain immediately post-operatively, there was no significant difference in postoperative lameness, bleeding, or infection between the two groups. A 2005 study found no evidence that tendonectomy is less painful than onychectomy. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association explicitly do not recommend this surgery as an alternative to declawing. Non-surgical According to board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Gary Landsberg, "For most cats, appropriate client advice and a little effort is all that is needed to prevent scratching problems." However, many veterinary practitioners are unwilling or unable to offer solutions to behavioral problems such as scratching, other than declawing. A non-surgical alternative to declawing is the application of vinyl nail caps that are affixed to the claws with nontoxic glue, requiring periodic replacement when the cat sheds its claw sheaths (usually every four to six weeks, depending on the cat's scratching habits). Other alternatives include regular nail trimming; directing scratching behavior to inexpensive cardboard scratchers or scratching posts, or emery scratching pads that dull the claws; rotary sanding devices; covering furniture or using double-sided sticky tape or sheets such as Sticky Paws; remote aversive devices such as Scat Mats; or acceptance of cats' scratching behavior. See also Overview of discretionary invasive procedures on animals Veterinary medicine The Paw Project (film) Veterinary ethics References External links Studies Pertaining to Feline Onychectomy A summary of various studies and surveysDeclawing and Its Alternatives'' from The Pet Health Library "Indoor Cats, Scratching, and the Debate over Declawing: When Normal Pet Behavior Becomes a Problem." from The State of the Animals III: 2005 Humane Society Press. The Paw Project Non-profit anti-declawing advocacy group Declawing: What you need to know anti-declawing site Ask the Cat Doctor: Declawing Cats Includes an anatomical chart for better understanding of the declaw procedure. Declawing Alternatives Alternatives to declawing. Cat health Dog health Animal welfare Veterinary procedures Cruelty to animals