Declawing Cats: Banning Declaw Surgeries

New York may ban declaw surgeries.

Increasingly, bills aimed at banning declaw surgeries in cats are being introduced at city and state levels. The Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals oppose declawing and support making such bills into laws.

What Is Declawing?

A declaw surgery is a procedure in which the claws of an animal are permanently removed. This is most often performed in cats because they have normal scratching behavior that may damage belongings in homes.

In order to permanently remove a cat's claws, a surgical amputation is performed that removes the entire last bone of the toe back to the first joint, severing the muscles and tendons that control the claw's extension and retraction. Sometimes, the bone is cut through instead of removing the digit at the joint.

Why Do Some Believe That Declawing Should Be Banned?

There are seven main reasons that many people believe declawing is inhumane and that the majority of cats should not undergo a declaw procedure:

Are There Places Where Declawing Is Already Banned?

There are eight cities in California where cat declawing is currently banned. Declaw surgeries are also illegal in England, Scotland, Wales, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.

Are There Times When Declawing is Necessary?

Most experts agree that there should always be provisions in any declaw banning legislation for medically-necessary declaw procedures. These situations might include the need to remove a deformed claw.

Alternatives to Declawing

You May Also Like These Articles:

Please Do Not Declaw Your Cat

Feline Myths and Misconceptions Part Three

Adopting a New Kitten or Cat

Polydactyly: Why Some Cats Have Extra Toes

Substrate Aversions and Preferences

Benefits of Multiple Cat Scratching Surfaces

Understanding Scratching

Feliway - A Useful Tool to Help Treat Stress in Cats

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