Bans on Declawing Cats Causes Quite a Stir

Over the past few weeks, several California cities have passed ordinances which ban the declawing of cats.

And while cat lovers who abhor this inhumane and cruel surgical procedure are thrilled with the City Council Members decision to pass these bans, according to an article published in the "Los Angeles Daily News" on Monday, November 16, apparently there are some people who are not as equally thrilled.

Photo credit: Michael Owen Baker/staff photographer LA Daily News Nancy Bonus, a psychologist in Van Nuys, pictured to the left with her cat Petunia, remarked that the cat shredded the chair prior to being declawed. She spoke out passionately about her concern regarding the bans.

Saying she "dearly loves cats - whether they are declawed like the two she keeps as pets, or still have their claws like those she cares for when they wander into her yard", Ms. Bonus is troubled by what affect the ban will have on the local cat population, whether domesticated or "wild", if the City Council passes their final vote on the proposal to ban declawing, scheduled for Tuesday, November 24. She said, "I'm just not sure they have thought this out. I worry that it means fewer people would be able to have a cat as a pet and more would be put in shelters and euthanized."

It also appears there are still many cat owners who are concerned about these bans. They feel that declawed cats are easier to keep since declawing prevents furniture destruction, accidental scratching to humans and pets. They are concerned that the bans may result in more cats being surrendered to shelters at high risk of being euthanized.

On the other hand, proposing the ban, Paul Koretz, City Councilman, along with other critics strongly views the procedure as inhumane. It is amputating the last joint of the cat's paw. In response to those who argue that many more cats will end up in shelters should these bans pass, Mr. Koretz said, "It is a common argument against declawing. The reality is there are more cats that end up in shelters who are declawed because it is not unusual for them to exhibit bad behavior after being declawed."

Here's the rub! Shelters are not documenting reasons for cats being surrendered or if the cat is declawed. People relinquishing their cats may share inform shelter workers if unacceptable behavior is the cause, following declaw surgery, but shelter workers are far too busy to document them. So no one knows if the ban will result in fewer cats surrendered for a couple of years after the bans are in place. With few reliable studies available which support the information which veterinarians and other protestors use to refute these bans, how do they know?

A growing number of veterinarians refuse to declaw cats. Dr. Michael Fox, writer and distinguished veterinarian, in a United Feature Syndicate publication wrote, "Declawed cats tend to bite more, in part because their first line of defense, their claws, has been removed. Cat bites are much more dangerous than the occasional scratch because of possible infection.

Without claws to hold and manipulate things, declawed cats tend to become more oral, mouthing and chewing more." Dr. Jean Hofve, DVM and author writes, "Since animal shelters and humane societies are prime dumping grounds for cats with behavior problems, personnel there should have a realistic and practical view about whether declawing keeps cats in their homes, or creates worse difficulties."

As far as published studies go, Dr. Gary Patronek, after speculating that declawing may protect cats against relinquishment went on to say: "After adjustment in a multivariate model, declawed cats were at an increased risk of relinquishment". Dr Hofve's interpretation is "that declawed cats who developed another unwanted behavior (as 1 out of every 3 declawed cats do, according to published data) were very likely to end up in the pound. These cats are usually unadoptable because they developed a behavior problem subsequent to declawing, and are likely to be euthanized."

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