San Francisco Considers Banning Declawing of Cats
That ever so hot topic concerning whether a ban should or should not be instituted on the practice of declawing cats is back in the news once again. San Francisco, California is presently considering legislation which will ban the practice of declawing cats, as the result of strong advocacy against it, presented by an animal welfare advisory board to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors.
Strong opposition to this pending legislation was made by the California Veterinary Association, among others who present the argument that this decision should be made only between the cat owner and his or her veterinarian. On the other hand, support for banning feline declawing was presented by the San Francisco's Commission of Animal Control and Welfare, since they just as strongly feel the surgery is predominantly performed for cosmetic purposes, and rarely for a clinical condition which warrants it. They feel that preserving cats' claws is far more crucial than keeping furniture pristine.
Many people who consider declawing their cats are not precisely aware what this surgery entails. Since the claw is attached to the last joint of the toe on the cat's paw, to remove the nail necessitates amputation of the entire joint.
Commenting on the practice of declaw surgery, Dr. Nicholas Dodman, Director of the Behavior Clinic at Tufts University school of Veterinary Medicine and Professor of Behavioral Pharmacology said, "The inhumanity of the procedure is clearly demonstrated by the nature of cats' recovery from anesthesia following the surgery.
Unlike routine recoveries, including recovery from neutering surgeries, which are fairly peaceful, declawing surgery results in cats bouncing off the walls of the recovery cage because of excruciating pain. Cats that are more stoic huddle in the corner of the recovery cage, immobilized in a state of helplessness, presumably by overwhelming pain.
"Declawing fits the dictionary definition of mutilation to a tee. Words such as deform, disfigure, disjoint, and dismember all apply to this surgery. Partial digital amputation is so horrible that it has been employed for torture of prisoners of war, and in veterinary medicine, the clinical procedure serves as model of severe pain for testing the efficacy of analgesic drugs. Even though analgesic drugs can be used postoperatively, they rarely are, and their effects are incomplete and transient anyway, so sooner or later the pain will emerge."
39 countries have already banned the practice of declawing. They are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Wales, Yugoslavia.
West Hollywood, California, and Norfolk, Virginia are U.S. cities that have also banned what is considered to be an inhumane practice.
For additional information on declawing, visit an excellent article written by Dr. Christianne Shelling, DVM: http://www.declawing.com/
Do you think it is appropriate for county or state government to have the power to legislate the practice of declawing cats, or should it be left up to the individual owner and their veterinarian to make the decision? Leave a comment and let us know what you think.
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Comments (20)
Vicki July 20, 2009 3:30 PM
Personally, I think that every veterinarian should make their clients totally aware of what is involved in declawing cats. I also think that it should be a practice that will no longer exist. This is a barbaric procedure and if cat owners do not like cat claws. they should not own one.
jmuhj July 20, 2009 3:43 PM
Right you are, Vicki; and I go farther than that, to the concept of "owning" another living being, which is repugnant to me, as some of my ancestors were "owned" by others. Like this reprehensible and indefensible practice which cause irremediable suffering, so, too, should the practice of declawing be legislated out of existence. While it is not possible to legislate compassion and decency, it's at least a step toward that eventuality, I pray.
Donna July 20, 2009 5:23 PM
While I never thought I'd declaw a cat, I was totally in love with 6 week old Clifton who HATED my 6 week old granddaughter and would practically attack her when she was at my house. After long and hard discussions with my vet, we decided declawing was the lesser of two evils, I kept my beloved cat, and my granddaughter was safe. Clifton never showed any signs of 'knowing' he was declawed, he was a most extraordinary cat in every way. I still miss my boy...but I think it's up to the individual and their vet to make the wisest decision for ALL...what I did isn't going to be the case for everyone...my cats with claws are very well behaved and not one pc of furniture in my house is damaged. Of course they have the appropriate trees etc. on which to "claw"...
Donna
Iniki July 20, 2009 6:40 PM
We are working here to do the same in New York. It is an uphill climb but I have my hiking boots on.
Skylark July 20, 2009 6:45 PM
Since it doesn't look as if educational means will stop this barbaric practice, perhaps it is time for the government to become involved. People who know that the procedure involves the surgical amputation of a cat's 10 toes still agree to mutilating their cats, so what else is there to do?
Ruth from England July 21, 2009 2:17 AM
The only way to stop declawing is by a ban.As Jo said, it's banned in 38 countries already and we manage nicely with our babies,children,frail folk, furniture, and all the rest of the excuses people make to have their cat mutilated.Using a baby as an excuse is terrible, we watch over our babies, we don't cripple our cats for life while our babies grow up perfect and strong,which they very soon do!A cats life is very short in comparison to ours, why take away the very essence of the cat ? There is no justification at all to declaw a cat except for the cat's health reasons,such as an incurable infection in the cat's toes.But while people ask for this operation some vets will keep on doing it.It's disgusting that they agree,even offer,to do it to kittens....so a last resort procedure ? Hardly !!
In my 40 years as a vet nurse, not one vet I worked for would declaw a cat even before it was banned.
So, as I've already said,the only way to stop it in countries where it's still allowed and some people think it's acceptable,is by a ban !
It shouldn't be anything to do with politics, it's many many cats health and happiness we are talking about,which to me is the main consideration.
Amy July 21, 2009 4:21 AM
OK lets put it this way. Imagine having to have all your finger and toe nails removed at one time! Consider the possible infections and nerve damage you might have forever. you might get from this procedure. This is something that should be banned forever.
DamlisFamily July 21, 2009 9:22 AM
Am not going to make any comment on declawing. Don't think you will like my thoughts on this matter
Susan July 21, 2009 9:58 AM
I'm 110% in favor of BANNING this animal cruelty! It's sad & disturbing that our society considers surgically altering an animal as routine cat care (thanks to the vets pandering it as such). Animals deserve to be ANIMALS and not mutilated to accomodate our needs. If someone doesn't have the time to trim nails or buy scratching devices, they don't deserve to live with a graceful feline. The "last resort" means NO cat is safe - let's show the world our moral progress by banning this atrocity!
Barbara July 21, 2009 10:22 AM
No question of it, if people haven't got the sense and compassion to veto this mutilating procedure then it's up to the law to stop people accessing it and to stop vets profiting from it. There is no possible excuse for declawing a cat except if of benefit to the cat for medical reasons. The wholesale lopping off of the healthy toes of cats and kittens for the sake of furniture and as an easy way of keeping the kids scratch free is appalling. I hope the rest of the USA follow and ban it asap.
Sue July 21, 2009 12:26 PM
I agree that declawing sounds terrible for cats and is really unnecessary. One thing that would help make this blog article stronger is if you attribute the quote that says:
"Declawing fits the dictionary definition of mutilation to a tee. Words such as deform, disfigure, disjoint, and dismember all apply to this surgery. Partial digital amputation is so horrible that it has been employed for torture of prisoners of war, and in veterinary medicine, the clinical procedure serves as model of severe pain for testing the efficacy of analgesic drugs. Even though analgesic drugs can be used postoperatively, they rarely are, and their effects are incomplete and transient anyway, so sooner or later the pain will emerge."
Knowing who is voicing this opinion would be helpful!
jo singer July 21, 2009 1:15 PM
The quote is attributed to dr nicholas dodman dvm with his credentials. Hope this helps.
Professor Henry Gowing UK July 21, 2009 2:07 PM
As has already been said, if owners can't make the right decision for their cat, then it is time the law made it for them. Surely the governments and animal welfare groups in 38 countries cannot ALL be wrong.
Jo Singer July 21, 2009 7:35 PM
Another excellent article on this topic in the Pet Chronicle.
http://www.thepetchronicle.com/general-pet-news/declawing-a-cat-banned/comment-page-1/#comment-15
Wendy July 22, 2009 12:09 PM
I've always had my cats declawed, and they have been inside cats. I didn't realize until I had my last one done that it is an amputation because they messed up on one paw and took too much off. She never acted like it was overly painful, so I didn't give it much thought. I surely don't believe that the government has any business being involved, they are in our business too much as it is, but if you feel so strongly about stopping the procedure, a grassroots campaign seems to work the best. I won't have another cat, I won't have one with claws and I don't think I'll be able to have it done to another cat. We don't have our boxer's ears cropped because of the surgery, so can't see doing a cat's claws anymore.
Glenda July 22, 2009 2:45 PM
I've had my cats declawed and No problems had ever cropped up. I don't think it's anything the Goverment should have anything to do with. Do your research on the surgery and the vet. you choose to use..and take care of your cat afterwards
Tessa July 22, 2009 3:08 PM
Like Glenda. I've had cats that have been declawed that have never had a problem as well.
Some people posted here and stated they don't believe in "surgically altering an animal on a routine basis". But spaying & neutering IS surgically altering an animal whether you like to admit it or not!
The worst thing about legislation like this!? Think of how many more cats will be stuck outdoors to be mutilated by hawks, coyotes, snakes, alligators, et. - which one depends on your area of course.
But there IS something worse than that yet.
HOW MANY MORE CATS WILL END UP IN SHELTERS & NOT BE ADOPTED BECAUSE OF THIS!? That is the saddest thought of all
Tessa July 22, 2009 3:10 PM
Just read Wendy's post and she confirmed my thoughts! She said she won't declaw and therefore will NOT get another cat :( How sad is that!
Wendy.... just like with a dog, you CAN clip a cat's nails regularly! And you can easily TRAIN a cat if you do it at a young age. I've never tried with an older cat, but I am sure you can train them too...it's probably just more work
Brandon October 4, 2009 1:15 AM
You guys are idiots. Go get naked, hold hands, have some granola and sing "this land is your land". I'm all for declawing.
Chy December 1, 2009 2:48 PM
If you are against declawing, fine. Own two kittens and wake up to big red bloody lines across your neck and cheek from them thinking your face is a race course. Or better yet, bring home an expensive leather couch and wait a week - it WILL be shredded. My cat was just the same as she was when I took her to the vet. (Well, except for realizing that when she runs and jumps on the back of the couch her claws wont stop her from going off the other side.) Oh, and I agree with Brandon. Tree huggers.
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