NH and MA Possibly Following NY’s Footsteps for Declawing Bans - National Humane Education Society
January 22, 2020
Legislators in Massachusetts and New Hampshire have recently introduced bills that would ban cat declawing, following New York’s landmark ban of the practice just last year.
Proponents of the ban, including many veterinarians and animal welfare activists, agree that declawing is an outdated and inhumane practice with severe physical and emotional effects to the animal. Opponents of the ban argue that the government should not dictate what medical procedures veterinarians can and cannot perform, according to a recent news article.
Here is a list of reasons why cats should not be
declawed, and what you can do instead:
Declawing
Declawing, known as onychectomy, is not the simple removal of the claw at the end of the cat’s toe. Rather, it entails amputation of the joint that hold the cat’s nail bed.
Medically speaking, declawing is more analogous to amputating a finger than trimming a nail.
Declawing is a painful procedure than can cause complications including infection.
Following surgery, some cats become fearful or resort to biting after they realize they have lost a primary mode of defense.
Because of pain in the paw, some cats may be reluctant to use a litter box.
Alternatives to Declawing
Ask your veterinarian to show you how to clip your cat’s claw tips.
Buy or make appropriate scratching posts. Many cats also enjoy corrugated cardboard.
Place double-sided clear sticky tape on those places where your cat is doing the most damage. Cats do not like the feel of the sticky tape so will not go near those areas to scratch. Aluminum foil and the bumpy side of carpet runners are other deterrents.
Learn to live with a bit of the wild inside your home. If you do not think you can live with an animal who has the innate need to scratch, do not get a cat or adopt one who has already been declawed.
ASK ANY HUMAN WHO HAS AN AMPUTATION – ARM, HAND, FOOT, LEG, AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THE PAIN THEY HAVE ON A DAILY BASIS FROM PHANTOM PAIN. iMAGIN A CATS 10 TOES, CHOPPED OFF AND HAVING TO SUFFER EVERYDAY FOR LIFE! THIS HAS TO BE THE HEIGHT OF HUMAN CRUELTY, ALL FOR THE CONVENIANCE OF THE OWNER. LETS FACE IT, FOLLOW THE MONEY! VETS KNOW THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THIS HORRID SURG, BUT IT FILLS THE POCKETS. STOP THIS PROCEEDURE!!!
ASK ANY HUMAN WHO HAS AN AMPUTATION – ARM, HAND, FOOT, LEG, AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THE PAIN THEY HAVE ON A DAILY BASIS FROM PHANTOM PAIN. iMAGIN A CATS 10 TOES, CHOPPED OFF AND HAVING TO SUFFER EVERYDAY FOR LIFE! THIS HAS TO BE THE HEIGHT OF HUMAN CRUELTY, ALL FOR THE CONVENIANCE OF THE OWNER. LETS FACE IT, FOLLOW THE MONEY! VETS KNOW THE SIDE EFFECTS OF THIS HORRID SURG, BUT IT FILLS THE POCKETS. STOP THIS PROCEEDURE!!!
Stop this procedure.
Make it illegal.
A $5000 fine would stop it in a hurry.
For doctor and for owner.