San Francisco to Consider Cat De-Clawing Ban (NOT A JOKE!)

7/11/09

[Albion Wilde]

Kitties can really get to you, can’t they? i was so devastated when ours died, the neighbors made condolence calls.

[Albion Wilde]

She only killed one bird that I saw in her ten years of going out. After she got old, I would feed the birds on the back step and she would watch them through the window with curiosity, but no growling or tail switching — after all, she was well fed. The mice she killed were field mice that either got into the house, or were brought in by her as “tributes” for us humans. I was most grateful for her help in dispatching those. She only brought a snake inside once, a very young garden snake draped across her mouth. I screamed such bloody murder she never did that again. I saw garden snakes outside and presume they were doing their snake business with no interference from me. But they clearly weren’t keeping the mice out of the house for a couple of years there; the cat took care of it.

[buschbaby]

Having worked in a vet clinic I've seen cats when they wake up from this surgery and they are in horrid pain. If you could see them trying to pick up all their little feet to relieve the pain..no way.

I've butchered animals I've raised from babies, hunted and ate many deer, so it's not that I'm some lily-livered lib, this is just one elective surgery I would never inflict on a pet I loved.

[married21]

Did you ever stop to think that your neighbor might actually like the crows and other birds in THEIR YARD? You sound like a totally irresponsible neighbor, and of course, person. I hope that you are condemned to live in SF for all of your days.

---

Ok, I touched a nerve, sorry.
1. Sending the cat after the crows was an idle threat/daydream. The crows are numerous, smart and agressive and have nothing to fear from the cats that are already running around in the neighborhood, so in truth, our cat would not present any real threat. Those crows have actually had big battles against hawks. I think they won, since the hawks haven’t been back.
2. The crows scare our cockatiel, who spends a lot of time on the patio. Phooey on ‘em.
3. I would, however, be very bummed if cats got the other doves and songbirds in the neighborhood. I don’t know how often that happens around here. I usually hear about cats getting the lizards instead.
4. The neighbors wouldn’t wish harm to any birds, even the obnoxious ones. They are extremely gentle, pacifist, vegetarian, Hollywood-connected liberals, with very sensitive special needs children. So, no, in the interest of being a friendly and considerate neighbor, I’m not serious about letting the potentially deadly forces of nature loose in their tree.
5. Please lighten up. I come in peace.
6. As to living in SF, well, there are more normal people there than they get credit for, so I’d probably muddle through ok. Remember, the West Coast Walk for Life is organized every year there, by a couple of native San Franciscans. I’d look them up.

[PERKY2004]

No, it's not barbaric to keep cats inside where they are pampered, petted, played with, cherished, and kept safe and sound from disease, dogs, cars, coyotes, fleas, ticks, poison and other hazards.

No, it's not barbaric to keep cats inside where they are not bothering the neighbors by pooping and peeing on their property, killing songbirds and squirrels, spreading disease, caterwauling at night, and running in front of cars.

I am a responsible pet owner. My cats are all rescued, spayed/neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, well-fed, properly-groomed, played with, petted, pampered, and kept safe by keeping them inside and on our specially-designed enclosed patio. And each and every one of them has claws -- because we've known for years how unnecessary and cruel it is to declaw a cat.

[BenKenobi]

Have had cats for over 20 years. Would never consider declawing them simply because with the claws they are excellent mousers.

As for the birds, rarely will they catch a bird, and in the summers we don’t have to feed them at all. I could count on one had the number of birds they have taken down.

[Mercat]

Why would you want to? We feed birds and call them welfare birds. They need predators to maintain a healthy population.

[bikerman]

Here in Florida I see allot of free roaming cats on the side of roads all flattened out makes for a tasty lunch for the buzzards around here.

[TheOldLady]

Oh yeah. Let’s discourage the small percentage of cat adopters who won’t own a cat with claws. Great idea. There aren’t enough strays out there yet, and we’re not euthanizing enough. Gotta work on that.

How about cat licenses? Really expensive ones? That will discourage the poor from having cats at all once we arrest and jail the ones who break this important law.

Yes, the more of these laws the better because there should be no pet ownership at all. All animals should be set free from their bonds of the slavery of human contact.

— HSUS

[newfreep]

But it's OK (even promoted) to kill human unborn babies?

Liberalism is where Stupidity & Evil meet!

[ßuddaßudd]

I would never de-claw a cat. The claws are part of their defensive assets....
meow

[caddie]

Maybe they can have some exception in the law, to allow some cats to keep their claws.

A claws retainer clause.

[expatpat]

Yeah, they are both cruel practices. Like keeping a bird in a small cage.

[expatpat]

Do you also get mad at the birds that crap on your yard, the rabbits that crap there, and the mice, voles, etc. that pee all over your yard?

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Sure, when it’s Feline Digital Mutilation the lefties are all up in arms. Not like girls in Islamic countries, or babies in mothers — they are all fair game.

[2nd amendment mama]

Yes - I can’t stand it.

[2nd amendment mama]

There’s a major difference and I’m sure that you know that!

[Fawn]

Why would it be a joke? After having 3 declawed cats, I will NEVER EVER do that again.....

[mvpel]

Keene Strays Rounded Up After Cat Tests Positive For Rabies

Cat owners who couldn't prove their animals were vaccinated had to give them up. Residents who were scratched had to get preventative rabies treatment.

The police officer, Spears and one other person in the neighborhood have finished their rabies treatments and have not gotten sick.

[Charles H. (The_r0nin)]

Declawing doesn’t matter that much in the killing animals department, anyway. It might make birds a little harder, but it certainly doesn’t protect rodents and such. This morning my declawed female cat (she used to live in an apartment) deposited a vole on the den floor right at my feet. Her lack of claws didn’t seem to help that vole very much (besides, I’m glad when she and my other cats clear out moles and voles... inconvenient little rodents, those)...