Posted on 09/09/2009 12:45:55 AM PDT by nickcarraway
In this pet-crazy town, it sounds like a no-brainer: a proposed ban on the declawing of cats, framed by supporters as a simple animal cruelty measure.
But the ban is opposed by the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and others. While the SFSPCA opposes declawing in general and does not practice it at its hospital, it argues that politicians shouldn't regulate the medical procedures. And the organization's director worries the proposed law could actually lead to more abandoned or euthanized cats.
Crafted by San Francisco's Animal Welfare Commission, an advisory body, and sponsored by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, the legislation would bar the onychectomy (declawing) and tendonectomy (removal of the flexor tendon) procedures in San Francisco, unless they are deemed medically necessary.
The measure would effectively halt the procedures that cat owners have used largely to save themselves and their furniture from scratches. The practice, veterinarians say, has widely fallen out of favor in recent years anyway and is already banned in West Hollywood and about 25 countries, including the United Kingdom.
If passed, the legislation would become effective before a new state law is enacted in January that would prohibit local jurisdictions from creating legislation to ban declawing. The proposal also comes six years after the Board of Supervisors passed a nonbinding measure opposing declawing, and two years after West Hollywood's similar ordinance survived a legal challenge by the California Veterinary Medical Association. The association, which represents more than 6,000 California vets, also opposes San Francisco's ordinance.
Mirkarimi noted that declawing involves not only removing claws but also the last bone of each toe; his measure compares the procedure to cutting off a person's finger at the last joint. The legislation also discusses the importance of claws to cats' health and well-being.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Here's the best known product, SoftPaws. While I haven't had any experience with this brand, many years ago, we got something similar put on the cat (we took her to the vet for it). In addition to saving us and the furniture, it was quite amusing. When it was time to get them replaced, you could tell because it sounded like the cat was tap dancing while walking across a hardwood or linoleum floor! Plus, when she'd get excited and run across the same hardwood or linoleum floors, it was almost like she was rollerskating!
Mark
Without thinking much about it, years ago I had a cat declawed. Turns out it is a lot more complicated issue than the vet’s office explained. Cats use those claws for a lot of things. Little things like coaxing a bug out from under the carpet, and big things like getting up a tree a few feet ahead of that 110lb dog that the neighbor lets run loose. And, a lot of other things just like you would use the ends of your fingers and fingernails.
I am mortified that I made such a thoughtless decision on the spur of the moment. I’d never do it again. It should be banned. People who are concerned about their lace curtains should take the time to train the cat or get a goldfish.
Do I feel bad about doing it? Yep.
But as I explained to my sister as she was agonizing over whether to declaw her last two rescues;
If declawing allows a person to have more kitties, and to have a less stressful and more loving relationship with those kitties, then it is worth doing.
If your stuff gets ruined and there is constant anger toward a pet for ruining your things, all while tearing up your kids when they play with kitty, then fewer people would have kitties, which obviously results in MORE homeless and/or killed kitties.
While I certainly have no problem with people who don't declaw and can train their kitties to use scratching posts and such, there is no way my husband would allow me to keep so many kitties if they were scratching up our furniture and ripping up our curtains, not to mention the injuries they would inflict on each other when they get into it.
Not only that, but I have another sister who has two rescues, and she doesn't believe in declawing. I won't play with her kitties, 'cause they scratch the crap out of me.
My kitties live fantastic lives, full of love and attention. They have been saved from certain death. I guess that makes me super cruel, to some people.
Cutting off balls and hacking out perfectly functioning ovaries seems kinda harsh, but we do it not only to control population but to also control behavior.
You tell every person who goes to adopt a homeless kitty that they can't declaw, and you will have fewer kitties adopted.
Some people would string you up for allowing your kitty to go outside.
Even still...politicians have no business getting involved and making another "nanny state" law.
“I used to be in favor of declawing until I found out what it really entailed......”
Your emotions are being manipulated. Removing a cats claw is not remotely like removing a joint of your finger.
Interestingly, the people who are against declawing are the most strident that we should get animals neutered. Removing claws-huge problem, Removing testicals, uterus- no problem. How’s that for logic.
***If this declawing ban passes can we expect a dramatic rise in back-alley coat-hanger declawings?***
LOL!
Good one.
good for you! you are a thoughtful cat owner who cares about their cat!
Of course cats “recover” from this barbaric procedure just like you would go on to live a fairly normal life without your fingertips. But why would you do this just to preserve your precious furniture?? It’s mutilation pure and simple, just like tail docking and ear procedures. Some people are just selfish and shouldn’t own cats, period. If you can’t own an animal without mutilating it for your own purposes, then get a pet rock.
Those are the things I’m talking about!
[boy...some people went a little goofy with the color combos, didn’t they?]...:))
I can understand some folks having no choice, like the dear lady with the sick husband but when I went to pick up one of my dogs after her spay, in the kennel next to her was a newly declawed cat.
I’m sure it looked worse than it really was because my vet is a very good surgeon but all that blood.
Ugh.
I support ear docking and tail cropping. I have my ears pierced and a (discreet) tattoo. So I have “mutilated” myself as well for fashion. Both of my cats are declawed.
Initially, I had only one declawed. My SO was adamant because he didn’t want his expensive furniture ripped up as mine had been. His wishes are more important in keeping the peace.
Sure - just don’t have cats then... but then we all cry about all the extra cats homeless (I’m on the board of a cat rescue) and euth’d.
If it’s a choice between a dead cat/kitten or a declawed cat/kitten, it’s not even close.
One 'slight' difference: you don't use your ears and tattoos to defend yourself.
Good luck if your cat manages to get outside.
It literally is.
The process involves the removal of all or most of the distal phalanges. AKA, the equivalent of a human's fingertips.
And this analogy is spot on Cutting off balls and hacking out perfectly functioning ovaries seems kinda harsh, but we do it not only to control population but to also control behavior.
It seems to me that a cat would feel more confident with its claws, but I can see both sides of this issue. We have three cats and we’ve been through three sofas ... I thought of declawing a few times, but instead, I picked up a sofa that is wooden and we put throw pillows on it. Our chairs are iron with throw pillows and a couple others are plastic. The cats’ claws come in very handy to keep our two dogs at bay when they decide to become overly playful as well. So while we may not be as comfortable as others, it keeps us from watching too much TV, so we have more time to keep the litter box clean (and walk the dogs!). Pets are wonderful. The government should definitely stay out of this. If they want to put an end to pain and sorrow, they can put a stop to the horrific killing of children and wounding of their mothers through abortion.
wow..that’s your excuse, we either have them declawed or killed? How about finding less fussy homes for the cats? Its simple...when you have animals and kids, you can’t have fancy things..they don’t mix. What you do to your own body is your own business, don’t compare that to an animal that has no choice.
“It literally is. The process involves the removal of all or most of the distal phalanges. AKA, the equivalent of a human’s fingertips.”
More emotional nonsense. A humans fingertips are important for sensory input, dexterity, and other important functions. It is also highly visible. A cats claw is not an important sensory organ, it is for defense and hunting only. They are not needed in an indoor cat. Removing them does NOT reduce a cats their mobility, nor are they visible
like fingertips.
Those that think this is mutilation probably think millions of jewish and Christian parents should be arrested for mutilating their male children at birth.
Make sure they don't go outside then. That's all I'm saying.
Those that think this is mutilation probably think millions of jewish and Christian parents should be arrested for mutilating their male children at birth.
Nah.
“Make sure they don’t go outside then. That’s all I’m saying. “
Probably a good idea, but we were adopted by a large male tabby who showed up in our backyard. He was a great cat but liked to claw the furniture. Not willing to have crappy furniture for the forseeable future we had him declawed. At first we tried to keep him inside but he snuck out all the time. I’ll tell you that cat was the boss of the neighborhood and kicked the butt of every other cat for blocks around. We had him over 14 years before he died of old age. So my wife went out and got a new cat from the shelter. This one has his claws (since he doesnt scratch the furniture) and is built like a tank so I figured he would also run the block. I’ve never seen a cat get his butt kicked so bad and so often, yet he also insists on going out.
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