[Responsibility2nd]

Should you declaw your cat? Is it cruel? Should there be a LAW against it?

I bet FReepers have no opinion, really.

/huge sarc

[Responsibility2nd]

(Declawed) Kitty Ping

[Biggirl]

Over to you! :) =^..^=

[The Sons of Liberty]

Cat declawing bill could outlaw practice across New York State

Priorities. First things first!

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I prefect a declawed cat. Certainly it is an overreach to outlaw the practice.

[BuffaloJack]

People who declaw an animal would probably find abortion OK too.

[Responsibility2nd]

[tumblindice]

I don’t see that it’s much worse than yanking a piglet’s testicles off with a pair of pliers.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

How about tail docking? Ear clipping? Having them spayed or neutered?

How about grooming? Very unnatural.

[HamiltonJay]

Most vets around me refuse to declaw, and I believe the EU already has such a stupid law.

I know damned well what declawing is, yes, its taking off the last knuckle of the cats toes... and frankly, the cat gives up the tips of its toes to live a comfortable, lazy, cared for life in my home... I will not have my things destroyed because a cat is going to be a cat and like it or not claw things or scratch people.

It is not cruel, it is not mean, and you ban it, you will wind up with a lot more feral cats running around because folks who would be willing to adopt one, like myself, will instead refuse to.

[BitWielder1]

unless necessary for medical reasons

Whose medical reasons? The cat's or the owner's?

[Snickering Hound]

[BlackAdderess]

I routinely clip the claws of the one that’s being the bigger pain, generally the male because he weighs about three times what the girl cat does. He has a habit (when he’s feeling mighty) of holding the other cat down and shaving her head and neck down using his teeth, leading to a sad morose kitty whose head looks too small for her body :(

[gdani]

I have 3 cats & have had plenty of others in the past.

I've resigned myself to the fact I'll never have nicer furniture. But I prefer that over amputating part of their paws because of a couch or chair.

[lee martell]

I would need to study this issue more, with pros and cons to form an opinion. I DON’T support those who surgically de-bark their dogs. That much I know right now.

This bill reminds me of the recently overturned law in California that outlawed selling Foie Gras, or goose liver. This was written because to get a goose liver worth selling, a farmer has to forcibly over feed the bird, repeatedly. I don’t like the idea of siphoning food down a bird’s gullet, but I’m uncomfortable with a law for it, a law with the teeth of possible fines and prosecution. Why not try to develop a market for this goose liver that can be produced by more humane measures. This is what I’d call a positive incentive, vs cracking the whip of regulation and restrictions.

[Revelation 911]

new married in '86, we settled into a nice 1 bdrm apartment. With our first combined earning we purchased a nice sleeper couch, cloth fabric - "nice" for us at the time and within our budget. In two weeks the couch was ruined. At week 3 it was de-clawed. It didn't walk gingerly when it came home - acted as if nothing happened - even tried to claw the couch again several days later.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat

[digger48]

[Revelation 911]

"Declawing traditionally involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. If performed on a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle."

this is a lie - our cat had all its digits intact afterwards

[fatnotlazy]

I don't like declawing myself, but my brother's cats are all declared and don't seem worse for the wear. I've heard that some cats bite a lot after they are declawed because that's their only defense mechanism, but my brother's cats are still their sweet gentle selves.

It should be a personal decision. Government should not be involved.

[kingu]

The state to...

Human: you may have nothing to defend yourself with.
Cat: You may not have your claws removed. That would be cruel disarming you.

Like normal, New York has every priority in it’s proper place. Pop the champagne corks (none of that sparkling wine junk) like they are doing, since the state employees and elected officials will be living off your money for the rest of their lives.

[Hot Tabasco]

I used to believe in declawing until I found out what it entails. I’m against it now . My cat uses her clawing post all the time and when I think her claws are too long I simply trim them.........