Why Does New York Want to Ban Declawing of Cats?
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I’ve had cats, lots of cats, back in the day before I had lots of dogs. All of my cats lived indoors, and none of them had front claws. Each was declawed so as to prevent them from tearing up the furniture or scratching a member of their human family while in a tizzy over not getting the right tin of food at dinner time. If I lived in New York however, the day might come when I wasn’t allowed to declaw my kitties!
An animal rights champion who also happens to be a lawmaker in New York state has introduced legislation to make it illegal to declaw cats, reports the Daily News. The measure by Manhattan Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal would make exceptions only for reasons deemed medically necessary by a vet—and it would make New York the first state to institute such a ban, reports ABC News.
Declawing is “basically done because humans want it done, and I don’t think it’s our right to mutilate our animals for our own satisfaction,” Rosenthal tells Gothamist. The Humane Society backs the proposed law, with a state official explaining that pet owners often think declawing is a harmless way to keep their cats from scratching furniture. “They don’t realize that declawing includes amputation of the claw and bone to which it is attached, and can have behavioral impacts that make a cat less likely to use the litter box or more likely to bite.” Rosenthal hopes to get the law passed this year.
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Unless declawing is for a medical reason it shouldn’t be done at all. They basically take off what would be knuckles on our hands and later on when the cats get a little older the cat can get all sorts of problems and not just the litter box isses. Arthritis, hip dysplasia and on and on because the feet have basically been broken and cats can’t walk properly. Not a big fan of declawing at all.
I posted this to FB, and, curiously, the majority of cat owners came out for declawing. A necessary evil one called it.
I’m for leaving all animals with the parts they were born with. I think sometimes it may be a necessary evil because people don’t want animals clawing around on furniture or scratching things. Little squirt bottle of water trained my cats you don’t fuck with my furniture. You want to scratch shit, you go on your cat condo or the myriad of cat scratch things they have in their room and do it there. yes, I am THAT cat lady with a room just for her cats and a catio outside. Don’t judge me 🙂
James, I think you’re being less than fair. For a lot of people, the question of declawing cats is a question of animal cruelty! It’s not a question of “some small arrogant busybody that’s ready to tell you that you can’t do it”! There’s a real question. My veterinarian doesn’t like declawing, but she’s willing to do it. If there is no other way for a cat to be placed in a loving home – as opposed to being euthanized – then declawing the cat is probably the best option. But I agree that making animals the way we like them is not a very good reason for making physical changes! Bobbing a dog’s tail or ears is an operation the banning of which is just not seen as as controlling, but let’s talk about needless maiming of an animal! I know that for some, declawing is necessary for their comfort, but it really isn’t a simple procedure of cutting the nails! Its claws and end bones on its toes – all of which are removed as part of the declawing – are, in fact, body parts on which the cat depends. In most cases, the differences are really noticed by the “owner”. But it doesn’t make it unnoticed by the cats, although to be honest, the May not notice. Women who have had “female genital mutilation” probably don’t notice either. But it is illegal in the US. No, I am not equating a procedure performed on human beings to one performed on cats. But I am suggesting that it can be considered.
I think that we are all agreed that animal abuse is wrong. But, defining what is meant by “animal abuse” is not a simple as it appears!
James, I think you’re being less than fair. For a lot of people, the question of declawing cats is a question of animal cruelty! It’s not a question of “some small arrogant busybody that’s ready to tell you that you can’t do it”! There’s a real question. My veterinarian doesn’t like declawing, but she’s willing to do it. If there is no other way for a cat to be placed in a loving home – as opposed to being euthanized – then declawing the cat is probably the best option. But I agree that making animals the way we like them is not a very good reason for making physical changes! Bobbing a dog’s tail or ears is an operation the banning of which is just not seen as as controlling, but let’s talk about needless maiming of an animal! I know that for some, declawing is necessary for their comfort, but it really isn’t a simple procedure of cutting the nails! Its claws and end bones on its toes – all of which are removed as part of the declawing – are, in fact, body parts on which the cat depends. In most cases, the differences are really noticed by the “owner”. But it doesn’t make it unnoticed by the cats, although to be honest, they may not notice. Women who have had “female genital mutilation” probably don’t notice either. But it is illegal in the US. No, I am not equating a procedure performed on human beings to one performed on cats. But I am suggesting that it can be considered.
I think that we are all agreed that animal abuse is wrong. But, defining what is meant by “animal abuse” is not a simple as it appears!
No matter what it is, from declawing cats to having corn flakes for breakfast, there’s always some smug, arrogant busybody that’s ready to tell you that you can’t do it.
I doubt that it is as much about the individual issue as it is about their desire to control other people. These are sick, unpleasant individuals.
I had two cats declawed, not to protect the furniture, but to protect them from each other (although having declawed cats is more acceptable to landlords). Kveldulf was a four-month-old stray, and Freti was a street veteran. The problem was that Kveldulf was too young to understand the difference between play and aggression, and Freti, although sweet-natured, reacted to Kveldulf’s play as if it were agression. After the declawing, Freti’s attitude towards the other cats changed becoming very protective. He became the mother hen. Once Thorbjorn got trapped in a closet, and Freti sat staring at the door until I looked inside to see what he was after. My wife used to take Kveldulf out in the yard with her, and Freti kept watch in the window the whole time he was gone. Thorbjorn had already been declawed when I got him, as are my current two. When I was looking for new cats, I specifically waited for the right cat who had already had the procedure.
My current vet is excellent, and she will not perform the operation, but has no problem with treating cats that have already had it done. As long as I can adopt selectively, I don’t need to have it done. My current elder cat, Isa, is a real sweetheart, doesn’t bite and neither she nor Samone have litter box problems. The younger one isn’t as clingy on me, but the two are somewhat aggressive to each other, so it’s just as well they both have clear paws.