Posted on 01/14/2015 11:28:21 AM PST by Responsibility2nd
New York State Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, known for showing her claws against animal cruelty, is pouncing on a new topic: cat declawing.
Rosenthal, who represents district 67, mainly covering Manhattan's Upper West Side, has penned a bill that would ban removing cats' claws unless necessary for medical reasons, the New York Daily News reports.
The bill has not yet been introduced to the state Senate, but it has been backed by the Humane Society of New York.
"Too often, people think that declawing is a simple surgery that removes a cat's nails—the equivalent of having your fingernails trimmed. Sadly, this is far from the truth," the Humane Society says on its website. "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."
The Paw Project, a non-profit dedicated to educating the public about the effects of declawing, is also behind it. The group has successfully led campaigns to make declawing illegal in cities across California, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, and in 2014 helped get a law in Rhode Island enacted to prohibit landlords from requiring tenants to declaw their pets.
If Rosenthal's bill is enacted, New York would be the first in the country to introduce a state-wide ban on the practice.
Rosenthal's previous efforts include fighting to extend orders of protection to domestic animals and limiting cosmetic testing on animals. Just last month, her bill banning pet tattoos and piercings was signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
The answer is simply to trim kitty’s toenails from time to time.
Why declaw a cat?
So you can keep them locked up indoors 24/7 for maybe 10 years?
Now THAT is cruel.
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 :(
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.
It sounds like your vet did a very bad job. Most declawed cats have what is called phantom claws. They still do their little claw action but there are no claws. The cats I have had that were declawed functioned exactly the same only they were unable to destroy things.
Cats even fight largely with their back claws. I adopted an old cat that had been declawed but still went outside sometimes. So I followed his previous lifestyle and let him go outside. He was TOUGH to other cats in the neighborhood. He was very large and had no problems at all. That is probably not best for every cat, but it was perfectly great for him. I think he was viewed as the boss of the neighborhood.
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.
I'd do it again in a heartbeat
You are correct about only the front claws. We adopted a Maine Coon whose previous owners had his back claws removed as well. Removing the back claws is not acceptable. We remove the front claws to remove the destruction they will inflict on everything. They still scratch on the furniture even without their front claws and it satisfies the instinct without the damage. We have three VERY happy and pampered cats without their front claws.
Declawing is only appropriate IF the cat is indoor only. If you are going to have an outdoor cat then leave them fully armed.
this is a lie - our cat had all its digits intact afterwards
Really, all it takes is a little training of the cat owners instead—trim their toenails and make a scratching post available.
Cats don’t scratch people unless they’re abused or they have been taught that rough play with their claws out is acceptable.
I will admit to declawing two cats. One did fine.
The other was never the same. It changed her life for the worse.
Therefore I will NEVER declaw another cat.
Cats are meant to be indoor/outdoor animals anyway.
I’d have used those had they been around way back when
Did it once to a cat I had years ago; never again. You are right, the cats “change”.
Declawing is easier and most cats don’t show any kind of difference in behavior. I cannot account for a vet who does a bad job, but that could be on any procedure.
It should be a personal decision. Government should not be involved.
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.
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.........
Our next door neighbor had a declawed housecat. One day it got out and their other next door neighbor’s dog chased it. The cat tried to get up a tree but couldn’t. The dog caught it and tore it up in front of a group of children who were playing in the yard.
sorry couldn't resist
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