Why Do Americans Still Declaw Their Cats?

Jul 08, 2019 by apost team

New York is primed to become the first state in the United States to ban the declawing of cats. A recent bipartisan vote by state lawmakers stands to make the procedure illegal unless there is a medical reason to explain the need for declawing. The bill would have to be reviewed and signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo before it becomes state law.

Critics of declawing say it is a barbaric practice that must be stopped. The process involves removing a portion of the bone that is attached to the cat's claw. The New York Veterinary Medical Society counters this argument by explaining some cats will be placed at a higher risk for abandonment if their owners are unable to have them declawed.

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The United Kingdom, Brazil, New Zealand, Austria, and Israel, are all countries who have already banned the practice of declawing. This leads to two questions: Why is the issue of cat declawing so controversial? And why is it still allowed to happen in the United States?

Dr. Sarah Endersby is a veterinarian who works for a charity known as International Cat Care. Dr. Endersby is quick to point out that it is medically necessary to declaw cats in situations like a tumor or nail bed infection. But she does not mince her words when she expresses her feelings that declawing a cat so they do not scratch the furniture amounts to an act of mutilation.

An onychectomy is the most common declawing procedure. It calls for using a laser or scalpel to cut the bone the claw grows from. Those who rail against the procedure say it is no different than cutting toes and fingers of a human down to the top joint. They also point out that the procedure can affect the balance of the cat.

Americans differ in their attitudes regarding declawing than people across the Atlantic. In Europe, many countries chose to forbid the practice more than 20 years ago. Conversely, more than half of Americans say there is nothing wrong with cat declawing, according to a study by Colorado State University. It is estimated that a quarter of the cats in the United States have been declawed.

Prof Danielle Gunn-Moore, of the University of Edinburgh, says even when legal in the UK, cat declawing was rare. Gunn-Moore says veterinarians in UK universities were not taught to perform these procedures in school. She says declawing was banned in her country when an influx of Americans arrived with declawed cats in their possession.

Dr. Sarah Ellis told BBC News that part of the reason declawing is so popular in the United States is more cats are kept inside on a full-time basis. In the UK, as few as one in five cats live indoors exclusively. Judd Birdsall was a U.S. diplomat that now lives in the UK. The fewer cats that reside inside is something he says he noticed immediately. Birdsall says he saw cats everywhere when he was outside in the UK. He says he can count on one hand the number of cats he saw outside while living in America.

Experts observing the matter say that many Americans keep their cat inside because they often live in high-rise city apartment buildings. In rural areas, cats are likely to be kept inside due to the presence of predators like wolves and coyotes.

Cats that spend more time outdoors will satisfy their need to scratch on things like tree barks. They will also need their claws to protect themselves from potential threats. Birdsall says there are also cultural differences to consider.

Americans thrive on freedom and independence. They desire the freedom to decide if they do or do not declaw their cat. Many Americans also consider it convenient because there is no need to worry about their furniture being scratched once the cat is declawed. In the UK, many people consider the welfare of the cat to be of greater importance than their freedom or convenience. Many people across Europe will think it unthinkable to declaw a cat.

Many experts say declawed cats will experience more pains and health concerns throughout their life. One reason for this is that the stress hormone cortisol is present in larger amounts in cats that have been declawed.

Another study uncovered the fact that many people performing declawing procedures do so incorrectly. They leave behind tiny bone fragments that can make it painful to walk. Dr. Drew Weigner, an Atlanta area veterinarian, says the methodology of these studies is flawed. He goes on to say most veterinarians who are against declawing simply believe the procedure to be unethical.

Many veterinarian societies in the United States stand in opposition to a ban on declawing. The main reason they cite is that the procedure should be available to cat owners who would abandon their cat if it is not declawed.

Prof Gunn-Moore says she has performed the declawing process twice in the U.K. One case involved an elderly cat owner who would not be allowed to enter an elder care facility if she could not provide guarantees that the cat would not scratch the furniture. She needed to get special permission to perform the surgeries and says only in extreme situations should the procedure be considered.

The answer is yes. Cities like Los Angeles and Denver have already banned all declawing procedures. Dr. Weigner explains that 20 years ago, declawing your cat was the norm. He says he has watched the number of cat declawing that takes place decline over the years along with a change in public sentiment regarding the procedure. For the most part, it seems younger veterinarians stand in support of the ban while older practitioners are against the ban.

Cats mark territory with claw marks and scent. They also scratch to keep their claws sharp. However, scratching posts are available and cats can be trained to use them instead of your furniture. Scratching posts come made of different material and you should place them in locations where your cat will feel the need to mark territory.

The debate over cat declawing is one that is sure to continue. However, the public sentiment seems to be moving away from support of the procedure. Pass this article on to your friends and let's raise more awareness for this matter!