Ban On Cat Declawing Is The Right Thing To Do
Guest View
by Christine Hutten
North Tonawanda
I am pleased that veterinarians across New York State are coming out in full force to oppose the inhumane practice of cat declawing (Cat Declawing Ban Gains Support Of Veterinarians Around The State 3/17/16). While most people think of declawing as removal of the animal’s nails, it is actually the painful amputation of the last bone of each of the cat’s digit’s.
A cat of my own had once been declawed and he always seemed to have difficulty with her front paws after-ward. He became more aggressive with my other cat and started fights more often where he used his teeth in compensation for his class. I have had to separate them quite often due to this.
Declawing can make a cat less likely to use the litter box (due to frustration or pain in the feet) or more likely to bite.
Hopefully the New York State legislature will pass bill S.5084/A.1297 and prohibit this needless convenience procedure which serves no medical purpose for our feline companions.
