We recently took in a kitty who’s having a very tough time adjusting. The reason? He’s been declawed.
Sugar Bear is withdrawn and shy, which is normal for surrendered cats. But remember, he’s completely defenseless! And suddenly he’s thrust into a strange new environment, surrounded by animals who still have their claws. He’s perfectly safe, but he doesn’t know it yet.
So he responds by hanging his head and laying low. He mostly hides out in his kitty condo, afraid to venture out. Now he’s so stressed, he’s started using his bed as his litter pan.
Seeing him struggle reminds us:
Please do not declaw!
It is cruel. “Declawing is a painful and permanently crippling procedure that should not be practiced,” according to England’s Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The Humane Society of the US points out, “If performed on a human being, declawing would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.”
Also known as onychectomy, declawing surgically amputates all or part of the cat’s end bones. Yes, amputation of bones! It isn’t simply removing the claws, which is cruel enough. It’s amputation that amounts to mutilation.
In the US, about 25% of owned cats are declawed, yet the practice is fairly uncommon outside of North America. Other countries are far more enlightened about declawing than we are.
Most European countries forbid it. Finland, Holland, Germany, England and Switzerland consider declawing cats animal cruelty and is outlawed. Declawing is also banned in Australia, Brazil, New Zealand and Turkey.
In Israel, it’s a crime punishable by a $20,000 fine and up to one year in jail!
Finally, the US is beginning to get it. Declawing domestic cats has been banned in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and several other Californian cities.
Until declawing is completely banned, join the crusade to end it. Educate yourself, your friends and family. There is plenty of info about it online. Bur brace yourself. Much of it is horrifying.
The kitties thank you!
