i love that ad! it's no more distasteful than cat owners who opt to declaw their cats without considering other options ...or veterinarians who can't figure out how to properly educate their clients or perform the surgery.

Dennis Leon, DVM October 13th, 2009 08:16:05 AM

The only way that add could be better would be with some signs of infection, etc.

Cyndi October 13th, 2009 08:22:00 AM

Yes, the ad is bit dramatic. Good! A high-five to the PawsProject for doing whatever it takes to wake people up. Too many think declawing is just a minor procedure rather than the equivalent of what this ad powerfully portrays in one simple, dynamic visual message.  

I am especially horrified to hear some animal hospitals now are offering it as part of a "package." Our animal companions are living creatures, not home decor or fashion accessories.

Moongirl October 13th, 2009 08:46:53 AM

I'd love to have that ad as a bumper sticker! I hope the rest of the country begins to realize how harmful declawing really is. I do cat adoptions for a rescue in Philly and ignorance about the procedure here is rampant.

Jen October 13th, 2009 09:25:16 AM

Of course most of the anti-declaw people are going to love it- heck, probably all of them. But it seems to me that it would simply be a waste of money- tell me, what person who has done no research on declawing (pros or cons) is going to understand that ad? NO ONE. Unless there is someone sitting beside them to explain it- which would also mean they would have to ask what the ad means... Waste of money- waste of space.

I stand by my belief that declawing should be a decision made between owner and vet. I do not believe kittens should be declawed as a 'matter of fact', but I do think there are situations which warrant declawing and if you ban them completely, more cats will find their way into shelters that are already overloaded with felines.

(For those of you who recommend Soft Paws as the humane alternative- have you ever actually USED them? I've found more people do not care for them then those who love them- out of people who have tried them. Me? Meh. I don't care for them. My cats- they have their claws and I've just learned to deal with cat trees and scratching posts with sissal rope, etc, etc).

But that's okay... I understand people don't care about the ending ramifications of banning a procedure that people want. Instead of educating people about choices and encouraging them to use those choices (cat trees, Soft Paws, etc)- let's just ban declaws all together.

And I'm sure my voice will be the sole voice saying that declaws should not be illegal- eh, not the first time on this matter.

Pam October 13th, 2009 09:31:47 AM

Over here in the UK I believe declawing is illegal. It's certainly abhorrent.

I think that poster sums up what happens very well. I can't think of a single good reason to do that to a healthy animal. Not one. Nope. I find it deeply disturbing that this sort of gruesome, mutilating "cosmetic" procedure is so common in the US.

Anyone who values their furniture that much shouldn't have pets.

UK catperson October 13th, 2009 09:35:05 AM

I have to say that I work at an animal hospital with a veterinarian that has been practicing for over 30 years. We declaw cats all the time, with none of these complications. We also put them on pain medicine and offer courtesy rechecks on their feet until healed.  We view declawing as a life-savig procedure in some cases. i.e. Cat claws the furniture, husband throws cat outside, cat gets run over by car. 

DNS83 October 13th, 2009 10:03:29 AM

Once upon a time, I did not know what was involved in declawing.  Now I know.  Not only do I know, I've had the priveledge of assisting in a declaw.  I almost threw up.  But not everyone knows what I do now.  Not everyone has it explained to them in a blunt descriptive manner that will hit home a little harder.  I agree that this ad really doesn't make sense if you don't know the procedure involved.  It just looks dramatic and overblown.  A little extremist.

Do I think it should be illegal?  No.  Do I think it should be offered to kitten owners?  Absolutely Not!  I believe that this procedure has it's place in order for some cats to live harmoniously with their humans.  I believe that education for the people, and training for the cats is best, but when that fails (due mostly to human issues), what will happen if we cannot declaw?  They will end up in shelters, or as outdoor cats, or strays.  Most people will not tolerate the destruction of their home for very long before taking more drastic action.

Once again the onus falls on the Vet.  To educate, to offer alternatives.  To perform this distasteful procedure.  Sorry.

charliebear22 October 13th, 2009 10:15:59 AM

Pam wrote: For those of you who recommend Soft Paws as the humane alternative- have you ever actually USED them?

Yes, I have.  I had one kitten who nursed on my earlobe, and no matter how short I trimmed his claws, they still hurt my neck.  I will admit they were not fun to put on, but I LOVED them, and will recommend them.

He eventually outgrew his need for my earlobe, so we no longer use them, but I would not hesitate to use them if ever a need arose although I own seven clawed cats and don't see the need.

as for the arguement that the cat should be declawed so it can stay in the house with an unreasonable owner, what kind of life is that with someone who apparently does not want a cat?

as for the ad, I don't think that people who it is intended for will get it.  They would have to spend time looking at it, and people who are pro-declaw or who are uninformed often do not want the information that needs to be given to help them understand why it is such a complicated and potentially hazardous and life long after effects of the surgery.  I think the only way we are going to convert people is mandatory councling on what it actually is and the potential side effects - although I doubt that will ever happen. 

Connie October 13th, 2009 10:23:48 AM

People who can't live with a cat that has claws simply shouldn't have a cat. I think it really is that simple. Live with the possible damage to furniture, the possible scratches, etc... or don't get a cat. Get a fish. Or get a hamster. Or a nice houseplant. Get a pet that suits your life; don't alter a pet to suit your aesthetic priorities.

It would be unreasonable to accept routine debarking of dogs to accomodate human desires. Why is it OK to declaw cats to serve the same purpose? Behavior modification and environmental enrichment are better options.

I myself don't have a cat. I have two parrots (adopted as adults from a rescue group and a private home), and alter my home to suit them. Large parrot trees for play and chew time. No wooden picture frames for them to land on mid-flight and destroy, etc... We need to foster a more unselfish culture of pet companionship.

Fiver October 13th, 2009 10:44:13 AM

I can't deal with cats clawing me or the furniture (among other things that are cat things).  That's why I don't have cats.  I would NEVER declaw a cat.  It's simply cruel.  If you can't deal with a cat scratching the furniture and you can't be bothered to get proper scratching posts then either don't get a cat OR go to a shelter and look for one that has already been declawed.  It's simple really.  It's a total logic fail to get a cat and then get it declawed to prevent it from actually being a cat.

Crysania October 13th, 2009 11:05:36 AM

Crysania puts it in a nutshell, if you don't like it that cats have claws, don't get a cat, it's as simple as that ! Cats are born with claws because they need claws, they are firmly embedded in the bone by ligaments and tendons and necessary for the cat to walk properly, exercise,groom, mark, and for self defence

 It's evil that someone can get a kitten knowing that it can be adapted to suit them, even though the AVMA policy states declawing should be a last resort procedure.

 I'm a retired vet nurse in the UK where declawing is illegal, as it is animal abuse.But even before the ban our vets would never mutilate a cat by declawing it.Vets are trained to help animals, not to harm them !

It's time declawing was banned worldwide !

 http://www.petitionthem.com/default.asp?sect=detail&pet=4312

Ruth October 13th, 2009 11:21:10 AM

Very powerful ad, the soul of simplicity, and produced without the explicit gore that automatically shuts out a lot of people. I believe many will get it, practically in the blink of any eye.

oh holland October 13th, 2009 11:21:16 AM

(1) No, I don't think people who aren't educated about declawing will understand the ad.

(2) I've lived with four cats in my life without needing to declaw any of them.

(3) I agree with Dr. K, that the procedure should remain available as a "last resort" if that is what it will take to keep the cat off the street or out of a shelter.

(4) Why not take a page out of human medicine here? Instead of an outright ban, pass a law requiring that specific information (AVMA could publish a pamphlet) be provided to the owner and discussed with the vet (or a trained vet tech, even, though I like the idea of a vet better) before the procedure can be performed. Make the owner check off points and sign. Oh, hell, you can even add a 24 hour waiting period. Will this be a perfect solution? No, but it is likely to at least inform a lot of the ignorant owners and, I can hope, discourage those who have no desire to inflict suffering on their new pet.

If half the people are talked out of declawing altogether, and half of the remaining are at least aware of the proper care needed after surgery...and three quarters of the declaw-ers have it drummed through their pointy heads that once a cat is declawed it can't be allowed to roam outside again, that will be significant progress. 

But I, too, would like to see the procedure become a thing of the past. However, a close relative just lost his third cat in four years because he hasn't figured out that indoor cats are safe cats. He's not stupid, just thickheaded. Old habits die hard.

Susan October 13th, 2009 11:26:46 AM

OR - if you absolutely want a cat, but cannot stand the claws idea, adopt a de-clawed cat from a shelter - i can guarantee you that you can find a cat that needs a home that was declawed by its first owner.

Sarah October 13th, 2009 11:35:31 AM

My immediate reaction to any ad that tries a very strong and simple emotional approach is "They're lying about something".  So, for some people, that ad will be counter-productive.  The declawing issue is just not that simple considering what happens to cats who can't be stopped from clawing furniture. 

Will October 13th, 2009 11:46:39 AM

Our house cat never bothered the furniture until we got a new sofa.  Then she would NOT leave it alone.  We had her tendons clipped, leaving the toes intact.  She was euthanized Sunday at the age of 17-10 years after we did her tenectoamy.  I think it is Morally bankrupt to declaw a kitten without spaying or neutering at the same time, if the owner is determined that they want the declaw.  IT is irresponsible to declaw tiny young kittens, as they learn to snarl and bite when the scratch defense is removed!!! Just my humble opinions after 33 yrs of practice.  If the owner WANTS the declaw they will get it someplace.  Better I do it with years of experience than they go  to some whore who will do it very young or without sterilizing....

Kim October 13th, 2009 11:50:14 AM

DNS83 wrote:I have to say that I work at an animal hospital with a veterinarian that has been practicing for over 30 years. We declaw cats all the time, with none of these complications.We also put themon pain medicine and offer courtesy rechecks on their feet until healed. We view declawing as a life-savig procedure in some cases. i.e. Cat claws the furniture, husband throws cat outside, cat gets run over by car.

Why is this practice declawing cats all the time? According to the AVMA policy Declawing of domestic cats should be considered only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or when its clawing presents a zoonotic risk for its owner(s).

The occasions when this criteria apply must be few and far between so what's with the "declaws cats all the time"?

Herein lies the problem and the reason why declawing needs to be banned rather than left to die a natural death. Because some veterinarians, whether for profit or to oblige lazy owners who can't be bothered to provide their cat with scratching equipment and teach it to use it, will continue to declaw without just cause, without counselling and in some cases even without pain relief. Waiting for the old school to retire is going to cost a lot of cats a lot of claws. The only sure way to stop it is a ban.

Barbara UK October 13th, 2009 11:55:24 AM

I think there are very few cases where declawing is justified, but I have to agree with Will: when an ad goes directly for the emotions like that, with no attempt to present reason, evidence, and logic in support of its position, I tend to wonder what the contrary facts and reasons are, that the admaker wants to be sure I'm reacting too emotionally to stop and think about.

I'm not in favor of declawing, but I'm strongly opposed to emotionally manipulative ads aimed at short-circuiting the thinking proces.

Lis October 13th, 2009 12:15:50 PM

I agree with Barbara UK.  Every time declawing would come up in the clinic I work at, a particular doctor would bring up declawing to prevent shelter relinquishment, to prevent scratching of those with compromised immune systems, etc., etc...and while most would agree with those exeptions, they only accounted for about 5% of the declaws that he actually performed.  Unless declawing is outright banned, some vets will continue to use those "exceptions" to justify declawing, regardless of the actual case.  The hard, sad truth is that most cats are declawed purely for the owner's convenience.  Very, very, very few clients are willing to work to correct a problem if there's a surgical "fix"...and after all, even if we stress how it should only be a last resort, clients figure it still can't be that bad, can it? Or why would we perform them at all?

With regards to the ad, I agree with others that it doesn't quite get the point across to those that aren't already familiar with the procedure. 

anna October 13th, 2009 12:24:22 PM

Great poster, shame there's no signs of bleeding out, infection, wound dehiesence or some of the associated screams of shock and agony to be heard along with it.

Declawing needs to be banned in the USA because still, thousands and thousands of vets still offer it as routine surgery for kittens.

In general, vets are NOT educating owners about alternatives, why? because declawing is lucrative for them. Fixing up botched declaws, x rays for arthritis, drugs for pain and anxiety are also lucrative - it's win, win for so many vets who declaw.

The AVMA do not enforce their own policy, they aren't against declawing, they are defending the right of their members to make millions of dollars from crippling cats. The AVMA doesn't give a flying one about de-barking, ear trimming and tail docking either - they are as toothless as the poor animals that have been defanged by some of their members.

One commenter believes that to declaw or not should be a decision made between the vet and the client - well all so well and good, but considering that a vet who will declaw is a vet who is in direct opposition to the policy of the AVMA, just how fit is that vet to make an ethical decision? In my view they aren't fit to practice, yet alone be trusted to make decisions about pet welfare.

It's time the USA caught up with the 38 other countries of the world where Onychectomy is recognised as a cruel and crippling, unnecessary and inhumane practice and is banned.

If we wait for vets to educate the public and the public to stop asking for their cats to be mutilated, we'll be waiting until the end of time.

The argument isn't just "declaw or death" - many vets frame it that way because it allows them to take the moral high ground by "saving" the life of a cat that is to be euthenased because it scratches furniture or the owners are ignorant about the false dangers of cat scratches. There are plenty of alternatives. People in countries where declaw happens have become lazy and believers of myths. The myth that indoor cats dont' need their claws. Vets are promoting this nonsense. Vets are telling owners "it's your cats claws or your child's eye" when they should be educating owners how to supervise children and teach them how to handle animals with respect.

Great poster. Lets see it everywhere, billboards, TV, in vet surgeries. Even then, the matter still needs legislation.

PS: I've never met a cat that can't be trained humanely not to scratch furniture or humans. If the cat isn't learning, the trainer isn't teaching them right. Yes, I've worked with some har dcore scratchers, the traumatised, the abused and normal, happy scratchy cats too!

Everycat October 13th, 2009 12:28:19 PM

Never debarked a dog, never de-clawed a cat--however have de-dewclawed & docked 5 pups--that has come to an end for me too.

The poster should be in every vet office, to make the client think about a request for the procedure.

Barb A./NH October 13th, 2009 12:53:04 PM

I think this is a great ad. It's provocative enough to be noticed, but it isn't disgusting or gory or so over the top offensive that it will alienate the target audience.

This billboard doesn't tell the whole story, and it shouldn't - you can't tell a complex story on a billboard and still have it be an effective billboard. That's a reality of this medium. What you can do with a billboard, and what this one does, is grab attention, get people thinking and create a dialogue.

If it gets people who never before gave much thought to declawing talking, thinking and asking questions about the procedure then it has done its job.

Sure it plays on emotions but much of the bext advertising does, and this is a very sensitive, serious and emotional issue.

I'm all for banning declawing except in cases where it's necessary to save the paw or prevent inury.

If vets were capable of policing themselves and declawing were truly only offered in situations where it is medically necessary and owners were able to give fully informed consent then that would be fine, but clearly the veterinary industry is incapable of policing itself and following its own ethical guidelines.

I've not only seen declaws offered as a routine procedure with a spay/neuter, I've actually seen one vet running a special, complete with a large sign outside their office, on a four-paw declaw with spay & neuter. Disgusting!

If the vets or veterinary associations won't stop this unethical practice then it falls to the community & government to stop it.

Anlina Sheng - abnormalloveofcats.com October 13th, 2009 01:19:15 PM

Sure it plays on emotions but much of the bext advertising does, and this is a very sensitive, serious and emotional issue.

No, the best advertising engages the emotions AND THE BRAIN.

This poster goes solely for the emotions, providing  zero information for the rational parts of the brain to work with. People who truly believe that the facts are with them, don't do that.

Lis October 13th, 2009 01:38:25 PM

I think part of the problem is that people don't realize that a declaw is not simply 'pulling' the claws out.  It's the amputation of the phalanx up to the joint including bone, tendons, ligaments.  I really don't think the ad is that shocking...  it's basically stating a fact...

Stephanie in Ohio October 13th, 2009 02:02:19 PM

I think this is a great article. I don't think people realize what they are doing to their cat. Some one needs to come up with some kind of cover or spray for the furniture to keep the cats from scratching.

Would you mind if I wrote a blog about this subject and used some of your information. It really needs to be put out there more. So people can learn how horrible a surgery it is.

Thanks. I will wait to hear from you.

http;//www.margsanimals.com/blogs

Marg Elmendorf October 13th, 2009 02:41:36 PM

Marg: It's all fair game as long as you provide a link and spell my name right. ;-)

Dr. Patty Khuly October 13th, 2009 02:49:55 PM

I've seen the billboard itself, it's on my  way to the library.  At a quick glance, all one can devote to it while driving in that area without hitting a car or pedestrian, it's fairly non-comprehensible.  The brain tends to fill in the fingers automatically.

Anyway, I think there are plenty of studies about shock tactics in advertising.  They work for a short time and then people get used to them.   Anyone recall the wrecked cars at toll areas in the Northeast? 

Will October 13th, 2009 02:50:15 PM

declaws along with ear and tail cropping should be illegal. People really need to get over their furniture...or get a freaking slipcover.

The add is a good start, but it doesn't nearly go far enough. People need to be horrified into common sense these days...add the cut off finger tips into the picture along with blood and a scalpal and we'll have a start...and then the add will be much more self explanatory as well.

LorriM October 13th, 2009 03:51:17 PM

Kim: I disagree that cats should be spayed at the same time as a declaw. If it's to be done, it should not be paired with another painful procedure.

I'll also add that if a declaw is to be performed, [speaking from a pain relief standpoint alone] it should be done as early as possible in a cat's life. The younger the kitten the less weight they carry, the less pain they experience post-op and the faster they heal.

Problem is, we don't know the ideal timing of declawing from a psychological standpoint. In fact, plenty of declaw defenders claim it harms the cats not at all (behaviorally, anyway).

Raise your hand if you agree. 

Dr. Patty Khuly October 13th, 2009 03:57:41 PM

You know how I keep my cats from clawing the leather couch?

I trim their nails.

Once a week.

Am I missing something here?

twelvetigers October 13th, 2009 04:45:10 PM

here's how i keep my cat from destroying expensive furniture ...i don't buy expensive furniture!

i was never a fan of outlawing the declaw surgery for a variety of reasons, but i do see the point that people are making about waiting forever for all veterinarians to properly educate their clients.  but doesn't that mean we need to get to the root of the problem?  we need to cure the disease rather than focus one one symptom.  if you take away an axe murderer's axe ...and he'll find another axe or a gun or a chainsaw.  get rid of the axe murderer and everyone is safe.  the same veterinarians with a cavalier attitude towards declawing cats will find (or are already exploiting) other lucrative income streams at the expense of pets, their owners and the profession in general.

Dennis Leon, DVM October 13th, 2009 05:15:18 PM

Thanks for saying what you are saying here. 

Declaws, painful in all circumstances and unnecessary in all but perhaps the most rare circumstances (household with an immunocompromised child, aggressive cat that can't be rehomed, etc), can be even worse when botched.  Sadly, the same business who see declaws as an opportunity to add on some revenue are, I'm betting, the ones most likely to botch the procedure.  (I had to go there, I've read to many documents . . . )

I think the issue is:  clients look to vets for information on procedures, and cannot make informed decisions without knowing what is involved.  We remain as a rule far too ignorant about the specifics of not only this procedure, but pretty much all of them.  Most would welcome a vet explaining to them exactly what it means.

Of course in the case of a declaw, what this amounts to is giving the client information that will make him or her be less inclined to have it done, and we agree that's a good thing.   Are there vets who don't want to do that for financial reasons?  Sadly, I'm sure the answer must be yes.  Are there clients who care more about the furniture than their pets and would have it done anyway?  Again, sadly I KNOW for a fact the answer is yes -- I've met them.

All the furniture chez moi is happily sacrificial.

You never want to end up in the situation where the choice is: declaw, rehome or PTS.  Pet owner education goes a long way -- nail clipping, scratching posts, all that.  But in the end there are rare cases where owners claim they cannot keep the cat if they do not declaw.  With a cute kitten and someone willing to rehome it, the right solution is obvious.  Get kitty away from those evil freaks.

But what about when a child comes along in a home with an older cat?  Toddler, grabbing kitty, getting scratched.  The love shifts from pet to child. Suddenly the owners want to declaw.

This is a harder situation.  It must be traumatic to lose a home you've known your whole life.  More traumatic than this horrible deforming surgery? 

When the "owners" positively won't budge, and the options become:

1.  Declaw poor cat

2.  Send to shelter or PTS

3.  Rehome kitty late in life

What is the choice? 

I think most of us would say 3, but that's very very sad too for the older cat.

I wish they could talk and tell us. 

I wish humans weren't so selfish and superficial that they presented ultimatus like these. 

I wish they would be (with the help of vets telling them what this procedure REALLY does) given pause about it, made to feel like the ogres they are when they do it.

The only time I wouldn't feel that they were ogres is if they loved kitty but said situation above persisted and the child had some kind of severe immunological issue that made a cat scratch potentially deadly (much moreso than usual).

OTOH, maybe then kitty would just bite . ..  in which case you haven't really solved the problem at all and you've disabled and hurt the cat for nothing.

Stefani October 13th, 2009 05:30:48 PM

PS -- Who needs/wants to see the same couch for more than a few years anyway?  After a while, aren't you SO OVER IT as decor? 

Stefani October 13th, 2009 05:35:07 PM

Stefani: I'm all for beautiful wood or metal furniture with replaceable cushions. Everything is achievable when you've got your priorities right.

Dr. Patty Khuly October 13th, 2009 07:46:56 PM

Dr. Leon: Ooooh...interesting allegory! I happen to side with you on the concept of a declaw as abhorrent...but legally defensible, nonetheless––in principle, anyway.

Ultimately, the idiotic profiteer vets will always have a way of making the rest of us look like we deserve society's understandable welfarist vitriol. Meanwhile, their clientele just *adores* them...until something goes wrong, of course. But isn't that the way of the world?

Sadly, making a declaw illegal is an admission that some veterinarians cannot be stopped except by undeniable, irrefutable legal means. It's this depressing commentary on a wicked few that will probably lead us all down a legalistic slippery slope I'd wish we could do without.

I see our profession making such great strides in the welfare arena––much though some may refute it––that I'd hate to see the state take our autonomy away...just to keep everyone safe from the unethical predators in our midst. 

Luckily, I see this one practitioner (in my example) going down for his misdeeds. I just wish it could be the same for all who aspire to financial prosperity over moral responsibility. 

Dr. Patty Khuly October 13th, 2009 08:02:05 PM

I think the laws in Canada must be quite different in this issue.  Every Vet that I know of/heard of/etc offers declaws.  Usually at time of spay and neuter.  "Offers" might be the wrong word.  if the owner requests it, that is the time at which it's often done.  All clinics I'm aware of send home Yesterday's news with all the declaws (a full bag), as well as the information sheet.  Rechecks are included in the surgery cost.  However, I also know that the actual gruesome act is not explained to the owner.

Stefani: you raise excellent truths about human nature.  we can continue to debate this, but the bottom line is that humans want animal companionship on their own terms. 

It's nice to fantasize about rehoming pets, but who wants a cat that's old, or a biter/scratcher/marker/etc?  We have millions of kitties needing homes that don't currently exhibit these issues, so finding a forever home for a "problem" cat is nearly impossible.

charliebear22 October 13th, 2009 09:15:54 PM

I don't have a cat right now, and don't know when I'll be able to get a cat (2 of the dogs like to eat kitties), but when I do, my first choice will be an older cat, declawed or not is up in the air.  The dogs have trashed our furniture over the past 15 years (2 couches replaced, 2 more in very serious need of replacement - I really need a new job!), and we didn't get rid of them when they ruined things, so I'm sure we won't get rid of a cat over it either.

However, that being said, I have to say that, as Dr. K. mentioned, if a cat is to be declawed, it's better to do it when it's young and weighs 6-8#s, because the heavier the cat, the more weight on tender amputeed digits.  Doing it at a younger age - yes, along with a spay or neuter to avoid a second anesthesia - therefore would not be a 'last resort.'  To declaw a full-grown cat who might weigh over 10#s, is much more abhorrent to me. 

And for all of those saying that so many declaws are botched, resulting in infection, with physical and mental trauma to the cats, I have 2 questions.  Why are none of you mentioning laser declawing and discussing whether or not it causes less pain?  And, are you really able to say that the vast majority of cats who are declawed, are declawed in obviously poorly done surgeries, and cannot use their feet without intense suffering?

The reason I ask is that I've seen many cats declawed in my time in various clinics, and very few of them (less than 10% probably), have infection or other issues.  (Yes, I can't tell you the exact level of pain each kitten/cat has - and yes, I'm sure it does hurt, just that each is different.)  The vets who really know how to do it well (I know 3 who do it well, using the 'old-fashioned' way with scalpel, bute, and VetBond, and 2 who do it well with lasers and bute) have very few problems - they might be around the 3-5% mark.  The others range up to the 10% problem rate, and then there are the vets I wouldn't let near my animals for any reason - and I wouldn't be surprised if they had rates upwards of 50%. 

As I said, I wouldn't purposely get a cat with the express intention of an automatic declaw, and I completely and totally do not want to piss anyone off with this statement - and I'm not trying to compare, insult, or make light of another medical procedure that is even more controvertial but, declaws need to be safe, legal, and rare.

KateH October 13th, 2009 09:54:52 PM

I have not run into anyone that has a de-clawed cat in a long, long time.

Years ago, 60-70's, it was talked about as sort of a status symbol among folks my "parents" age.

I think education about it will go a long way. I truly believe that most think it is removal of the nail & a "no big deal" thing.

I did, until witnessing dew-claw removal on pups, and then imagined x all toes & "older".

Furniture, carpets, decor? Foreign words in my book!

Barb A./NH October 13th, 2009 10:23:16 PM

My initial reaction to the ad is much like that of Will and Lis; makes the messenger suspect in my book.  However, I'm totally anti-declaw and always have been.  My mother described it as the "same" as having your fingernails pulled off and that was sufficient for my young brain.  If you have cats, claws just come with them; adjust.  There are several fabrics I just don't have in my house and a few pieces of furniture that have permanent covers so the cats don't know the fabric is there.  I do really, really wish they'd stop making scratching posts from the same upholstery fabrics used on furniture; haven't had any but sisal here for years and that helps considerably.  Still, every few years, I have to have something recovered.  That's OK, claws come with cats and I adapt.

Outlaw it?  No.  Would be just another mostly ignored and resented law.  Any chance of AVMA mandating some disclosure brochures on a number of these topics (declaw, crop, dock, spay/neuter, etc.)?  Ensure it's in the hands of the owner prior to getting consent?  Or even make it a "best practice"?

PJBoosinger October 13th, 2009 10:24:39 PM

Like KateH, I have no desire to piss people off in what I plan to say, though I know it's going to happen one way or another.  I really like the ad because it's accurate.  No, there are no depictions of bloody scalpels, but not all declaw procedures are bloody and horrific.  If it's going to be done, it must be done correctly with an emphasis on pre- and post-surgical pain relief.  I've seen several declaw procedures and I've seen botched declaw repairs.  When performed by a competent veterinarian with the cat in mind as opposed to his/her bottom line at the end of the day, the declaw can find its place in a surgeon's repertoire.   

I grew up with declawed cats.  It was what I thought you were "supposed" to do when you got a cat when you got it neutered.  In the 5 cats I saw recover from their declaw procedures, not one of them ran into any trouble when they got home.  Thus, when I got my first cat (she was ~1 year old) on my own, I got her declawed.  However, the vet who performed the surgery chose a less-than-ideal method and I saw my first declaw-related infection.  1 prescription of clavamox later, my brand new cat was fine and I vowed that I would never get another cat declawed.  I adopted my second cat when he was around 16 weeks old and trained him to love his scratching post.  He's never done any sort of noticeable damage to my furniture in the 2 years I've had him.

There are going to be a lot of people that want to declaw their cat for various reasons and making the declaw procedures illegal isn't going to solve the problem.  As previously stated, client education must be improved and declaws should not just be offered as one of the options when someone adopts a cat.  It shouldn't have to take witnessing a painful infection from a declaw-gone-wrong to change someone's mind about declawing their pet.  The burden falls on the veterinarian and his/her support staff to provide the client with the tools necessary to make the right decision...

and some will still choose to declaw their cat.

Some people cannot be convinced regardless of the communication skills of the veterinarian and the value of the information provided.  It is for this reason that I will (eventually) perform declaws for my (future) clients.  I know that if someone wants to get their cat declawed, they're going to get him/her declawed one way or another.  I'd much rather they come to me where I can provide pain relief and execute proper technique than have the person take their cat to someone who thinks the procedure is "no big deal."  As Dr. Leon said, you have to get to the root of the problem instead of just treating the symptoms.

Veterinary Student October 13th, 2009 10:35:13 PM

Scroll up to my first post. Informed consent form. check, check, check and check, sign at the bottom line Do you have any questions. Is there anything you don't understand? Do you have any concerns? Long term limitations.  Possible complications. Some bright med student could make it a project to draft such a pamphlet for AVMA

Susan October 13th, 2009 11:29:44 PM

One other thing for those demanding that all vets fall in line with the AVMA position about declaws being only available as a last resort.  What year did they make this their position?  I don't know the correct answer, but I'm gonna bet it was only adopted as an official position within the past 5 years (although I could be wrong).

Whenever it was, it was after a lot of vets learned how to declaw and went into practice offering it as a service to clients.  If those vets feel that they can perform the procedure with surgical skill that helps minimize pain - and their clients are agreeing with them by not complaining about their work/going elsewhere - the AVMA changing its stance isn't likely to make those vets stop declawing.

KateH October 14th, 2009 12:51:38 AM

First off: I hope you can update us and let us know that once the problem was determined, you were able to help the Siamese. (Poor cat!!!) I feel for the cat's owner, as well, knowing how lightly some vets reference declawing, as if it's a minor after-thought to a spay/neuter, no complications, no problem.

I like the sign as it is. It just has to grab our attention for a moment. It got mine.

I don't believe the goal is, or can be, to sway a pro-declaw person "to the other side." There simply cannot be enough dialogue in a sign, to accomplish that.

What it can do, is grab the attention of people who aren't familiar with the procedure. It's a simple image, easy to remember and recall. Want to know what the sign is about? Ask, look up, or research declawing. For those people who would have otherwise fallen for the "no big deal" attitude at the vet's office, the sign may make the difference. It's certainly worth a shot.

And please, no pus, blood and othe gross images as some have suggested. That sort of over-the-top gruesomeness drives people (even those who are supporters) away; and would serve as entertainment for some low-lifes. Yech.

Perri October 14th, 2009 04:13:19 AM

Dr. Khuly and other vets reading this- why isn't tedonectomy (as mentioned by a prior poster) used more commonly in cases where clawing cannot be stopped or it poses a health risk?

I have to say, I am currently volunteering for a rescue that mainly does low cost spaying/neutering but also does cat adoptions.  I haven't heard many people surrendering cats because they claw the furniture.  Have heard far more about wetting issues, have to many, moving, landlord issues, or 'not enough time'.

Jen October 14th, 2009 04:19:10 AM

Let me start off my post by pointing out that I am against declawing :)  I have 5 cats and not one of them has been declawed.  They play very nicely with their nails (and their teeth!)... Do I have scratches?  sure.  That's part of being a cat owner. 

I like the idea of informing pet owners about surgeries before hand.  When someone gets an abortion (admitedly, these two procedures are totally different n scales of seriousness) the doctors require hem ti watch a video about the procedure and the whole thing is explained repeatedly, consent forms are signed, etc.  Something similar, I think, should be done with declawing and a variety of other vetrinary procedures.

I wonder if there'd be a market for such videos?  I could see a whole line of them...  some designed for play on the waiting room television ("The benefits of spaying and neutering your animal" or "Flea care and prevention") while others get pulled out before you have something done, or when you just need a little more information. ("Declawing and you!"   or  "So you want to breed your dog...")...  

On a side note... there ARE legitimate reasons to get your cat declawed.  Such as people with compromised immune systems, or who are prone to free bleeding.  

ColbyWolf October 14th, 2009 04:53:24 AM

"Why is this practice declawing cats all the time? According to the AVMA policy Declawing of domestic cats should be considered only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or when its clawing presents a zoonotic risk for its owner(s).

The occasions when this criteria apply must be few and far between so what's with the "declaws cats all the time"?

Herein lies the problem and the reason why declawing needs to be banned rather than left to die a natural death. Because some veterinarians, whether for profit or to oblige lazy owners who can't be bothered to provide their cat with scratching equipment and teach it to use it, will continue to declaw without just cause, without counselling and in some cases even without pain relief. Waiting for the old school to retire is going to cost a lot of cats a lot of claws. The only sure way to stop it is a ban."

Barbara I am glad you are concerned I should have also pointed out that we do a consult with the owners before the de-claw to see if they have tried all options and it IS a last resort.  Although we do this we still do declaw many cats. And in ALL of these it has came down to throwing the cat out or getting it declawed.

DNS83 October 14th, 2009 08:05:22 AM

I have a home-based, nonprofit cat rescue, and I currently have 21 cats under my roof.  I've noticed that when I take in cats who are being relinquished for being "biters", they always end up being declawed.  Coincidence?  Maybe so, but it's awfully suspicious.  I can't help but assume that if you declaw a cat because it's using its claws aggressively, you're going to end up with a cat who learns to use its teeth instead.  Pet owners who want to declaw because the cat "scratched the baby" should really be informed about this possible outcome.

Leigh-Ann October 14th, 2009 08:50:30 AM

It has been my experience that a properlyl declawed cat goes on to live a long healthy life.  It may be painful, but so is the sexual altering.  Both declawing and altering accomplish the same goal; they make an animal that may otherwise not be a good pet into a good pet, at least in the eyes of the owner.

It's not ideal, I know.  Both of our cats have their claws and I would never dream of declawing.  That being said, if someone is going to take in a cat or dog to keep as a pet, and they feed it, shelter it, and do the highest percentage of things to care for the animal, I will not protest if they have the animal declawed.  It sure beats euthinzation, doesn't it?

EAB October 14th, 2009 09:09:08 AM

Leigh-Ann, the very few declawed cats that I have known over the years (none of them mine, but one of them my sister's now 14yo Siamese) have not been biters. I would suggest to you that you are seeing, in rescue, the ones who had problems, and that they no more constitute a representative cross-section than the people that the police encounter in dark alleys at night in high-crime sections of town represent a cross-section of humanity.

I've never had a cat declawed, and I don't believe I ever would. I was not happy when my sister had it done--to that one cat out of the dozen or so that have been part of the family over the years--and tried without success to talk her out of it.

But she didn't do it lightly, or for "convenience" or for, as some have rather oddly said, "cosmetic" reasons. She'd made the mistake of getting a kitten not long before having a baby, and this one cat, out of all the cats she or I or our mother have had, kept scratching people with no apparent aggressive intent. As the baby became mobile, this cat wasn't learning, as others have, before and since, when the claws were appropriate and when they weren't. It was as if she didn't really have full control of them. So, in the end, rather than either give up the cat (I couldn't take a third cat, in the place I was living at the time), or risk injury to her daughter, she had the cat declawed.

It was done correctly, with pain medication after, with instructions on post-op care including what to use in the litterbox. No infection, no crippling, and no becoming a biter afterwards.

More recently, my sister has added three Maine Coons to the household over the last two or three years. One of them is a real brat, a rather bullying, aggressive, adolescent boy-cat who was using his claws to get what he wanted. Because there was intent and motivation there, she has been able to teach him effectively that that's not the way to get what he wants. I bet that if he had been declawed "to control the problem", he would have been a real risk for becoming a biter.

I still don't believe that I would have had Shadow (the Siamese) declawed, but she wsn't scratching with intent, certainly not with aggressive intent. She was playing, and she wasn't learning, "oops, humans don't like it when I play like that." it's not a problem any of us has had with any other cat, and she's the only cat my sister has ever had declawed, but for her, it did work.

Lis October 14th, 2009 09:38:45 AM

I think education, rather than emotions, will help people to understand the ramifications of declawing better.

I work at a shelter (where we do not have a stance on declawing- we emphasize education rather than restriction).  I am always suprised at how many customers are just completely unaware that declawing is an amputation of the external joint.  When offered that information (in a kind, helpful manner, with alternative options presented as well) almost every customer is suprised about what a declaw actually entails and that there are actual alternatives (such as Soft Paws, nail trims, and actually TRAINING a cat to use a scratching post).

But i 100% agree that if a declaw is what's needed to keep a cat in a home, then a declaw is neccessary.  Most commenters on here who say people who don't want claws shouldn't get a cat.  I would argue that in my experience as a shelter worker, MOST often the limitations on cat claws are placed by uneducated landlords- an issue that a cat owner may have no control over.

And i'm pretty certain death by euthanasia at an overcrowded shelter kills more cats in this nation than declawing every day of the week.

Anne October 14th, 2009 10:32:32 AM

Well the vets of Malibu are going to continue to bloat their wallets whilst hacking off the toe bones of cats old or young, unabated - Malibu voted against the ban.

http://www.cvma.net/doc.asp?ID=20815

The article quotes one councillor as saying that Onychectomy isn't banned in any Europaen country at all. It is, see below :-

The European Convention for the Protection of Animals, 13th November 1987 specifically prohibits declawing - see Article 10, Clause 1.

and

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/act/secondary-legis/docking.htm

The RCVS has always banned it, unless it is to save a paw from result of disease or trauma.

I keep seeing vets saying here and elsewhere that it is only a few rogue vets who offer declaw routinely - it isn't.

Please spend some time on Google - look at those websites offering declaw along with spay/neuter/vaccinate packages. It's offered as standard by standard vets who those of you who are so vehemently anti-legislation would see as normal, ethical veterinary practitioners.

There's a big disconnect going on. It's time that vets in America owned up and saw the reality. It's time they understood that in 38 countries of the world, children, the elderly, the immunocompromised, those with clotting disorders ALL live well with cats with claws. What is it that pro-declawers in America do not understand?

I know pain in cats can be very hard to spot, but a trained eye can spot it in declawed cats quickly. Unfortunately, many owner who have chosen to mutilate their cats for convenience choose not to see this expression of pain. Their blindness is backed up by the techs and vets who STILL promote this arcane and crippling surgery as no different to a manicure. Many vets and techs don't spot pain expression in cats either.

If you find it regrettable that it will take legislation to make the MAJORITY of vets (yes, it's a majority who offer declaw for reasons other than saving paws from the results of injury and disease) stop declawing cats and kittens, then surely it's a good thing that this reality & abuse is recognised and stopped.

Frame the argument as "death or declaw" all you like, that is not the whole story. Dog owners are always more willing than cat owners to go the extra mile to change dog behaviour, by attending training classes. Cat owners could be encouraged to do the same - but it's precious few cat owners who have even read one book about the behaviour of their chosen family animal, yet alone consider them trainable.

Vets don't get much in the way training in behavioural science when at vet school, in the USA or here in the UK. That will eventually change, behavioural science is a newish field.

It's time vets educated themselves about how easy it is to train cats and offered training classes or access to humane behaviourists as part of their normal services. How many pratcies regularly offer books on feline behaviour and training to clients who have just taken on a new cat?

I'm depressed to see someone up there say a cat was scratching for no discernable reason - people! please undertsand this most basic tenet of ALL mammalian behaviour - no mammal does ANYTHING without a reason.

Vets and owners included.

Everycat October 14th, 2009 11:30:31 AM

I completely agree- cats are significantly de-valued in this society as compared to dogs

Anne October 14th, 2009 12:01:04 PM

Curious the little discussion about the long term effects of declawing.  They talk about surgical complications.  There was discussion about how some cats become "biters" when declawed... I worked at a vet and all of our caution cats were declawed cats..

and any shelter will tell you there is definitely a litter box issue with some declawed cats.  but these two issues are hard to quantify

but there are other issues, such as arthritis and joint problems.  These can be studied..

the vet i worked for stupidly said to me that since his cats had no problems being declawed, there were no issues ever. I tried talking about the above issues, and he said it was all anecdotal there for dismissible in his opinion.  Maybe more research on the long term effects - because there is pathetically little out there for such an invasive elective surgery - might help.

Connie October 14th, 2009 12:33:37 PM

I really like the ad because it represents my experience so well.  I consider myself a cat lover.  I grew up with two cats, both of whom my parents had declawed at the advice of the vet and because it's just what you did.

I had NO IDEA that declawing was more than a simple nail removal procudure until I started looking to adopt cats of my own.  I think it's hard for people who are so well-informed to realize the huge lack of education, even among folks who you would think would know better.  Of course I chose not to declaw my cats and have been really happy with that decision.  One of the kitties I grew up with is still alive and hates having her paws touched.  One of the most heartachingly cute things my cats do it "hold" my finger with their claws curled around it.  But someone had to be really blunt and explain declawing as "cutting off your finger at the first knuckle" to me.

AnneT October 14th, 2009 04:08:36 PM

I work for two extremely pro-declawing vets. Extremely. Not because it's a money-maker, but because they cannot fathom having cats who might destroy furniture, scratch windowsills, etc. We offer four-paw declaws without blinking. Most of the staff has declawed cats, at least half are all four declawed. I am the oddity and I feel very strongly about it. But I also recognize that most of our clients who declaw really don't care if I think it's a disgusting procedure because the truth of the matter is that we do it all the time and a tiny tiny number of cats ever have problems. Once in awhile we'll have a cat whose toe opens up and bleeds. We've had one infected declaw in the four years I've worked there. It was one toe and cleared up quickly with just oral antibiotics. The only one I've ever seen have significant complications came from another hospital and we saw it as a second opinion and referred the cat to a boarded surgeon to fix it.

I don't think that our cats are especially painful post-operatively. I do question longterm effects related to declawing, but I don't know that there's enough good, solid information out there about it.

I still think it's disgraceful and wrong and that if you don't want to deal with cat claws, don't get a freaking cat. I saw declawing mentioned by a commenter as "a life-saving procedure" and while I believe that may be true, I think it's absolutely bogus to view it that way. But like with so many things, it's going to take re-educating society to change our penchant for declawing, and I don't think that's ever going to happen. I don't think banning it is the right thing either. That just makes people mad- "it's my cat, if I want to have his toe tips amputated, it's my right!"

All I know is that living in a house with four cats, they do very little damage with their claws. None of them have scratched the furniture. Yes, they've scratched up some window screens in bird-related ecstasy and some woodwork by landing and pushing off, but, well, that's a small price to pay for the richness they bring to my life. We won't talk about the damage my goofy dogs have done with their claws, and we don't declaw them!

Katie October 14th, 2009 06:29:29 PM

My issue with declawing isn't even the post-op pain. That can be managed. It's the fact that the cat is left with less defenses, and if something goes awry, and your cat becomes a biter/fails to use litter box right, you can't UNdeclaw the cat and fix the issue. Sure it doesn't happen to very many cats, but when it does, then what does the owner do? Can't put a declawed cat outside if it potties inappropriately, and if it bites, then in/out doesn't matter. Now you have a cat with serious issues that will be incredibly hard to place/re-home if the owners can't deal with the problems, and so often they'll end up killed. THAT is my issue. If it were just pain, and the fact it's totally bizarre, then I'd say just medicate for pain til healed and carry on. But when it leads to cats that can't walk right, potty everywhere but where they should, and are just generally not right, there's something seriously messed up there. Even tail docks/ear crops don't lead to issues where the dog becomes aggressive/bites/potties everywhere. And folks who worry so much about their furniture they'd declaw will rarely put up with a cat that pees all over their home.

Brooke October 14th, 2009 06:59:19 PM

I'm depressed to see someone up there say a cat was scratching for no discernable reason - people! please undertsand this most basic tenet of ALL mammalian behaviour - no mammal does ANYTHING without a reason.

Mm, yes. But what I said was, no apparent aggressive intent. She appeared to be playing, and not getting the message, as  all our cats before and since have, that the claws were a problem.

We've had cats from kittenhood, and cats adopted as adults with minimal or no known background. Cats from an excellent breeder, and street rescues. Cats of widely varying personalities. Shadow wasn't being aggressive, and she wasn't showing fear. She either wasn't getting signals every other cat we've had has gotten, or she didn't have a normal degree of control over those claws.

I'm sure that you in your brilliance, greater humanity, and superior knowledge of cats, would have come up with a "correct" solution to the problem. But you need to at least acknowledge that my sister didn't do it lightly, that Shadow fourteen years later has still not learned that she's supposed to have become a biter, and is still a loved member of my sister's household, bossing around younger, larger cats with full sets of claws.

BTW, I'm finding it interesting, perhaps not very surprising, but interesting, that no one has mentioned The Pet Connection's discussion of declawing, on Sept. 24:

http://www.petconnection.com/blog/2009/09/24/declawing-who-decides-who-cuts-what-by-law/

Lis October 14th, 2009 07:12:24 PM

Lis: More evidence that Gina and I were separated at birth. I'd missed this discussion somehow. And she says it better than I ever could. 

Dr. Patty Khuly October 15th, 2009 05:57:45 AM

how did i miss that post? I read pet connection every day...

Sarah October 15th, 2009 09:02:21 AM

The main problem with the billboard, I think, is that the people at whom it's aimed will not understand it.  If you don't know what declawing entails, you won't get the comparison. 

A billboard intended to make that kind of comparison should be designed such that the target audience will understand it.  As it is, it's just preaching to the choir.

Galadriel October 15th, 2009 11:36:58 AM

For some reason, declawing came up with my veterinarian. I told her I did not permit declawing of any of the rescued cats I adopt out because I have gotten too many back (litterbox issues, or biting), at least one with behavioral issues that required her to be euthanized (pain in her toes that caused her not to use the litterbox, and she had become very shy, resorting to biting). My veterinarian's eyes were very surprised and she told me she had *never heard of behavioral issues associated with declawing* and asked me why litter box issues might arise from a declawing. I was shocked. How could my wonderful over-50 vet not have heard about behavioral issues involving declawing?

I've heard more than one vet say they've "never had any reports of problems with their declaws." In all cases where people have called me about problems with declawed cats, when I've asked them if they have gone back to their vet to let them know about the problem, they had not, because they felt they would be perceived as criticizing their vet if they insinuated that perhaps there had been an issue with the declaw.

People regard their veterinarians with respect, and they find it difficult to challenge a person they respect. Instead they take Fluffy quietly off to the animal shelter and surrender her because she bites when playing or pees next to the cat box and the owner isn't patient enough to try soft paper litter or other options. Go to Petfinder.com and do a search for declawed cats, and see how many are out there in shelters looking for homes.

Thank you all for the many thoughtful comments on this blog. This is an incredible community.

Susan October 16th, 2009 12:34:15 AM

I declawed a cat once, during college.  Don't think I would do it again.  An ad like this would probably appeal to the generally thoughtful but in this case ignorant, such as I was at the time.

Erich Riesenberg October 16th, 2009 08:33:09 AM

Wow, look at all the responses!  I work at a vet clinic too so I see this procedure and its effects often - it is a horrible thing to watch those poor cats wake up from their surgery.  Horrible. It haunts me.

There was one declaw that was done for a very elderly gentleman who adopted a cat named Tangelo from the Humane Society.  This gentleman had problems with blood coagulation.  He did plenty of research on declawing, even brought the papers with him.  He had Tangelo declawed both in front and back because even the tiniest accidental scratch could mean significant blood loss and it had happened too often already in his short time of owning Tangelo.

Still, at the same time, all I could think was - who is going to care for this cat when the old man dies?  Sounds horrible but he was quite old.  He tailored the cat for his needs but if he died and the cat ended up elsewhere, with no personal protection what-so-ever, that would be a truly sad predicament.

Jen (future vet) October 22nd, 2009 06:28:08 PM

I think this also goes back to your article about "what's in a Name"? Declaw is a much nicer term than "amputation", which it really is. Truly, how many cat owners would actually have had the procedure done if they really understood the implications to their beloved pet?

As a non cat person, I always thought a "declaw" was just a simple removal of the nail. Not having a cat, I never ventured into learning more about it. As more information gets publicized, I am truly disgusted that vet hospitals would even allow such a procedure! Thank god we are coming to our senses and banning things like ear & tail cropping, as well as declawing. It mustifys me that companion animals are still so loyal after all the crap we humans do to them. It's very sad.

Ronnie- www.BellasPainRelief.com

Ronnie October 23rd, 2009 12:01:48 PM

I always thought declawing was the norm, just something that was usually done in conjunction with a spay or neuter. We had our now 16-year-old cat, Bear, declawed as a kitten along with his neuter. I was 7 or 8 at the time and didn't know any better. As a teen, I became interested in animal welfare issues and learned about the negative side of declawing. I was 15 when we took in our next cat, Mya. She was a neighbor's cat, but wasn't being taken care of properly. And she was pregnant. 5 kittens later, our cat count was 7. By then, I had educated my family on the declaw procedure, so there would be no more declaws in our household. My family now has 9 cats (Bear, Mya's kittens, and 3 rescues. Sadly, Mya died prematurely from an unknown illness.) Yes, the furniture is destroyed and yes, scratches happen; but as an avid cat lover, it's worth it. My dad, who isn't as fond of cats as the rest of us, got cat scratch fever. Twice. I agree that if you can't deal with an animal's natural behavior, you shouldn't have it in your house (or yard, or barn, or garage). Dogs bark, cats scratch, birds peck, and rodents nibble. Most of them shed, and you can't forget the three P's: poop, pee, and puke. Of course, these things can be controlled to some extent with behavior modification, but it is in the cat's nature to scratch. Even cats who've had their claws removed exhibit the "sharpening of the claws" behavior. It's instinctual. One of my biggest concerns for declawed cats is their lack of defense. Even the most well meaning cat owner can have cats who will try to slip out the door unnoticed. One of my cats who rarely snuck out did, and was nowhere to be found for several days. At least having claws gives an animal some chance of survival in the "wild." Then there's irresponsible pet owners who get fed up with their pets and decide they belong outside, natural disasters, death or illness of the owner: all things that can force a cat to fend for itself. We have adapted our domesticated animals to live in our world. It's time we return the favor and try a little harder to adapt to theirs.

Laura Kirk October 28th, 2009 04:19:49 PM

I run a cat rescue and we do not allow declawing of the cats we adopt out as stated in our contract. I try to educate those folks that want to declaw their cat or steer them to a cat we have that came to us already declawed.

The answer to me is always the same, "I declawed my last cat and I never had a problem". My response is alway, "I am so glad to meet you. I never meet anyone without a problem. In my line of work, that is all I meet...people with problems."

Yes, I get calls every day from people wanting me to take their cat. The standard reasons are moving, allergies, not using litter box.

The majority of cats that don't use the litter box are declawed cats. I also get the biters and hissers, and basically all the physcho cats. That is what most people don't see, the after affects of the ones that are hurt forever by the procedure. Those are the ones thrown outside or end up in the shelter.

I don't know how many declawed cats I have pulled from the shelter that they found outside as a stray. Or how many people throw them outside because they refuse to use the litter box now. Or the people that promise me they will never let the cat outside.... a promise is easy, but no one can guarantee it.

I take them in, try to see how and if they can be rehabilitated and the ones that can't, they can't be adopted out, so they either eventually get euthanized or moved into an already over full sanctuary environment.

I hate declawing simply from the side of the world I see. I agree it doesn't affect all cats, but how are we to predict which one it will affect and which one it won't? We can't.

I had a potential adoptor tell me that it was my moral belief, my choice, not hers. And I told her that yes, as a human being, I find it reprehensible to mutilate any animal to conform it to fit into our life styles, but that was not why I was turning her down. It is my humane societie's policy, no declawing. And why? Because even though we are a non profit rescue, we are still a business with a product. You take my product and you damange it and now it want to return it because of all the problems you now have....what do I do with it? I have lost money and lost the product.

That is a prettty cold way to put it but I have to relate it that way to some people. If they declaw one of my cats and that was the wrong toss of the coin, and now that cat bites, or won't use the litter pan, they want to return it. I can't make the cat better...so what am I to do with the cat now? He was perfectly fine and wonderful now he's not. I don't want my cats returned to me in a fashion that they are no longer adoptable...not just for the cost side of it, which is huge, but for the cat's side of it...he had a chance at a good life and someone took it away from him with a procedure that is never explained.

So as you can guess, I love the ad.

Thanks for posting this. I have enjoyed reading everyone's thoughts and opinions. This is a very nice conversation from both sides!

Thanks,

Cheryl

Cheryl November 7th, 2009 12:52:22 PM

That ad IS available as a bumper sticker.  Write to info@pawproject.org for more details. PS: it is copyrighted

Jim November 14th, 2009 10:50:21 AM

My daughter's first cat was an adult adopted from a rescue shelter and cam to us declawed so it was not a decision I was faced with making.  My daughter is visually impaired and to even see her cat she had to bring it to within a few inches of her face so in many ways this was a perfrct match, a cat that could not accidentally scratch her cornea, as it would not be the cats fault if it did not feel like being up close and personal.

We promised the cat would be, and the cats is an indoor cat - its never set a declawed paw outside and this has worked well; may daughter and her cat have a loving relationship and she is not afraid of claws.

This did not even cause a problem with the dogs in the house, who quickly learned, somehow, that the cat was in charge after a few hisses and have never set him up to need a claw.

Then along comes cat number 2.  Also a rescue animal and when I took him in for spay the vet took me aside in the waiting room full of anti-declaw ads and said that in our situation didn't I want this cat declawed too.  He pointed out that I had the one reason that he would take as a reason to declaw a cat.

Of course, I had spent many a visit there reading anti-declaw material, and reading about why I should not do this.  Even after the vet told me that he would declaw the cat once it was under and felt that this was the best plan, he would not later do it as a separate anesthesia, I declined.

Now looking back I wonder if I made the wrong decision.  The new cat quickly abused my daughter of anything close and personal.  Understandable.  So he is a family cat now, without a close owner - pet relationship she has with her first cat.  This has left my daughter very sad at not being as close to one cat as the other.  We tried all the behavior tricks to teach a cat not to claw or bat with claws out but a cat will be a cat.  Again, this is not the cats fault so in the back of my mind I could not see it being something the cat had to suffer for.  We also tried hard with my daughter to find ways to get personal with her new cat but fear of claws kept her from doing the one thing that helps her bond - nose to nose viewing.

The vet saw this as the one great exception to his rule on never declawing while I chose to listen to all I had read about declawing.  Our declawed cat is now 14 years old and probably close to the end of his lifespan, so what happens with the next cat who my daughter wants to have no claws so as to not accidentally scratch her one eye and having that fear block her from being able to get close to her kitty.

Pam November 14th, 2009 02:10:19 PM

The ad is available as a bumper sticker to all that would like one. Please contact either the Paw Project, or the ad agency that did the ad- steve.levit@mccann.com

steve November 17th, 2009 04:00:36 PM