Dear Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA.org),

CFA's 2003 Declawing Position says, "CFA disapproves of routine declawing or tendonectomy surgery in lieu of alternative solutions to prevent household damage. In certain situations, including high risk of injury or disease transmission to owners with bleeding disorders or compromised immune systems, declawing may be justified in order to maintain the cat-human bond.”
 

CFA, you hold immense influence in the world of cats and with that comes responsibility.

 Declawing is a painful and outdated practice that countless experts and humane organizations have rejected.

You are now the last major cat or animal welfare organization in the world still using the “human health” excuse to defend declawing.

It’s time for the CFA to stop standing alone on the wrong side of history. 

We are asking you to stand on the right side of history and help end this cruelty once and for all.

Declawing cats is a barbaric, inhumane, and unnecessary act of mutilation yet the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) is clinging to their 2003 declawing position that condones declawing for the human health excuse.  It’s time for the CFA to take an uncompromising stand against this cruel and brutal procedure.

Declawing is the amputation of the last bone of each toe, like cutting off a human finger at the last joint. This causes lifelong pain, lameness, nerve damage, and serious behavioral issues.

 For years, CFA has continued to justify declawing under the false premise of protecting human health, a claim that has been thoroughly disproven by science and not recommended by leading veterinary and human health organizations.

Even though CFA bans declawed cats from its shows, its official policy still condones declawing by saying. "In certain situations, including high risk of injury or disease transmission to owners with bleeding disorders or compromised immune systems, declawing may be justified in order to maintain the cat-human bond.”

CFA's 2024 Health and Welfare policy on their website says, "CFA, in conjunction with the World Cat Congress, an organization consisting of the nine (9) largest feline registries in the world, promotes the health and welfare of all cats, and the
responsible breeding and ownership of them." 

By condoning declawing for “human health” reasons, the Cat Fanciers’ Association betrays its own mission, putting cats’ welfare and well-being at risk, since declawing frequently causes long-term behavioral problems and abandonment—all in the name of preserving the human bond.

CFA's declawing position not only contradicts its own welfare mission, it could now be weaponized by the pro-declaw veterinary lobby to fight against declaw bans, especially since the ASPCA recently removed its last “declaw-or-death” excuse. 

In 2019, the CFA's Legislative Coordinator wrote City the Kitty a response and said,

 "Hi Kitty,

 Let me start by saying CFA opposes routine declawing of cats.  There are better options for most pet owners.  Most cats can be trained to scratching posts and nails can be trimmed.  However, we oppose legislation which would remove that possibility when medically necessary for the human owner.  Humans with special medical situations should make the decision in consultation with their medical doctor.

 The AVMA, the largest veterinary organization in the U.S., says that:  “The decision to declaw a cat should be made by the owners in consultation with their veterinarian. 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 AN ABOVE NORMAL HEALTH RISK FOR ITS OWNER(S).”  [emphasis added].  

 The AVMA policy is currently under review.  

 George Eigenhauser, CFA Legislative Coordinator"

The AVMA updated their 2020 position and did NOT condone declawing for human health excuses yet the CFA did not update their position. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CFA’s Words Don’t Match Their Actions

In 2020, when VCA Animal Hospitals banned declawing, the CFA publicly posted: “This is something we can get behind.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

In January 2025, City the Kitty nonprofit wrote the CFA and asked them about their outdated declawing position and a CFA Animal Welfare person wrote back and said, "as you can tell by our information CFA is 100% against the declawing of felines.  Declawed felines are not allowed to even be shown in our Household Pet Category that mostly come from rescue shelters! I will glad to share any anti declaw information with our community you share."

We wrote this CFA person back and told them, "the statement in your declawing position on your website condones declawing for bleeding disorders and compromised immune systems and is not 100% against declawing. If you indeed are 100% against declawing then you might want to update your 2003 position."

We never received a response. 

Meanwhile, six U.S. states and dozens of cities have banned declawing, and organizations like the Feline VMA, HSUS, VCA, Banfield, and many others, along with 42 countries worldwide, have completely condemned or outlawed the practice.

Yet shockingly, the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) are the last two organizations still defending this cruelty- the AVMA hiding behind “veterinarian’s discretion,” and the CFA clinging to an outdated and debunked human health justification.

We urge the CFA to:

1. Eliminate the “human health”  excuse from their declawing position.
2. Update its 2003 policy to reflect current scientific data.
3. Publicly support declaw bans nationwide, as it once claimed when it said of VCA’s ban, “This is something we can get behind.”

Also email the Cat Fanciers' Assn- legislation@cfa.org and send them our FACTS VS MYTHS info since they said they would share it. 

By refusing to modernize its stance, the CFA risks being remembered not as a champion of cats but as an enabler of their suffering.

✍️ Sign this petition to demand that CFA take a true stand for cats.

Email the Cat Fanciers' Assn and ask them to- legislation@cfa.org

Together, we can end this cruelty, protect future generations of cats, and ensure that declawing finally becomes history where it belongs.

City the Kitty Advocacy Team
http://www.citythekitty.org