It is very cruel to physically alter your cat or kitten without trying other safe alternative methods first to keep them from clawing on whatever you are trying to protect only to give away or abandon it later. By removing its claws, you have taken away its ability to escape and defend itself. After the procedure is done, reported medical complications include: pain, hemorrhage, laceration of paw pads, swelling, reluctance to bear weight on affected limb, neuropraxia (transient motor paralysis), radial nerve damage, lameness, infection, abscess, tissue necrosis, wound dehiscence, incomplete healing, protrusion of 2nd (middle) phalanx, claw regrowth, scurs (growth of deformed claw segments), retention of flexor process of third phalanx, chronic draining tracts, self-mutilation, dermatitis, lethargy, palmigrade stance (walking on wrists), chronic intermittent lameness, chronic pain syndrome, flexor tendon contracture, and cystitis (stress-associated bladder inflammation). The common misconception about declawing is that only the nail bed is removed. What people do not realize is that ENTIRE end of the toe is amputated. It is like amputating all 10 of your Distal phalanges off at the first knuckle. People also think that declawing will cause all cat behavior concerning scratching will cease, but this is not the case. Majority of the declawed pets were house soiling because the litter is very painful on their paws and an increase in biting frequency or intensity in aggressiveness, leading to more behavioral problems resulting in relinquishment of animal. I started this petition because the procedure causes unnecessary pain and trauma to pets. Some will succumb to fatal infections and there are no medical reasons to declaw. Many other countries have banned the practice, including some major U.S. cities.