Krystalin Bodine started a “Ban cat declawing in the state of Colorado” petition with a single signature back on January 27, 2016.  I just received the notification the other day and realized it is about time that the state of Virginia to also do something regarding this cruel and inhumane act.  At least 22 countries all over the world as well as The Humane Society of the United States have already opposed, prohibited and significantly restricted this practice (unless for rare medical purposes); why is it still legal in the state of Virginia to declaw your cat?

For years, as an adoption coordinator and a medical specialist in our non-profit, no discrimination feline rescue group; I, myself along with countless other colleagues as well as pet parents have all continued to witness horrific acts, negative results and major drawbacks of declawing our furry family members.  Even on Facebook posts, you can now easily find gruesome pictures posted by multiple veterinarians who considered those pictures as trophies to boast about their procedures and practices.

Too often, people think that declawing is a simple surgery that removes a cat’s nails – equivalent to getting your fingernails trimmed; where essentially, onychectomy/declawing is an operation to surgically remove the claws by amputating the last bone of each of their toes.  If the same procedure were to be performed on a human being, it would be the same as cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.

Standard tools that are often involved include either a scalpel, guillotine clippers (identical to what is used to clip off the tip of the cigars), and/or laser.  The wounds are closed up with either stitches or surgical glue and then the feet are bandaged.  More often than not, blood will seep through the bandages while your cat suffers and wails in pain.  There are no guarantees that they have and will receive all the proper pre and post surgical pain control and nerve blockers, particularly during the two or more weeks it takes for the wounds to be healed.  During that time, how do you expect your cat to even stand let alone use the litter box?  How is that not animal cruelty? 

Declawing is an unnecessary surgery that provides no medical benefit to the cat, and its effect and results can even jeopardize both health and behavior.  Since the first knuckles were cut off, rather than minimizing your cat’s scratching behaviors for a harmless “quick fix”, declawing often results in having your cat become a biter when they never did before, because they no longer have their claws for defense. Some may also refuse to use the litter box because of the pain it causes. 

The Humane Society of the United States stated “Medical drawbacks to declawing include pain in the paw, infection, tissue necrosis (tissue death), lameness, and back pain.  There can also be a regrowth of improperly removed claws, nerve damage, and bone spurs.”  Removing your cat’s claws change the way their feet meet the ground and can cause pain that is similar to you wearing the wrong sized shoes every second of your life for a lifetime.

We all love our fur babies, so let’s start by respecting and protecting them from harms way. 

So Virginia, let’s move forward with the rest of the world and please put a stop to this!