HARTFORD, Conn. -- A unique bill has been proposed that, if passed, would make Connecticut the first state to make it illegal to de-claw cats, except in cases of medical necessity.
A hearing was held Friday to review the bill, which would prohibit state veterinarians from removing the claws of domestic cats. Supporters of the bills claim that the process of de-clawing cats is inhumane.
However, Eva Ceranowicz, president of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association, said the de-clawing process is not inhumane. "We are using anesthesia. Those animals are well taken care of." Ceranowicz said within a few days of the procedure the cats are able to use their feet normally. - http://www.wfsb.com/family/15453179/detail.html
Posts: 17657 | Location: Lincoln Place, Granite City, IL, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
Amazing . And when will they get around to banning the cropping of dogs' ears and the docking of tails ? And I bet there are people in the States who want all these practices. (At Cruft's Dog Show, the world's largest, even now there's a stand run by people who want tail-docking as it was before. We abolished ear-cropping in the C19)
If they ban the de-clawing of cats, will the state then pay for replacing the couches that are destroyed?
My cats, over the years, have always been declawed in their FRONT paws only - and they've always been INDOOR ONLY cats. I would never declaw a cat that insisted on being outdoors.
Pretty lame bill in my opinion, and I really hope it doesn't pass and set a precidence.
I haven't had a cat now since Gizmo died, and probably won't have another anytime soon. But if I did, I would hold to my previous preferences.
"You're not just removing the cat's claw, your amputating the bone down to the first joint, which would be removing the tops of your fingers if you're a human being," said Adams
I have heard terror stories about a cheap pet clinic here, that does not administer pain killer, unless the patron request it.I really think this is a must option, no if's, and's or but's. Come on, how would you like to have your fingers chopped off at the tips?
I have mixed feelings on this, granted I do not want my furniture torn up, and I have 5 cats and 1 dog. But, if you let them outdoors, then you should let them have their claws. My dog scratches too, does that mean I should declaw her?
It's our responsibility as pet owners to do what is best for our pets to take care of them. But then, some times people just think throwing them on a chain all day, is normal, so I'm not even going to go there. We all have different lifestyles, but if we can't take care of them properly, then we shouldn't have them, right?
Posts: 1031 | Location: Greater Cincinnati Area | Registered: 06-03-02
It seems to me that the apparent necessity of modifying animals to make them more acceptable to us as pets is something we ought to consider before we adopt a pet. I’ve never understood ear cropping and tail docking or any of the other myriad crazy things we do to our pets to make them fit some human notion of perfection. Whatever happened to letting animals be animals?
Maybe de-clawing cats is inhumane, maybe not. I’m sure there is a humane manner in which the surgery could be performed under certain circumstances. Perhaps in the rest of the situations, people who can’t keep their cats from clawing the furniture just shouldn’t have cats as pets.
Posts: 4654 | Location: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: 06-03-02
I've never been a supporter of the cosmetic things that are done (mostly to dogs) that make them more "showable", such as ear cropping.
Declawing of cats has been done for decades, and I don't consider it inhumane, depending on the owners, and how they care for those cats.
My cats, over the years, were always indoor cats. I'll cite the life of one of them, as an example...
Gizmo (my favorite)....was adopted at 8 weeks of age. She was a cutie, attaining the name of Gizmo because of her HUGE ears. She was my daughters 12th birthday present.
I don't believe in allowing my cats outside, so have their front claws removed at the same time as they are spayed. They are under anesthesia only once, and are very much pampered for a few days once home.
By the time they come home...there is paper in their litter box - so their stitched front paws do not hurt when using their box. With proper attention paid to their box to keep it clean, there is no risk of infection.
I've had 5-6 cats over time that have been declawed. Front paws only...I felt it was important for them to have their back claws in case the ever DID get out and had to fight.
I like to allow my animals SOME defense in case they get out in the real world.
Should have said "Liked"....I currently have no pets, and really miss Gizmo, who died a couple of years ago from a blood disease.
Brian and I hope to get a dog soon...but want to have a proper fence first. We live on a well-travelled road, 45mph
So...until we can fence our yard properly, we will not have a pet. I'm hoping we can do this soon, because I really miss having a furry pet, whether a cat or dog...
It's all a question of how matters are viewed over time.Opinions change but gradually Nobody in Britain would declaw a cat (but we gave women the vote years ago ). Good to see dogs with tails at Cruft's this year. The total ban on showing dogs with docked tails only came in in April last, so these were mostly youngsters or dogs from places e.g Norway, where the ban has been in force for many years. And very happy they looked: an American cocker with a tail to wag looks so much better than one with but a stump.
I do wonder, still, just how valuable the furnishings must be in American homes. You must be so much richer than us !Every cat owner must be possessed of fabrics of such exquisite rarity that mere billionaires with taste here can't compete
I personally would never even consider declawing a cat... when my cats were youngsters, I tapped their paws and said "NO!" when they used anything but their scratching post, and I rubbed catnip on the post while spraying "No Scratch" on the furniture... it took a couple of months, but my guys do not claw anything but "their" furniture.... For cats that prove untrainable, there are other options, like claw covers...SoftPaws is one brand- they are safe, effective and non-traumatic.... and come in extremely fun colours
Posts: 2274 | Location: Western United States | Registered: 06-03-02
That is the best news. I am totally against de-clawing cats, when they do it it is actually amputation. Also they are in so much pain after surgery and for a long time afterwards, alot of cats personallitys change and they can become very angry towards their owner. i also agree with the person who said about what they do to dogs in the name of beauty or a buck.
Posts: 1 | Location: New Haven,ct | Registered: 03-18-08
. And when will they get around to banning the cropping of dogs' ears and the docking of tails ? And I bet there are people in the States who want all these practices. (At Cruft's Dog Show, the world's largest, even now there's a stand run by people who want tail-docking as it was before. We abolished ear-cropping in the C19)
). Good to see dogs with tails at Cruft's this year. The total ban on showing dogs with docked tails only came in in April last, so these were mostly youngsters or dogs from places e.g Norway, where the ban has been in force for many years. And very happy they looked: an American cocker with a tail to wag looks so much better than one with but a stump.
