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Declawing | Puppy Mills

Declawing: Not a Manicure

Chew on this...

Declawing a cat means removing their claws, bones, and cartilage, all of which is necessary for cats to balance, climb, and defend themselves.
Declawing a cat weakens their legs, shoulders, and back muscles.
Declawing a cat means putting a cat through 10 separate amputations, each of which is very painful to the cat.
When we declaw a cat, we leave them defenseless.
Cats can be taught to scratch acceptable places with kind guidance.
It is natural for cats to declaw and not being able to do it is distressing to them; they do this to maintain the nails, to mark their areas, to stretch, and to have fun.
Declawed cats may develop several behavioral problems and become unpredictable.
Declawed cats tend to bite more in an effort to defend themselves and also out of frustration.
Many declawed cats end up in shelters due to behavioral and medical problems resulting from declawing.

What You Can Do?

Many people declaw their cats because they are not aware of the danger, and cruelty associated with such amputations. If anyone in your friends and family circle are talking about declawing, let them know why it is unnecessary and cruel. Support legislation to ban declawing in your community and ask your family and friends in other communities to do the same.

What Did We Do?
During the holiday season, from December 15th, 2007 to January 1 st, 2008 our team talked to and handed out brochures about declawing to people shopping in pet stores and also going into their vet's offices. One lady, who was taking her cat to be dropped off for declawing procedure one morning, actually decided against declawing and canceled the surgery.

References

Christianne Schelling, D.V.M., Declawing.com, last accessed 4 Dec. 2007.
The Cat Practice, "If You Love Your Cat ." Feline Health , last accessed 27 Nov. 2007.