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Reportedly, kitty cats from one side of New York state to the other are throwing parties to celebrate the recent news there. You see, the state just banned the inhumane practice of declawing cats — and since it’s the first state to do so, we hope many more follow suit.
Many people think declawing is a simple, painless alternative to preventing a cat from scratching furniture. Nothing could be further from the truth, notes the Humane Society of the United States. Cats who undergo this painful and cruel procedure become more prone to bite and less likely to use a litter box.
Declawing can cause your cat lifelong pain
Most people think declawing only involves the removal of a cat’s claws or that it’s the equivalent of having one’s nails trimmed. That would be nice if it were true, but it actually involves the amputation of the last bone in each toe.
If the doctor’s performed this procedure on a human, it would mean the amputation of each finger at the last knuckle. And that’s only one method of declawing — there are actually three procedures.
All of them are nasty, and all of them are painful.
The effects of declawing can be devastating for a cat. They can include debilitating pain, infection, tissue necrosis (in which the surrounding tissue dies), lameness, and back pain.
Removing the claws completely changes the way a cat’s foot touches the ground, causing pain that’s not unlike an ill-fitting shoe. Claws can re-grow irregularly, and there can be nerve damage and bone spurs.
Fortunately, New York has now banned this barbaric procedure
Governor Andrew Cuomo recently signed into law a bill that bans cat declawing, and New York is the first state to do this. Kudos to him for doing this! The bill passed the state’s assembly in June and will become effective immediately.
“By banning this archaic practice, we will ensure that animals are no longer subjected to these inhumane and unnecessary procedures,” he said in a statement.
Alternatives to declawing
First and foremost, if you’re the kind of person who will be bothered if your furniture gets scratched then don’t own a cat. Get a fish. They definitely won’t scratch your belongings.
If you’re not so fussy and decide you’d love to have a kitty, here’s a few things you can do to protect what’s yours.
Cats love a good scratching post. And they don’t have to be expensive. If you decide to purchase one and you’re worried your cat may be hesitant about using it, rub it with catnip.
You can also ask your vet about nail caps. Soft, plastic caps (like Soft Paws®, for instance) which glue right to your cat’s nails. Keep in mind, however, that you will need to replace them every six weeks.
The situation might be simpler than that. You can try trimming your kitty’s claws yourself. If your cat is anything like mine, that could be a challenge, but it’s definitely less cruel than declawing and worth a try.
You’ll be doing your cat a huge favor
You won’t have to worry about your kitty being in pain every time she tries to use the litter box, and you won’t have to worry about her biting anyone because she feels defenseless and insecure.
Isn’t that what our cats deserve?
Featured image courtesy of the video above
