Outlaw Feline Toe Amputation (formerly known as "declawing" a cat)
Big Sky adopters sign a contract stating they will never declaw their cat. We require this commitment from our adopters because declawing unnecessarily inflicts great pain and suffering on the cat. We receive countless requests to surrender cats to us because of behavior problems like avoiding the litter box, which stem directly from the pain caused by the procedure.
Big Sky adopters sign a contract stating they will never declaw their cat. We require this commitment from our adopters because declawing unnecessarily inflicts great pain and suffering on the cat. We receive countless requests to surrender cats to us because of behavior problems like avoiding the litter box, which stem directly from the pain caused by the procedure.
Maryland and New York have already outlawed this practice, and it is illegal in eight California cities, Austin, Denver, and other municipalities around the U.S. In the following countries, declawing cats is either illegal or considered extremely inhumane and only performed under extreme circumstances:
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, and Wales.
If you own a declawed cat, under no circumstances should he/she be allowed outside without his/her natural defenses.
Feline Toe Amputation
or what happens when
a cat is "declawed"
What is feline toe amputation, or "declawing"?
Declawing is the amputation of the last bone of each toe. It would be like cutting off your fingers at the last knuckle.
How does declawing harm my cat?
Declawing can cause nerve damage, phantom pain, pain from bone fragments left behind or arthritis, and pain-related behavior issues like biting and avoiding the litter box. For these reasons and more, a growing number of veterinary organizations oppose declawing.
Why do cats scratch?
Scratching is normal cat behavior; it helps your cat stretch, remove dead husks from their claws and add their scent to their surroundings.
"10 out of 10 cats prefer a vet who doesn't declaw."
The Paw Project
More on Declawing at pawproject.org
How can I protect my furniture?
To protect home furnishings, give your cat alternative places to scratch. Use positive reinforcement training to teach your cat where they can scratch. While your cat is learning, cover furniture with a tight-fitting sheet or use double-sided sticky tape on the places your cat tends to scratch.
How can I stop my cat from scratching people?If your cat intentionally scratches people out of fear or aggression, consult a trainer or behaviorist for guidance on behavior modification using positive reinforcement. To prevent accidental scratches, keep your cat’s claws trimmed and ask your veterinarian about soft plastic nail caps.
Helpful Hints:
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Offer tall, sturdy scratching posts and pads from different materials like carpet, sisal, wood and cardboard.
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Place multiple scratching posts around your home and near the furniture you don’t want scratched.
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Try both vertical posts and horizontal or angled boards to learn your cat’s preference.
Sources: "Declawing: The Painful Truth," by the Humane Society of the United States, declaw.com