Denver council unanimously votes to ban cat declawing

[n2doc]

The Denver City Council on Monday night moved to make Denver the first U.S. city outside of California to ban the practice of removing cats’ claws. Council members voted unanimously in favor of the proposal at its first reading, all but guaranteeing its passage.


The ban would make it illegal to declaw cats if there isn’t a specific medical reason, such as a tumor or a malformed paw. Supporters of the ban said the procedure is the same as amputation, but some medical professionals said that the decision should be left to doctors and cat owners.

more
https://www.denverite.com/denvers-track-first-cat-declawing-ban-outside-california-45252/

[malaise]

1. Good. Two decades ago I was stunned when I gave the friend of a friend one of our kitties

Weeks after she told us that he declawed the kitten because he didn't want him to scratch on his furniture. I never spoke to him again.
How do you prevent an animal from protecting him/herself?

I had never heard of it before.

[tblue37]

10. Every seriously bitey cat I have ever encountered has been declawed.

Declawed cats also usually cannot use cat climbing trees and such, because they fall too easily with nothing to use to grab hold with.

[janterry]

2. good news for cats

[True Dough]

6. There will be a bunch of relieved

Mile High Kitties!

[murielm99]

3. Good news.

We have a new kitty. When we took him to be neutered, we made it very clear that they could trim his claws, but under no circumstances could he be declawed.

Victor is lively, but much less naughty than I expected. I think declawing him might have changed his cute personality. It is cruel.

[CrispyQ]

4. Good news for our feline friends!

[Phoenix61]

5. If people don't want cat claws in their home

they shouldn't have a cat. I've never understood how a vet could perform that procedure.

[RainCaster]

7. I'm so glad that Denver has solved all the bigger problems than this

They must have full employment, housing and medical coverage if they have time to worry about this level of issues.

[tblue37]

9. Cutting off part of an animals toes to make things a bit more convenient for a selfish owner

is not a small issue. It is animal abuse.

[rpannier]

16. It's called multi-tasking

It may come as a shock, but Denver (and other cities) can vote on cat declawing while tackling those other issues, as well as naming streets, bus stations, special days for things, etc
City councils are amazing things. They can do oh so much

[Angry Dragon]

17. ...

[tblue37]

8. YAY!!! nt

[pokerfan]

11. a more appropriate description would be phalangectomy, excision of toe bone

Because the claw develops from germinal tissue within the third phalanx, amputation of the bone is necessary to fully remove the claw. The terms "onychectomy" (origin: Greek ὄνυξ onycho, nail + ἐκτομή ektome, excision) and "declawing" imply mere claw removal, but a more appropriate description would be phalangectomy, excision of toe bone.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onychectomy

If you are considering declawing your cat, please read this. It will only take a moment, and it will give you valuable information to help you in your decision.

[ailsagirl]

12. YAY!!!!

[Doreen]

13. Good. I think it is cruel.

I live in a very small 1 bedroom apartment and yet I have a big cat tree with a lot of sisal rope on it, a scratchy thing that looks like a wave with sisal rope, a small cat condo, a toy with a center to scratch and play with a spin ball, and two small cat posts. Microfiber furniture works wonders. Cats hate the feeling of it on their claws and it is hard for them to get a hold onto the fiber. I can usually come close to tripping every day but I have toys all over the place. Doing things like that work wonders. sprinkle cat nip on things that are allowed to be scratched and that helps ( if your cat likes catnip. ) If worse come to worse you can fit caps over you furry friends claws and as the claws grow they will fall off and you just reclip and recap. I have never done that but I have talked to people who do it and they are happy. It is a pain to put them on and it costs money but if that is your only option other than declawing it would be good. I just think those people are lazy and way to cheap to do anything other than a quick and painful surgery. What if your house cat gets out and the neighbors loose dog sees her? She has no chance if there is no place to go under and trees are her only prayer.

[SonofDonald]

14. The Kittymonster still has her claws

She was an inside/outside cat for the first 6 years, now because I live in the country she stays inside, (Coyotes) she has never attacked me or really even scratched me except for the last bath when she was to stay inside after it.

She does give me a really nasty look now and then though, but that's her right as a Family Member.

I would never cause her any pain, she's my little girl.

[roamer65]

15. People dont like it when I compare...

it to having their fingernails pulled out. Same damn thing. Good move by Denver!

[SharonAnn]

18. And yet we spay/neuter our pets and dock tails and crop ears of some dogs.

I've had cats nearly all my life, usually several at a time. Some learned to use the scratching post. Others preferred to scratch furniture and I had them declawed. They all lived long. healthy, happy lives with food, shelter, vet care, and a loving home. If I couldn't have declawed the scratchers, I would've given them up. And shelters are full of cats, many euthanized, and I don't think that's a good result for the cat.

I love my cats, I care for my cats, and I do what is necessary to allow them to continue living in my environment.

[Nonhlanhla]

19. Declawing cats is cruel, but

there might be exceptions. There have been times when I regretted not declawing my one cat, who is sometimes anxious and aggressive, and has harmed both me and herself. Although she is actually very sweet and we have worked with her to help her with her issues, she was taken from her mom to early(not by me), and as a result has always had anxiety issues, exacerbated by thyroid issues. She has at times scratched herself to the point of bleeding (luckily this has only happened a few times over the 12 years I've had her), and at those times I have wondered if she might not have benefited from declawing. I still did not do it, and I never will, but I can see how there might be cases where it might be done.