Cat Declaw Ban in California

Sheryl S.
4 years ago

Using "soft paws" or a comparable product is a humane alternative to declawing.

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Beth M.
4 years ago

mt cats aren't declawed but my mom's cat is ( front only). I think it's a personnel thing

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deb a.
4 years ago

This is something the owner has to decide on, I do not do it to my cats, they do have lazer declaw not which is to be easier on the animal, I worked in a shelter and alot of cats that were surrendered were declawed and some of the reasons were that they were not using the litterbox, they were always crabby, infection in the toes from a bad job, but on the other hand if it means life and death i would probably choose declaw, alot of times elderly people want cats, but they are declawed because of scratches that can cause problems in elderly, trim the claws, give them a good sturdy scratching post, deter them from scratching where they shouldnt will help I have 11 cats, 2 declawed because they came that way from a rescue, but mine do not scratch me or things they shouldnt.
I will say that if a person would consider 4 pay declaw , I would have to not agree

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KR69
4 years ago

I'm ok with declawing if it is necessary for a pet owner to have it done (i.e. your lease requires it). If a cat will have a lifetime home than it is definately worth having done.

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Cindy
4 years ago

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JacquelineR
5 years ago

I am proud that my state has banned declawing. It is immoral and very painful for the animals. Imagine not having your fingers!

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Linda W.
5 years ago

Guess I heard about this wrong. I had understood that all of Calif. had banned declawing. But according to this, it's just that individual communities are allowed to make ordinances against it if they want to.

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Gottaluvleah
5 years ago

i suppose this ok for acceptional situations ex. indoor cats that claw the furniture, law passed

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Teresa K.
5 years ago

I think if that law is passed it needs to have exceptions for certain situations.

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collyn f.
5 years ago

but on the other hand...... it is somewhat hard to imagine an animal for absolutely no reason being declawed or have any other painful thing happening to them

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collyn f.
5 years ago

this is a touchy situation
but i am somewhat for it.
cats need homes. and if they are testy then maybe that is the best way to go

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Angela L.
5 years ago

I hope more places get anti-declaw laws. Some European countries don't allow it, which I think is awesome. Declaw surgeries are not only painful but can change the behavior of a cat in a bad way. Declawed cats are more likely to bite because they feel less safe without their claws. It's also fairly common for them to have litterbox problems because their poor, mutilated feet hurt. A lot of them are dumped on shelters for these reasons, and they aren't always adoptable because of that. Nobody wants to adopt a cat that bites seriously or can't/won't use a litterbox. So they get euthanized. While I do know of some cats who never had problems from being declawed, I've also seen a lot of cats come into the shelter I volunteer at because they had problems related to being declawed.

If you can't get a cat to stop scratching with proper toys and training, then look into Soft Paws nail covers. Don't mutilate your cat.

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Sarah L.
5 years ago

So since they are going after declawing....what about clipping of the dog tail or ears?

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Aricketts
5 years ago

I do not believe that it should be outlawed. I think that the owner of the animal should have final say in what they want. It is like saying that no dogs should have their tails docked. I don't think that a boxer or german shorthair for instance would look good with a long tail. I am sure that it is painful for the puppy to get its tail cut off. Have you ever thought about that?

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Angela L.
5 years ago

So it's just about looks for you? Personally I think boxers, rotties, and other dogs look much better with tails and with natural ears. And yes I'm sure it's very painful to have that done, so I'm not in support of that either.

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Rachel B.
5 years ago

I rescued a cat that was declawed. His previous owner said he started having litter box issues when he was declawed. She thought his little paws hurt too bad to get in the litter. Since he's been with us, he's had no litter box issues, but his little paws look weirdly small...Just the thought of my fingers being cut off at the first knuckle makes me a true believer that declawing is wrong!

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marlyn p.
5 years ago

i had two cats, one went on to heaven...but I didn't declaw for two specific reasons. 1-if they got out of my home, what would they have to defend themselves? 2-I loved their paws intact and just the way they were. I am sure there are reasons to declaw, but I won't do it.

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Shirley B.
5 years ago

I wish this law was nationwide. Frequently, declawed cats are biters when they are brought to our feline facility. They cannot understand why the cat bites. I believe, if you must declaw a cat, YOU SHOULD NOT OWN ONE.

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Tami T.
5 years ago

Let's stop this barbaric practice forever.

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Kristi L.
5 years ago

I could never declaw my cat! It's even worse because a few of the strays my friend brought home were already declawed, they couldn't defend themselves.

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Wyoming County S.
5 years ago

it should be illegal averywhere. take off the fingertips of people and see how they like it

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Anne W.
5 years ago

This is great. I am against declawing. How can someone call themselves their cat's "guardian" and that the cat is a "member of their family" and then proceed to amputate their claws? That's hypocritical to me.

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Tami T.
5 years ago

Good. This form of amputation and mutilation is just plain cruel and unnecessary.

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Rachel K.
5 years ago

And why would the California Vet Association be challenging it? It reeks of trying to support the cash flow for the businesses rather than putting the welfare of the animal first.

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Felicia
5 years ago

should be up to the pet owner not the state

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anne c.
5 years ago

I don't like declawing but I don't think it's fair to make it illegal

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Vicky
5 years ago

good for the cats

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Amber M.
5 years ago

I had one of my cats declawed. He was running around in the vets office before he came home. I would do it again if I had another cat that destroyed things like he did.

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karen
5 years ago

I was never a fan of the surgical process of declawing, however, walk into any shelter and see how they are overrun with cats. This decision should be left to the owners. Describe any surgical process and you can make it sound disgusting and inhumane.

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juanita m.
5 years ago

I agree-my big guy was declawed already when the shelter got him but I can tell he would have shredded a lot of things if he had claws(including the bottom of our big screen TV where the speakers are)he uses the back ones just fine if someone bothers him!he walks fine and I would not have adopted a cat otherwise

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Michelle C.
5 years ago

YES more states should BAN declawing!

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dana R.
5 years ago

I've been working in the vet field for many years and would totally disagree with this.
Cats generally fully recover within a week. Most of the time they are running around the next day.
If it comes down to declawing or dumping their pet at a shelter/farm, or euthanizing. I see the no brainer choice.
People who are so opposed to declawing have NO clue about the procedure and have never seen it done or have had a cat that was done.
I do not agree with declawing on all 4 paws. Our hospital refuses to do so, even if requested. It should only be fronts. Unless there is a medical issue that would warrant it. That only accounts for maybe 1% or less of cases.
We should focus on more important issues... Geez.

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Beaglemutz
5 years ago

All of my cats have been declawed and I have never seen a negative consequence. I don't agree.

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Koronin
5 years ago

I hate declawing cats for most any reason. I am happy this see that California is taking the lead in this.

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Margene W.
5 years ago

Good to ban-it is cruel and unusual punishment.Have you ever seen it done or have the procedure explained to you?

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LadySephiroth
5 years ago

Yeah, I've read about that... it's terrible. California is making a good move here.

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Karen S.
5 years ago

We adopted our cat - or should I say he adopted us - when he found our home as a stray. He was obviously an outdoor cat but we did have him declawed (front) and he has had not problems defending himself or unfortunately bringing in mice and birds.

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dana R.
5 years ago

If you declawed him and still had intentions of him going outside, I think that is cruel and selfish.

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Dee
5 years ago

Some special housing requires cats to be declawed. Having the cat euthanized because it's owner cant keep it is much crueler in my mind.

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Smarx
5 years ago

I DO think declawing a cat is wrong. They can be taught to scratch the appropriate cat posts. Regular timming the nails helps also.

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Michele Z.
5 years ago

I really have ambivalent feelings about declawing cats. I have read a lot about the pros and cons, and have discussed it with my vet, and am leaning toward the idea that it is okay provided the owner does, indeed, intend to provide the cat with a loving, VERY secure home for life. On the other hand, if the owner wants a cat declawed to prevent injury to a baby/child--forget it (declawed cats are more likely to bite when they feel threatened).

I have adopted 6 adult declawed cats from various shelters. I can only guess why their owners gave them up--but they probably did not intend to provide a loving, secure home FOREVER; they should not have declawed their cats.

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shelia s.
5 years ago

I've got 2 cats and thry are both declawed. After their surgery, both of them seemed fine and neither had any complications. I don't see where it's inhumane, especially if they are inside cats.

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Muskrat
5 years ago

Hooray! This humane law flies in the face of CA's recent rejection of Spay/Neuter Laws. To be really kind to cats, haing them sterilized is the first basic step. Let's hope CA revisits that issue soon. P.S. - reserch shows that de-clawed cats, deprived of a natural defense, are prone to become bitey far mot=re than cats who have their claws intact.

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Tammyg
5 years ago

Interesting. Declawing is cruel and robs the cat of ability to defend itself. Wonder what impact, if any, this will have on adoption rate at shelters? I am told that many people are lookiing for declawed cats and that they are often the quickest to be adopted. Sad..but if true, I would hate to see a decrease in adoption. Better top have a declawed cat than to have one euthanized. There is no easy answer here.

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Carol1
5 years ago

I have to say that the owner should decide. Some older people can not have a cat in elderly housing unless they are declawed. I would not want too tell them they can not have the only thing that brings them happeness.

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Christine
5 years ago

I think it is selfish to declaw a cat. If scratching is an issue, there are so many ways to manage it. Declawing shouldnt even be an option. Way to go California!

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Kendramarke
5 years ago

I'm sorry my vet didn't tell me about "Soft Paws" before I had my cat's claws removed or I would've used them. I saw them at Petsmart after he's already had the surgery. He was a half-ferral kitten we rescued from certain death and he attacked people,including myself to the point of stitches. We bought a brand new home with all new leather furniture and thought we had no choice. He's now a happy and healthy 18 lb. solid snow white indoor cat.If I had to do it all over again, he'd keep his claws, poor thing.

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Mandy
5 years ago

I think that Declawing Cats is extemely inhumane and should be concidered animal abuse....Most declawed cats that are received in shelters are turned in because of behavior issues such as biting and litter box issues. This makes them very difficult to rehome so in many cases have to be euthanized...all this to save your furniture.There are EASY alternatives to declawing a cat..Check out soft paws..
Please research just exactly what this surgery involves......They do not just remove the cats "toenails"! People say that they will never let their cats out....What if they escape...what if a natural disaster hits...what if you have to rehome your pet....They cannot protect themselves and it is extremely painful!

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Ejzane
5 years ago

It is interesting to me that we would never consider removing a dogs last digit to avoid him scratching the linoleum or the hardwood floors, or tearing a hole in the carpet (which in fact happened to my in-laws). In fact who has ever heard of declawing a dog? We declaw the cat because unlike the dog it doesn't come on command, it does as it pleases, and we really can't control it. I wonder if my in-laws tried to get a vet to declaw their dog what would happen? I suspect this would be considered ridiculous and perhaps cruel. Perhaps the vet would say "can't you just trim the nails?" and might think "it's not responsible to not trim your dogs nails" Perhaps cat owners should simply be responsible and trim the nails. It takes about 1 min a cat.

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dana R.
5 years ago

We had a dog come into our hospital who had a very severe medical condition that made his nail fall of and bleed uncontrollably. After much time, the only options were declawing or euthanizing. The dog came out of the surgery fine and is living a great happy life now.
It's only ever done in the case of a medical emergency but it is possible.

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Threecats
5 years ago

I agree with the ban. As said before, many European countries ban cat declawing.

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Natalie H.
5 years ago

If the cat is going to be an indoor cat I don't think it is wrong to declaw them.

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Aaron
5 years ago

Declawing is very controversial because there are veterinarians performing the surgery---if you have an opportunity to assist in a declaw surgery and they use the old method (which many still do) it's almosr barbaric--they cut the knuckles virtually off. The newer methods are more humane but....

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Michelle H.
5 years ago

I think declawing is humane. I have seven cats and would not consider declawing. There are alternatives.

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Disotellx2
5 years ago

This isn't something I would want done to me!

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Jpendley
5 years ago

I am torn on this one - I see both sides...

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