New York state has banned cat declawing

[rblatz]

I know a lot of people that would not own a cat that isn't declawed. I wonder what the net outcome is on cats being euthanized, I'm sure this will increase that number.

[rkho]

I would be much happier knowing that these people not own any pets if they were unable to care for them in a humane way. Declawing a cat is the equivalent to removing someone's fingers at the individual knuckle level. It's impractical, cruel, and causes lasting physical problems for the cat.

[alasdair_]

>I know a lot of people that would not own a cat that isn't declawed. I wonder what the net outcome is on cats being euthanized, I'm sure this will increase that number.

I had a girlfriend who wanted a cat but wanted to declaw the front claws, leaving the rear for defense if it ever got outside (I don't have a cat - this was her decision). The shelter explicitly forbade this, including a scary-looking legal contract promising not to declaw a cat, so she didn't adopt it in the end.

It's very likely the cat is now dead due to this policy since no one adopted it. I'm not sure that this outcome is more humane.

[thestepafter]

It is very easy to keep the cat claws trimmed with clippers on a regular basis. Just start playing with their paws frequently. Then you can start clipping once they are fine with you playing with their paws. Even better to start when they are a kitten.

[snuxoll]

I’d much rather an animal be humanely euthanized due to not being placed in a home than needlessly suffering from humans purposefully mutilating them for the rest of their lives.

It sucks that we can’t find homes for every animal, but we don’t go purposefully placing animals in households that would abuse them just to avoid feeling bad about euthanasia. Declawing is abuse like any other.

[eloisius]

Sounds like an unfortunate short-term consequence, but if people don't want to own a cat anymore because they can't declaw it, I'm okay with that.

[kerkeslager]

I haven't formed an opinion on this yet. I love cats and my gut is sympathetic to anti-declawing viewpoints as I would never declaw a cat myself, but I'm seeing a lot of anti-declawing rhetoric here that makes very little sense if you look at it logically in contrast with neutering.

If you're an opponent of declawing, are you also an opponent of neutering? If not, can you present an argument against declawing that isn't also a straightforward argument against neutering?

[krageon]

Neutering is necessary mostly for societal benefit: It prevents stray cats (via catch and release) and/or runaways from creating more cats.

Declawing is necessary mostly for personal benefit: You can't train your cat and therefore it must lose their claws.

One is something that's useful for society as a whole, the other is useful because you are an asshole. That's mostly how I've seen the distinction. What kind of arguments have you encountered in the wild?

[yladiz]

I’m curious, what arguments have you seen for declawing that are illogical compared to neutering?

[partisan]

We adopted a declawed cat. He died at the ripe old age of 16 and gave us as many years of joy and happiness, but it was true that he was particularly skittish even around us who he had known his entire life. It was clear he was traumatized in some way and that may have contributed in some way.

[dahartigan]

Been illegal here in Queensland, Australia for quite some time now.

[Smoosh]

It is illegal in all of Australia, and also in: England Scotland Wales Italy Austria Switzerland Norway Sweden Ireland Denmark Finland Slovenia Brazil New Zealand Serbia Montenegro Macedonia Slovenia France Germany Bosnia Malta Netherlands Northern Ireland Portugal Belgium Israel

According to this webpage: https://www.declawing.com/countries-that-outlaw-declawing

[Joakal]

Cats are legal to own. They get shelter, clean food and water including medical care. In fact people release cats into wild when they don't want to care for them leading to a lot of wildcats. While some places forbid cats going outside and encourage desexing, all this doesn't help the disadvantaged wildlife. Cats should be banned.

Why not legalize ownership of domesticated native animals such as koalas for example? Boom to tourism, culture and wildlife. Lots of funds can go to welfare of wildlife instead of foreign animals. What happens to domesticated koalas being released by people who dont want to care for them? A lot of wild koalas.

[funkjunky]

I thought part of the fun of having a cat is the claws. I really don't understand how people could mutilate their supposed loved ones like this, it's barbaric.

[HomeDeLaPot]

So is this a big loss for birds and small animals, or were the cats getting declawed not "outside cats" anyway?

[mycall]

Smart time to invest into couch manufacturers.

[Krasnol]

TIL: declawing.

Maybe a cat is not the right animal for you...

[snuxoll]

Unfortunately some landlords/property managers have made declawing mandatory in their lease agreements, and many cat owners may be unaware of what the procedure actually entails.

In fact, the property management group that handled placing us in our home had mandatory declawing in their standard lease agreement. This was a no-go for us, and we quickly contacted the property owner (who is super awesome, and we lease from her directly so doubly so) and had it taken out. Our landlady didn’t fuss about it, but I highly encourage renters stand up against clauses like this and bring facts against misconceptions against “declawing”.

[RickJWagner]

Probably after hard lobbying from the furniture cabal.

[darkpuma]

They should have banned outdoor cats at the same time. Cats shouldn't be declawed and neither should they be outside, but if they're going to be outside it is better for the native wildlife if they have been declawed (making them ineffective hunters.)

[sokoloff]

My cat growing up was declawed and seemed to still be a fairly effective hunter given the frequency of offerings she brought home. She could also climb trees up to about 7-8 feet.

[m463]

I think this person's comment may be unpopular, but cats have decimated the world's songbird population.

"Our findings suggest that free-ranging cats cause substantially greater wildlife mortality than previously thought and are likely the single greatest source of anthropogenic mortality for U.S. birds and mammals"

I would say further that declawing doesn't prevent hunting and killing.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/29/cats-w...