Decision on declawing best for owner, vet

Denver’s ban on procedure seems like drastic measure

The Denver City Council this week became the first city outside of California to ban elective cat declawing.

According to the Denver Post, the council’s decision was passed unanimously.

Critics of the procedure say that it is inhumane and painful to cats, requiring several toe amputations.

The Post reports that supporters of the procedure say that the pain is temporary, and found that it improved their cats’ indoor behavior, especially in regards to scratching furniture.

“Denver’s new ordinance provides an exemption when a declawing procedure is deemed to be medically necessary and only if it’s performed by a licensed veterinarian who uses anesthesia,” the Post reports.

The article notes the ordinance only applies to Denver itself — so if people still wanted the procedure done, they could go to a veterinarian outside of city limits and still obtain it.

WebMD notes that there can be complications for cats and declawing, but most opponents have a basic argument: “cats are born with claws and they should keep them.” Removing the claws amounts to mutilation.

However, there can be medical reasons to declaw a cat, such as a badly damaged claw or a tumor. Or, WebMD notes, people with suppressed immune systems may need to have the procedure done to a cat because they can’t be exposed to the bacteria on the cat’s claws.

WebMD also notes that declawing can be appropriate for cats that would otherwise be given up for adoption, which may or may not find another home.

Declawing a cat is a sensitive subject. Often, it’s done because a cat is destroying furniture, and there is a concern that it is a drastic step for what is essentially a behavior problem. Declawing a cat to save a couch or chair is questionable.

But a city banning the procedure also seems like a drastic step. A city or town doesn’t need to legislate something that should be best discussed and decided between the cat’s owner and the cat’s veterinarian.

What do you think, readers? Is the Denver ban appropriate or not? Let us know. Share your thoughts online at www.YumaSun.com, or send us a Letter to the Editor at letters@yumasun.com.