Ban Declawing (Onychectomy) Of Cats In America

To:  Petition to ban declawing of cats in America.

The cat is born with claws as a means of defense. Large cats as well as small cats use their claws to hunt with, to burrow with, and to fight with. Taking a cat's claws away from them will lead to death if the animal is left outside.

The cat's claw is not a nail as is a human fingernail, it is part of the last bone (distal phalanx) in the cat's toe. The cats claw arises from the unguicular crest and unguicular process in the distal phalanx of the paw (see above diagram). Most of the germinal cells that produce the claw are situated in the dorsal aspect of the ungual crest. This region must be removed completely, or regrowth of a vestigial claw and abcessation results. The only way to be sure all of the germinal cells are removed is to amputate the entire distal phalanx at the joint.

Contrary to most people's understanding, declawing consists of amputating not just the claws, but the whole phalanx (up to the joint), including bones, ligaments, and tendons! To remove the claw, the bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral ligaments, and the extensor and flexor tendons must all be amputated. Thus declawing is not a simple, single surgery but 10 separate, painful amputations of the third phalanx up to the last joint of each toe. A graphic comparison in human terms would be the cutting off of a person's finger at the last joint of each finger.

Declawing is not without complication. The rate of complication is relatively high compared with other so-called routine procedures. Complications of this amputation can be excruciating pain, damage to the radial nerve, hemorrhage, bone chips that prevent healing, painful regrowth of deformed claw inside of the paw which is not visible to the eye, and chronic back and joint pain as shoulder, leg and back muscles weaken.

Declawing is illegal in France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Australia, Brazil, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and recently Los Angles.

Alternatives to Onychectomy is trimming of the nails, purchase of a scratching post, or simple obedience training.

Sign this petition to help ban Onychectomy, as a step to protest against all forms of animal cruelty in the United States of America.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Ban Declawing (Onychectomy) Of Cats In America Petition to Petition to ban declawing of cats in America. was created by and written by Ashlee Kate Morgan (marionettextheatre@live.com.au).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.