It is time legislators do something to actually protect cats and kittens: ban cat declawing for good! It's cruel, unnecessary, and happening nearly nationwide. Currently, only Maryland and New York have bans on the torturous procedure, and now every other state must follow suit.
Sign now to demand all remaining U.S. states follow in the footsteps of Maryland and New York and ban cat declawing!
Cat declawing has been denounced by vets, animal rights activists, and scientists for decades, and for good reason. It is an extremely painful procedure that leaves lasting negative health consequences for kittens and cats, including infection, tissue necrosis, and intense pain in the paw and back. Declawing makes it harder for cats to walk, because it literally changes the way their paws touch the ground – it's the equivalent of removing an entire knuckle of a human finger or toe. It's also extremely dangerous for cats who get loose, eliminating their main way to defend themselves and dramatically increasing their risk for getting attacked by other animals outdoors. For some cats, declawing is quite literally a death sentence.
While proponents of declawing argue it makes cats more adoptable, the procedure doesn't help keep cats in a home. In fact, it just might do the opposite. Declawing has been linked to aggression and other abnormal, difficult behaviors in cats, which actually make them harder to adopt and keep around children or other pets. In fact, declawing makes it harder for cats to use litter boxes, because their paws are more sensitive and can't handle the litter. This means more declawed cats end up abandoned right back in shelters.
There is absolutely no reason declawing is still a legal procedure in the vast majority of the United States. Urge your legislators to stand up for our furry friends and protect them from the torturous, painful act of declawing, which has lifelong consequences. Sign the petition now if you agree!