San Fran Ban: City May Ban Declawing of Cats
Officials in San Francisco are considering a citywide ban on the practice of declawing cats. In August, San Francisco Board Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, introduced legislation banning the practice of declawing in the city and county of San Francisco unless deemed medically necessary. Another California town, West Hollywood, passed similar legislation banning the procedure unless medically necessary.
Onychectomy
Declawing cats has been a common practice for years. The surgical procedure, called onychectomy, is usually performed for cosmetic and convenience reasons. The procedure involves the removal of the claw and digital amputation of the last bone in the cat’s paw. The removal of the flexor tendon, tendonectomy, is also included in the proposed ban.
The proposed ordinance would amend the San Francisco Health Code. Section 45 states that the declawing procedure involves “ten, separate, painful amputations.” According to the proposed ordinance, the procedure is similar to having our fingers cut off at the last joint, “the last bone of each toe is amputated, including the claw, bone, joint capsule, nerves, collateral ligaments and extensor and flexor tendons – all critical for normal paw functioning.”
Many cats suffer physical and emotional pain due to the procedure. Some suffer lameness and others exhibit behavioral problems that can last for life. 25 countries around the world have banned the procedure.
While many consider the practice cruel, barbaric and inhumane, some argue the proposed legislation may result in more cats being abandoned due to damage to belongings from 
scratching, ultimately resulting in more felines being euthanized. Although the San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SFSPCA) opposes the declawing procedure, the organization is opposing the ban on the grounds that politicians should not regulate medical procedures and for the reasons cited above.
If the ban passes, anyone found guilty of performing, assisting or ordering the procedure, faces imprisonment up to six months in the county jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
What do you think?
Maine Coon kitten photo by John Berg
Siamese cat Helmut Wattrott
Little Lulu by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway
Good, this procedure maims the cat (minus a medical reason) – if you furniture is so important you would consider doing this, then you shouldn’t have a cat in the first place.
Great news… let’s hope they do it – I’d argue that anybody who wants to declaw a cat isn’t fit to have one.
I can’t believe the San Francisco SPCA is opposed. Makes me think somebody is in somebody’s pocket.
As far as people abandoning pets, people abandon declawed cats all the time and allow them to go outside after being declawed. There are posters at vet offices, etc, for declawed pets who need new home, and within the last month, I have known personally of at least 5 declawed cats who needed placement.