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Proposal to Ban Cat Declawing in New York State

Beth Adams WXXI

It's banned in eight California cities, in Europe and other parts of the world. And now a state assemblywoman wants New York to become the first state to make it illegal to declaw a cat.

"I believe it's exquisitely cruel and inhumane,” said Manhattan Democrat Linda Rosenthal. “People who take an animal into their home are responsible for caring for it, making sure it's healthy and not subjecting it to one's own whims. I think it's a moral responsibility. The fact that someone may feel their furniture or rugs are more important than the cat's bodily integrity, that's not acceptable and that's why this bill is necessary."

Rosenthal believes the legislation will get bipartisan support and she already knows its popular with her constituents and others.

"Word of it has exploded throughout the state, throughout the country and actually throughout the world. I'm getting email from Germany, Finland and other places and it's astounding."

Rosenthal believes declawing a cat-a procedure known as onychectomy-is a form of mutilation, comparable to removing the first knuckle of a human finger.

But not everyone agrees with that assessment.  Dr. Dean Snyder is a Hilton veterinarian and president of the New York State Veterinary Medical Society.

"Cats have a main pad and they have a single pad for each of their digits,” Snyder said.
“ When we take that very tip or sliver of the bone that is mostly nail bed, we don't touch that pad, so when you look at it, you can't tell that anything was done. So, when someone describes declawing as being the same as if you cut the end of your finger off, that isn't anywhere near correct. If someone did do that procedure in that manner, that would be cruel and inhumane, I completely agree with that. But, we have the finesse to do the procedure, and within two days (the cat) is happy, their owner is happy."

Snyder says declawing is an amputation considered major surgery and should not be used as the first line of defense against destructive behavior like clawing furniture.

"What we require or what we recommend is that veterinarians take their time and talk to the owners and find out what other things can be done. Most cats don't need it, first of all. Many cats, if they're nails are trimmed every one to two weeks, they can go through the motions of it, but cause any problems or not cause serious problems."

Snyder believes the proposed ban on declawing has the potential to leave some cats homeless or worse.

"Not every home is an ideal situation but most of these homes, if they can get rid of the destructive behavior, are fantastic homes for cats. If this is outlawed, it's going to make it so these cats in the homes where they can't live with (destructive clawing) have to either be euthanized or adopted."

Rosenthal said, "Someone who will only adopt a cat if they adhere to their own vision of what that animal should be probably shouldn’t have that animal."

The proposed ban on cat declawing will be introduced in the Assembly's agriculture committee.  Rosenthal is still looking for a sponsor for the bill in the Senate.

Beth Adams joined WXXI as host of Morning Edition in 2012 after a more than two-decade radio career. She was the longtime host of the WHAM Morning News in Rochester. Her career also took her from radio stations in Elmira, New York, to Miami, Florida.