New Jersey has taken steps on becoming the first state in the United States to ban veterinarians from declawing cats! The barbaric practice has already been banned in many European countries such as England, Italy, France, Germany, and many more.
A bill that cleared an Assembly committee would add onychetomy — the medical term for declawing — to the list of criminal animal cruelty offenses. There would be exceptions for medical purposes.
Veterinarians caught declawing a cat and people who seek them out would face a fine of up to $1,000 or six months in jail. Violators would also face a civil penalty of $500 to $2,000, according to the bill (A3899).
The procedure is typically done to prevent cats from shredding furniture or other household property, or because a cat has not learned how to play properly.
Many people find declawing to be a form of animal cruelty. Not only is there the pain and recovery time of the actual surgery, but it renders cats unable to do the things cats like to do, like climb, hunt, and yes, scratch. If a declawed cat gets out, it’s also unable to defend itself.
Nicole Feddersen, medical director for the Monmouth County SPCA, called it an “invasive surgery,” that puts cats “at risk for pain and lameness. A cat still has urge to scratch but cannot.”
“Declawing is a barbaric practice that more often than not is done for the sake of convenience rather than necessity,” New Jersey Assemblyman Troy Singleton said in a statement. “Many countries worldwide acknowledge the inhumane nature of declawing, which causes extreme pain to cats. It’s time for New Jersey to join them.”
Let’s hope this spreads onto other cities and countries as well!
New Jersey To Become The First US State To Ban The Declawing of Cats
