Update:
"By banning this archaic practice, we will ensure that animals are no longer subjected to these inhumane and unnecessary procedures," Cuomo said in a statement.
Update: New York legislature passed the bill prohibiting the declawing of cats. The bill will now be delivered to the desk of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
If Gov. Cuomo signs the bill, New York would become the first state to ban cat declawing.
Original story, published on May 8, 2019, follows below.
Declaw surgery (onychectomy) is an elective surgery wherein the distal bone of the toe is removed. Research suggests that declawing cats increases the risk of long-term or chronic pain, leading to negative behavior problems.
I've seen what recovery looks like first-hand at a vet hospital and it's not pretty.
Rather than a surgical alternative, The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the United States Human Society suggests attempting to train the cat to direct their natural scratching behavior toward a scratch pad
With that in mind, declawing is now banned in Denver and 10 California cities but no states have banned this practice.
This bill would make New York the first state in the country to ban declawing cats. The bill is currently making its way through state Assembly.
NBC New York tells us,
"Animal welfare advocates and many veterinarians say declawing a cat is inhumane since it involves the amputation of a cat's toes back to the first knuckle.
The state's largest veterinary association has opposed the bill. It says the procedure should be allowed as a last resort for felines that won't stop scratching furniture or humans."
https://www.instagram.com/p/x45yG0jsOh/
Mentalfloss.com reports,
"If passed into law, Bill A01303 will make cat declawing punishable by a fine up to $1000. The Assembly's agriculture committee advanced the legislation on April 30, and if it's approved by a second committee, it will move on to a full vote."
Cat owners are also encouraged to use clippers for regular nail trims or vinyl nail caps
Is your cat declawed? Let us know if they have behavioral abnormalities in the comments below and your thoughts on New York!
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