Written by Heidi Bickel
The Cat Fanciers' Association (CFA)
The Cat Fanciers' Association recognizes that scratching is a natural behavior of cats and that cats may be defenseless without full use of
their claws if they, either intentionally or unintentionally, go outdoors. Scratching damage to household furnishings can be minimized or avoided
by routine clipping of the claws, the use of claw covers and by redirecting the cat's activity to acceptable surfaces.
CFA perceives the declawing of cats (onychectomy ) and the severing of digital tendons (tendonectomy) to be elective surgical procedures
that are without benefit to the cat. Because of the discomfort associated with any surgery and potential future behavioral or physical effects, CFA
disapproves of routine declawing or tendonectomy surgery in lieu of alternative solutions to prevent household damage. In certain situations,
including high risk of injury or disease transmission to owners with bleeding disorders or compromised immune systems, declawing may be
justified in order to maintain the cat-human bond.
Please see the following link for full Position Statement And Information Summary:
http://www.cfainc.org/health/declawing.html
American Animal Hospital Association
Declawing of domestic cats should be considered only after attempts have been made to prevent the cat from using its claws destructively or
when clawing presents a significant health risk for people within the household.
As with any elective surgery, the client should be advised of all advantages, disadvantages, and available options. Veterinarians have an
obligation to provide cat owners with complete education with regard to declawing prior to performing the procedure.
Please see the following link for full Position Statement and points that veterinarians should cover:
http://www.aahanet.org/About_aaha/About_Position.html#declawing
American Association of Feline Practitioners
The American Association of Feline Practitioners strongly believes that it is the obligation of veterinarians to provide cat owners with
complete education with regard to feline onychectomy. There are significant misconceptions about normal feline behavior, and veterinarians are
routinely presented with frequently asked questions.
Please see the following link for full Position Statement and points that veterinarians should cover:
http://www.aafponline.org/resources/statements/declawing.htm
For more information about what declawing surgery entails, and additional resources for alternatives to declawing, please visit:
http://straypetadvocacy.org/html/declaw_detoe.html
Heidi Bickel lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Lakewood, Colorado with her husband and two cats. She is the
webmaster and coordinator of two companion animal websites, StrayPetAdvocacy.org and SaveSamoa.org and
primarily works with two other longstanding members of The Cat Site Forums on these projects.
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