The Horrors of Declawing
Jannette Ward
I have a wonderful new companion. She is nearly 6 months old, great fun, very loving, and very hard work! You've guessed! Yes, she is a Maine Coon!
Ziggy has come into my life after I lost the last cat in the menagerie started by my children as youngsters. There are times when I wonder just why I felt I needed another kitten… and other times when I couldn't do without her!
I didn't set out to have a Maine Coon. I have a friend who loves cats and has become a registered breeder, so she was the obvious person to ask about kittens. I was horrified to find that it is necessary to include a prohibition against declawing written into the sale contract and that so much space on the website is devoted to this vile practice.
Then I got to thinking¦ How many people have actually MET a cat that has had this dreadful thing done? I have and I thought I would share my personal experience. If it stops ONE cat from being mutilated in this way then I have achieved something worthwhile.
Poorpuss was a Seal point Siamese. She turned up in my father's garden and attached herself to his menagerie. My stepmother worked a lot for the RSPCA & Cats Protection League and the house was always full of waifs and strays and sometimes it was temporary fostering but some became part of the family.
Poorpuss fell in the latter category. She really was a "poor pussy" and the name stuck. Even then (early 1980's) declawing was technically illegal in this country but it was still possible to find an unscrupulous practitioner who could find a clinical justification. No-one ever came forward to answer the "Found Cats" ads, or admitted to losing her. They probably felt guilty and so they should.
Poorpuss was mutilated!
All four feet were bent inwards and she was unable to walk on her pads.
She was unable to put her feet flat to the ground
She was unable to use a normal gait
She was unable to jump
She was unable to climb
She was unable to play with toys or other cats
She was unable to defend herself
She was even unable to cover her litter because she couldn't use her feet properly
She developed arthritis early
SHE WAS UNABLE TO BE A CAT
This wasn't the result of an accident. This was a deliberate and considered act by a human being!
Poorpuss was a very intelligent lady. She lived with my father for 9 years and was probably about 18 years old when she died. She used her Siamese voice to get what she wanted from the people around her and used to ask to be picked up and put where she wanted to be.
She had sunny spots and watching spots and laps to lie on. Ignoring her was not an option. She became a very grand old lady, poor puss.
There is absolutely NO REASON for this operation to ever be carried out. Any medical reason (accident/deformity/infection) should only ever affect the claws involved and still leave the animal capable of natural existence.
Any person wanting their cat to have this operation for other reasons should be banned from owning live animals and given a plush toy to accessorise with instead.
STOP THIS MUTILATION NOW! |
