New Jersey could be the next state to officially ban cat declawing! But we need the voices of compassionate advocates with us to end this cruel procedure once and for all. If you believe in protecting cats from the potential lifelong harm of declawing, you’re already an advocate.
Alley Cat Allies is speaking out in support of declawing bans in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. If we want to make sure these bills do not die, we have to act now.
New Jersey’s declaw ban bill, S 1406, is currently sitting in the New Jersey Senate Economic Growth Committee. If you live in the state, join us to urge the legislators on the Committee to report the bill favorably out of committee for a floor vote!
Please contact the Committee members and urge them to say YES to this lifesaving measure.
This year, we rallied advocates to support declawing bans in California and Rhode island—and we were victorious! Now, lets keep up the momentum.
Why banning cat declawing saves lives
Declawing is not a nail trim—it is far more severe. It is a surgical amputation of the last joints of a cat’s toes that is virtually always nontherapeutic, meaning it has no medical benefit to the cat. Without their claws, cats can’t perform many of their instinctive behaviors, can feel unsafe without their natural protection, and can experience difficulty with balance and walking.
The pain and discomfort caused by declaw surgery can lead to permanent physical and mental harm for cats.
Let’s end declawing in New Jersey once and for all and Keep Cats’ Claws On Their Paws!
Learn more about the devastating impact of cat declawing, and why our fight to outlaw it saves lives.
When you take action, you send the following letter:
As a resident of New Jersey, I am writing to urge you to protect the health and well-being of cats throughout our state by favorably reporting a statewide declaw ban bill, S 1406, out of committee for a full floor vote. Then, I urge you to vote YES. This important bill would prohibit cat declawing, a painful procedure that involves the surgical amputation of the last joints of a cat’s toes.
Cats rely on their paws, including their claws, for their everyday behavioral and grooming needs. Their claws are their first line of defense, and scratching removes dead nail sheaths and stretches and strengthens their muscles. Declawing cats to address unwanted scratching behavior hinders these natural behaviors and can cause trauma and lifelong damage.
Declawing is virtually always nontherapeutic, with no medical benefit to the cat. Side effects from declawing can include hemorrhaging, paw pad lacerations, swelling, radial nerve damage, lameness, infections, and chronic pain. Cats who suffer from these side effects may develop behavioral issues such as aggression, biting, and urinating outside the litter box. These behaviors, not scratching, are the most common reasons cited for relinquishing cats to shelters.
Humane alternatives to declaw surgery are widely available, including scratching posts, spray deterrents, and nail caps. There is no need for surgery to be carried out for entirely nontherapeutic reasons that can cause permanent physical and mental harm to cats.
I want our state to exhibit the same moral fiber as states like California and Rhode Island, which recently passed declawing bans, and step up as the next leader in the humane treatment of cats. I ask that you support and pass a statewide declaw ban in New Jersey.