Pennsylvania could be the next state to officially ban cat declawing! Alley Cat Allies is taking action to support this lifesaving measure, but we need YOUR voice to end this cruel procedure once and for all.
The declaw ban bill, House Bill 1716, passed in committee and is ready to go to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for a full vote. If you live in Pennsylvania, now is the time to take action with Alley Cat Allies.
Urge your representatives to bring the declaw ban bill to the floor and vote YES!
Why banning declawing saves cats’ 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 Pennsylvania once and for all and Keep Cats’ Claws On Their Paws!
When you take action, you send the following letter
As a resident of Pennsylvania, I am writing to urge you to protect the health and well-being of cats throughout our state by bringing House Bill 1716 to the floor and voting 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.