Why California is not American; it’s not Earth, either
: We make fun of Berkeley all the time. It’s fun to make fun of that other makefunnable California burg, West Hollywood, which just voted to outlaw the declawing of cats. This is the same town that passed a resolution decreeing that people can’t own pets (that would be pet slavery, you see); people can be pet “guardians.”
4 responses to “Why California is not American; it’s not Earth, either”
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FYI, there are at least 25 countries where declawing cats is either illegal or considered extremely inhumane and only performed under extreme circumstances. This includes England, Australia, Japan, and most of Europe. Many vets here in the US also refuse to perform the procedure.
“Declawing” a cat, contrary to what many people assume, consists of amputating each of the cat’s toes after the last joint. Bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral ligaments, and the extensor and flexor tendons must all be amputated in order to remove the claw. The process is roughly equivalent to cutting off each of a person’s fingers at the last joint of each finger.
Because the procedure consists of using general anesthesia on a cat and then performing numerous amputations, immediate health complications are common. Recovery is slow and painful for the cat.
Even if the procedure goes “well” and no serious postoperative complications arise, there are serious long-term health consequences. Because cats actually walk on their toes (instead of on the soles of their feet like most mammals), this partial amputation of each toe alters the angle at which their feet meet the ground. This can cause health issues, such as back pain.
Some cats are so shocked by declawing that their personalities change radically (such as a friendly cat becoming withdrawn and fearful). Some cats develop severe behavioral problems as a reaction to their tender feet and their loss of claws.
“Declawing” cats is a cruel and barbaric practice. There is nothing weird or funny about people wanting it banned. -
I agree with that. It’s not exactly unusual for cities to pass cruelty-to-animals laws, and “declawing” is cruel treatment.
The “guardian, not owner” thing is weird, though, you must admit. -
OUCH! Very descriptive Joel. I like how you really personalize the cats feelings and suffering IT must go through.
I have 4 cats. 2 are declawed and 2 or not. Amazingly, the cats without the claws are very sweet and the clawed ones are “not sweet”. We have 3 dogs in the house also, the no-claws sleep and play with the dogs, whilst the 2 clawed ones, live above ground, so to speak. Will have nothing to do with the dogs.
Yes, the description of the surgery is descriptive and whince-producing. So is every human or animal surgery done. The black cat Chloe, had a nasty habit of trying to claw my sons face. We had the choice to euthanize it oh I’m sorry, brutally murder it by tying it down, shoving a large bore needle into its tender groin area to KILL IT, or de-claw(see Joel’s note) the cat. She is a much better,sweeter cat, after getting de-clawed. She limped around for a couple of days but otherwise, no effect on her health. The other cat was declawed because she kept ripping up the sofa. Yes, even though I have a ton of pets and love em all, the sofa was more important (2000 dollars) than the free cat.
What’s my long rambling point? Of all the problems with pets, de-clawing is not a big problem on my list. Given the choice of being able to keep a cat or not, because of claws, I shudder to think of how many or dumped at animal shelters or abandoned, because de-clawing a cat would be illegal.
Danjo
(If you find a cat with no tail and re-sew the appendage on, while in front of your house, would you be arrested for re-tailing pussy on a public sidewalk?)
Yes, its an old joke. Thank you, please tip your waittress! -
If the plight of de-clawed cats is worthy of government oversight, then that’s just one more indication of how well we have it in the USA.
I live in the People’s Republic of West Hollywood. The City Council is a group of folks who have no problem with government intervention in every aspect of our lives.
