KAR's Declaw Statement

Declawing of cats has the potential to be a controversial issue, and Kalamazoo Animal Rescue (KAR) strongly urges adoptive families to investigate this elective surgical procedure thoroughly by visiting the websites of:

American Veterinary Medical Association at www.avma.org
American Humane Society at www.americanhumane.org
Humane Society of the United States at www.hsus.org
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at www.aspca.org

KAR reserves the right of all foster volunteers to determine the best placement for the animal(s) in their care.
Specifics of the procedure, as presented by the before mentioned agencies, are further outlined below:

1. Declawing (onychectomy) involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. Declawing has been speculated to leave cats with long-term health issues, and behavior problems.
2. Scratching is a normal feline behavior, and is a means for the cat to mark their territory both visually and with scent, and is used for claw conditioning and stretching activity.
3. Owners are encouraged to provide suitable implements for normal scratching behavior. Examples are scratching posts, cardboard boxes, and carpet or fabric remnants. Cats should be positively reinforced in the use of these implements.
4. Appropriate claw care (trimming the claws every 1 to 2 weeks) should be provided to prevent injury or damage to household items.

Other links you might find helpful:

Declawing - Issues & Alternatives
Caution, the following links may contain graphic images.

• Medical, ethical, and behavioral issues
  
• Training & Nail Trimming Instructions
  
• Instructions for Building Scratching Posts & Cat Trees
  
• The Declawing Menu - Educate
  
• DECLAWING: What You Need to Know
  
• The Facts About Declawing