DEAR DR. FOX: I am a cat lover, and appreciate that you write about declawing as a cruel mutilation. I am sending you this article to share with your readers: "Declawing Cats Provokes a Billion-Dollar Debate" by Peter Funt, which ran in The Wall Street Journal in June. The subtitle states: "Surgically removing a cat's claws has long been a profitable business for veterinarians. Now animal advocates are hoping to ban what they call a 'cruel and torturous procedure.'" -- E.K., Washington, D.C.
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DEAR E.K.: Thank you for sending this excellent review of the contentious issue of feline mutilation, about which I have written in an effort to discourage and outlaw the practice. (See my post here: drfoxonehealth.com/post/declawing-cats.)
Here are some highlights, paraphrased, from Funt’s article:
-- Nearly two dozen countries, including England, Australia and Japan, have prohibited or severely restricted declawing. Exceptions are given to owners who are immunocompromised and at risk from infection from cat scratches (as an alternative to euthanizing or rehoming their cats).
-- More than a dozen states have sought to ban the practice, but only New York and Maryland have succeeded.
-- America’s largest provider of veterinary services, Mars Inc., with some 2,200 animal hospitals, has opted out of declawing. A position paper states that removal of the third toe bone from each digit of a cat’s foot “has been shown to lead to chronic pain and, in some cases, to cause long-term behavioral issues.”
I encourage readers to seek out the full article.
People who opt for declawing their cats usually do so in an effort to curb the animal's scratching behavior, which can be destructive. A new study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science finds that stress triggers cats to scratch more than any other factor -- and it is exacerbated when young children are around. The study also notes that scratching increases after long play sessions and nocturnal activity.
Veterinary researcher Yasemin Salgirli Demirbas says the study suggests several ways to calm scratching, including short play sessions (which mimic successful hunting), safe hiding places, elevated observation perches and the provision of scratching posts in low-traffic areas. In addition, children must be instructed not to overexcite their feline companions. (Full story: Popular Science, July 3)
DEAR DR. FOX: I’ve always loved that you respect all life, and I’ve learned a great deal from your weekly articles. However, your timing with regard to the story about Orthodox Jews sacrificing chickens has made you a cog in the wheel of antisemitism. With everything going on in the world, specifically with antisemitism here in the U.S., couldn’t you have delayed this item until next year or whenever?
This is the type of thing that gets added to a list of vilifying grievances that haters use to stoke their hate. I expect more nuance from you. -- T.S., Lake Worth, Florida
DEAR T.S.: I appreciate your concerns, and I do not wish to perpetuate or contribute to discrimination in any form. However, I have found there is no perfect time for posting concerns about animal cruelty.
I have published concerns over ritual halal (Islamic) slaughter in my column, as well, and discuss these matters on my website (see drfoxonehealth.com/post/farmed-animal-slaughter-ritual-and-conventional). As I emphasize, goats and sheep should be stunned and rendered unconscious before their throats are cut because there are arteries in their vertebrae that continue to supply blood to the brain -- meaning the animals are conscious while they bleed out.
Religion-based ritual slaughter practices need to be made more humane, and science-supported criticism must not be dismissed as antisemitic or anti-Islamic. A life unexamined is a life unlived, and we should all examine our cultural and religious beliefs and practices.
(Send all mail to animaldocfox@gmail.com or to Dr. Michael Fox in care of Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106. The volume of mail received prohibits personal replies, but questions and comments of general interest will be discussed in future columns.
Visit Dr. Fox’s website at DrFoxOneHealth.com.)