The No Kill City With the Highest Save Rate in the Nation Just Outlawed Declawing Cats
Declawing cats is cruel. Austin, Texas put a stop to it.
On March 4, 2021, Austin, Texas banned declawing cats, making it illegal to declaw a cat for aesthetic or convenience reasons. It took over two years of regular meetings of veterinarians and others opposed to declawing, and the same amount of time lobbying Austin city government, to get the law passed.
When cats’ claws are removed, the entire front joint of their toes have to be removed so the claw doesn’t grow back. This can result in fragments of bone that then grow and burrow under the paws, causing the cat to become crippled.
From the website of Austin Pets Alive, “Studies have even shown that more than 60% of declawed cats surrendered to shelters have bone fragments in their toes. Those bone fragments make walking painful, and can sometimes even cause the claw to regrow under the skin, like what Grandma Hugs is experiencing.”
Grandma Hugs is a 13 year old cat surrendered to Austin Pets Alive. She came in barely able to walk, and in extreme pain. Every toe had bone fragments, and claws had regrown under her skin.
Dr. Breitreiter, director of the Texas chapter of Paw Project, performed the repair…
