CANADA - P.E.I. veterinarians have debated the issue and practice of declawing cats on Saturday after a motion to outlaw the practice was brought to the group’s annual meeting.
South Africa World Spay Day
P.E.I. veterinarians will continue to debate whether the action of declawing is an unethical practice. (Schalk van Zuydam/Associated Press)
However, veterinarians decided on this past weekend to continue to allow the declawing of cats, for now, while they send the issue to a committee for more research.
“The declawing of cats is seen by many veterinarians as not a cosmetic procedure, but more as a functional one,” said association registrar Dr. Gary Morgan.
“It’s not performed for reasons of changing appearance. It’s performed for, in some people’s minds, reasons of safety or concern about damage to people or objects.”
Morgan said many veterinarians are concerned that some pet owners will abandon their cats or have their cats put to sleep if declawing is not offered.
People thinking about having their cats declawed may be offered alternatives to the procedure before it is performed, such as behavior modification, trimming claws more frequently and using special covers for the paws.
The committee researching the issue will also investigate and look into other alternatives.