L.A. council committee favors law against declawing cats, calling it animal cruelty

A key committee of the Los Angeles City Council voted today to seek a law banning veterinarians from declawing cats, saying the procedure constituted cruelty to animals.

The council’s Public Safety Committee unanimously recommended that City Atty. Carmen Trutanich draft an ordinance banning the practice. The proposal was made by Councilmen Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz, who said the procedure caused “unnecessary pain, anguish and permanent disability” to cats.

“Anyone who cannot handle the claws of a cat should not have a cat to begin with,” said Rosendahl, a cat owner who represents coastal neighborhoods from Westchester to Pacific Palisades.

Cats have been an important policy issue for Koretz, who, as a lawmaker in Sacramento, tried without success to enact a statewide ban on declawing in 2003. The following year, he won passage of a bill prohibiting the declawing of exotic animals, such as lions. After joining the council in July, Koretz began using televised council meetings to find owners for cats in the city shelter system.

Councilman Tony Cardenas threw his support behind the measure but voiced doubts that the city’s Animal Services Department had enough employees to enforce such a law.  He also worried that cat owners will simply go to veterinarians in neighboring cities to get the procedure, sometimes known as an onychectomy.

“I don’t want to give you false hope,” Councilman Greig Smith told the audience of cat advocates and assorted city employees. “This is not going to stop the problem.”

West Hollywood already has a ban on declawing, and Santa Monica is expected to give final approval to a similar measure next week. Malibu, Beverly Hills and San Francisco also are considering declawing bans.

In Los Angeles, the proposed declawing law would allow exceptions in cases where removing claws would address the medical needs of a cat, such as an infection or recurring illness.

During today’s hearing, animal shelter officials confirmed that they didn't have the resources to crack down on declawing. That issue did not worry Koretz, who said he believed most veterinarians would drop the practice in Los Angeles once a declawing ban was on the books.

“It’s going to be 99% self-enforcing,” he said.

-- David Zahniser at L.A. City Hall

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Comments

[Pam Holt]

This makes me proud of my city council! Many people aren't even aware of the cruelty and amputation involved in declawing. This law will help bring awareness to what is really involved in this barbaric practice and vets that perform the surgery aren't fulfilling their oath to "do no harm". THANK YOU to all the humane officials involved.

[Collis Huntington]

Removing cats claws allows people to keep cats inside. Not allowing people to remove their cat's claws will mean many more homeless cats. I de-clawed my cat years ago and she has not suffered negative consequences. She's happy and healthy.

[Marty]

You would think with budget problems L.A city has Councilmen Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz would spend their time on improving the lives of their constituents instead of imposing their personal agenda. Instead, Councilmen Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz wants to waste the tax payers money on a measure they knows are 100% unenforceable. The must be trying to build their résumé of wasteful legislation so they can move up to state senators.

[cat lover but not cat fanatic]

I have a couple of cats, have almost always had one or two at a time, and never declawed them nor would I. However they have occasionally all clawed some furniture or a nice carpet and ruined something, even after training them, so I can see that some people can't take that. I know people who prize antiques that they could never risk having ruined, otherwise they wouldn't have cats at all. While it's true that declawed cats can't survive outdoors, and I understand some won't use a litter box, I've seen happy, declawed cats in many homes.

What we need is a lot more education so that people won't do it routinely, and will try to train cats or get more help in training them. But outright banning them doesn't seem the job of the city council which should be lowering our budget deficit and putting cops on the street. HOW is a law like this supposed to work, anyway? Won't it just mean increased costs to try to find violators? WHO will they fine, vets who do the job (giving the work to other cities), since they can't go into people's homes? Are they going to ask neighbors and kids to turn in people with declawed cats? The devil is in the details.

[Amanda]

I'm so happy to hear this! Many people don't realize that declawing a cat is like cutting a human's fingers down to the first knuckle.

With proper training and alternative options, you can have a cat with claws as an indoor cat. I have two in my home and my furniture and carpeting is free from scratches.

I was apalled recently when I came across a large apartment community in Playa Del Rey that required declawing of any cats living onsite.

[Charles Vought]

Fine - I will send the LA City Council the bill for the costs of new drapes, reupholstered couch, and scarred wood trim. Maybe they would be so kind to also subsidize some top quality cat-trees to help us out here. Otherwise - the busy-bodies from Winchester should keep their furry noses out of our private affairs. As long as I seek out a quality Vet and don't perfrom black-market declawing, you need to back off.
Say, here's a thought, why don't you tend to more important affairs like the budget or keeping people from walking on Barbara Streisand's beach??

[Nigel's Owner]

Kudos to Councilmen Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz! This procedure is akin to having your fingers amputated at the first knuckle and then trying to walk on them. Cats suffer from this procedure and if your cats sharpens it's claws on the furniture, try a scratching post, some catnip for enticement and a squirt gun for negative re-enforcement.

[DAve]

Only in LA would the rights of a cat supercede the rights and representation of the voter. Truly a well balanced city council! With budgets being what they are, perhaps the city could hire some claw inspectors to visit the homes of these cats and thier pet people.

[Baffled Observer]

My cat had to be declawed. I adopted him as a stray, and he proved to be prone to panic about unpredictable things. He nearly blinded me once--after that, I requested my vet (who did not declaw cats as a rule) to declaw him, and she agreed it was necessary--she saw what he'd done to my face.

I could not have kept him unless he'd been declawed, and he would have undoubtedly been picked up by Animal Control and euthanized if I'd put him back where I found him. He's ten years old now, very happy and healthy.

[Torrance Mom]

I know alot of people have a problem with declawing. That said, all four of my cats were declawed. 2 before I owned them and the other 2 I had declawed because of the incredible damage they caused. I tried everything to stop the damage to my carpets, furniture, clothing, but nothing the vet suggested worked. So I had my babies declawed...because it was a better solution them taking them to the pound. NONE of the four ever had any problems after being declawed. No signs of pain or crippling whatsoever. Maybe I just had a really good vet...BTW dry food is more damaging to a cat than declawing...ever watch your cat sicken because of diabetes? It is directly because of the all the corn meal in dry cat food. That should be outlawed too! Hey and is the city of LA gonna make landlords accept cats in rentals with claws? The places I have found accept declawed cats only!

[Gerry]

Why aren't these people concerned about circumcision?

[Da Maverick]

Declawing cats was an issue that was before the Public Safety committee? Really?? Because cats call 911?

A rash of cat burglars? Sorry.

Wow, can't believe what passes for "work" within the City Council these days.

[Sabrina]

I agree with this proposed rule. To me, it's very cruel to declaw a cat. How is the poor kitty supposed to defend itself if declawed? They don't always stay indoors.

[Jesus Francisco]

Do these nutcases really think that declawing a cat is any more painful than neutering? What scientific evidence do they have to back this up? No wonder people are leaving California and going to Texas!

[Hairy Carrion]

For those who really think declawing is humane:
http://www.declawing.com/
http://www.catscratching.com/

[Jolie]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Animals, like children, need kind adults who will look after them, and in this case pass laws, when their ignorant, selfish, abusive owners/parents won't.

[Jenna]

First Prop 2, now this? When are we gong to put people FIRST??

[David90068]

ChuckVought - Chill Out. This is great news and I support 100%
Declawing is gross.

[hosemonkey]

Are these guys poofters from West Hollywood?

[Joe]

Charles Voight is right.

[Charles Vought]

The point aside - why is the LA City Council so conerned about the plight of cats and their claws?? This issue is so far removed from a even something remotely important issue like animal over-population. Perhaps declawing is immoral - but what I object is the interefence of these self-imposed "superiors" to decide what is best for us in our private lives. And not just be content to rule from up high and issue some guidelines and perhaps allow us to make up our own minds, no - but make it a law. Didn't China adopt this attitude not too long ago, when the state government deemed it more favorable to have more male children? First the cats - next they'll be after your grandchildren!

[Ridiculous]

Okay - the City has WAYYYYYYYY bigger problems than whether or not a freakin' cat is declawed or not. Not that I oppose the ordinance, but that's too much time spent on a non-critical issue.

[Joey]

Anyone complaining about ruined items because of cats does not know how to handle them. I've had many cats over the years, including fosters, and with a little training and some tricks (double-sided tape, etc.), I have never had anything valuable destroyed. I have a beautiful blue velvet couch that has survived all these cats without a scratch because there are easy and effective ways to train cats not to scratch where they shouldn't, if the owner is patient and cares.

[alice in lala land]

can you say DIVERSION from REAL problems?

[2 cents]

no thanks to all the helpful suggestions about why I should put up with my furniture being destroyed - I'm pitching the thing out - never liked that cat anyway

[Jim J]

Great news. Congratulations to all the committee members for spending a few minutes on this issue and making the compassionate decision.

[Bill Hansworth]

Cats?? Claws??? You're kidding me.
Fix the damn roads, clean up the schools, and do your job first!!! Then we can worry about the poor little kittens.

L.A. City Council are a bunch of ***wipes.

[JeffGrill]

According to http://www.cat-health-guide.org/declawing-a-cat.html, declawing is always a last resort. It should only be used if behavioral modification fails. This isn't something that should be legislated as it should be up to an owner and his or her veterinarian.

[lastilldumbest]

to Charles Vought - or is it Charles OVERWROUGHT? - You want repayment for ruined drapes, furniture etc. if the city bans the incredibly cruel & painful practice of declawing? Seeing as how you haven't a brain in your skull, I'll explain in tiny words the solution: DON'T GET A CAT. You don't deserve one, you shouldn't have one - that goes for the rest of you who think it's "fine & they're happy". As for the BS about how there will be so many more unwanted cats, that is a huge separate issue but also borne of incredible selfishness on the part of humans. Get your pets neutered. PERIOD. If we cut the birth rate of animals, then there will only be enough available for people who really want them & are willing to tolerate their normal, natural behavior. Yeah, my cat tore up my leather chair. Sometimes the old guy miscalculates the litter box & pees outside. But sometimes my neighbor comes home drunk and vomits on the stairs and plays his huge-screen tv too loud - is it ok if I rip his fingernails off?

[Jessica]

Declawing cats is animal cruelty. It permanently disfigures them, takes away a defense mechanism and even indoor cats run the risk of getting outside. Those whose furniture and carpet is so valuable that they would even consider putting their pet through such a procedure SHOULD NOT have cats PERIOD. You wouldn't cut the tips off your kid's fingers, would you?
However, if the City Council really wants to do something in the name of animal cruelty why not make it mandatory that all animal owners spay and neuter their pets unless they are licensed breeders. That would crack down on the rampant feral cat/dog population, which is a bigger problem than declawed cats. Besides many veterinarians simply won't do the procedure ban or no ban.

[Astonished]

I don't know of any licensed veterinarians in the South Bay that voluntarily do onychectomies. Usually, it is a procedure that is done as a last resort, to either save the life of an animal, or to prevent it from being euthanized instead because the "owner" can't stand the scratching. There are far easier and more humane ways to deal with this issue. I have cats, and they stay inside, and I don't have an issue with them scratching because I provide them with areas where they can scratch.

[Angela Gunn]

This is cruelty why do cats have claws to begin with so they can protect themselfs no way is this not cruel ofcourse it is its the Animals with 2 legs that are normaly the beasts.

[crooks and liars]

what los angeles need is to declawing all city hall politicians and the ladwp they keep on riping oure money but i gest we like it .

[Alex]

First of all I see the LA Council has nothing better to do then involving themselves in citizens private matters.
As far as I'm concerned cat owners are a despicable group who just abandon their animals, allow them to breed with out concern and now attempt to mandate to other animal owners as to whats right. Keep you cat inside, declaw them, nuter them or let them rome and get run over by a car.

[Brunilda Perez]

In support of the declawning ban...Brunilda

[4gr8rgood]

I applaud Paul Koretz and the leaders of this city for considering this important legislation. I've seen first hand the physiological damage and behavioral problems declawing causes. While I understand it may be difficult to enforce a declaw ban fully, the important thing is that such a measure will educate the public about the harmful effects of the procedure. Doing so will make people think twice before driving to the next city to butcher their cats' toes. I fully support this measure of compassion, and look forward to the day that the rest of the U.S. joins the many other civilized nations that outlaw declawing.

[Dr Jim]

The world's consensus is that declawing is cruel. Cruelty should be prohibited. Therefore, it is reasonable to ban declawing. It's that simple.

[Larry Pierson]

Congratulations to those who are utterly unable to comprehend the consequences of such an asinine policy. Now instead of adopting pets people will leave them in the pound to be 'put to sleep' since no one wants a cat with claws ripping their furniture and clothing to pieces in the house.

The SPCA, PETA, and anyone else who gloats over this victory will be responsible for the deaths of thousands of additional cats.