Bill: Prohibit cat declawing surgeries
Israeli law still allows removal of fingernail surgeries on cats leaving animals invalid, exposed to danger. MKs Cabel, Hasson move motion to approve procedure for medical purposes only, making it third time bill is submitted to Knesset
"The sharpening of nails is a natural behavior for cats but can sometimes be bothersome to the owners, the common solution being removing the fingernails," Cabel and Hasson state in their amendment to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals law.
The MKs explained that de-clawing is a cruel surgical procedure denying the cats their natural behavior. The bill urges prohibiting the cutting or removing of cat joints, nerves, and fingernails. "Studies show that de-clawing entails both immediate complications such as bleeding, swelling and infection, and serious complications such as penetration of the bone to the flesh and problems with giving urine," the bill reads.
This is not the first time a bill against cat de-clawing is submitted. MK Hasson, serving as the Pet Lobby chairman moved a motion at the beginning of 2008 and a similar attempt was made two years ago by MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al) together with a group of MKs, to no avail.
Irreversible Surgery
According to veterinarians, de-clawing surgery for non-medical purposes is usually performed due to the desire of cat owners to protect house furniture from their pets' fingernails. The surgery is irreversible and causes great pain to the animal.
After fingernails are removed they can not grow back again. In addition, the recovery period is considered long, during which time the cat's paws remain in bandages for a week preventing it from stepping on its toes.
The surgery also leaves cats unable to climb trees and to defend themselves from other cats. There are, however, protection measures such as fingernail covers reducing the extent of damage to furniture caused by the sharpening of nails.
Cabel and Hasson's bill states that "the surgery is immoral and goes against the veterinarians' oath and is completely unnecessary in the face of simpler and more humane solutions which do not cause pain to the cats."
