Response from Dr Jennifer Conrad:

I think there are a few things that can be done to help persuade veterinarians not to offer declawing.

Economic incentive will drive some veterinarians. Only bring your animals to veterinarians who don't declaw cats. Make it well known in your community that only a compassionate veterinarian would choose not to declaw, and that only a compassionate veterinarian is allowed to touch your animals. Tell your former veterinarians that you will not be going to their offices any more because they declaw cats.

Explain to veterinarians that if they declaw the cat, they might lose the patient and client forever when the cat has surgical and behavior complications.
However, if they don't declaw the cat, they will have the patient for years.

Explain to veterinarians that according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), declawing is only supposed to be used as a "last resort." This is a whole other battle and is described in a question earlier in the week, but what they mean is that all other humane options have been exhausted. So, why are the veterinarians declawing a 20 week old kitten, a mere baby, who hasn't had a chance to learn where appropriate scratching surfaces are? Why aren't they offering alternatives instead of the expedient and unnecessary surgery? Be armed with the knowledge that a declawed cat is more likely to go to the pound than a clawed cat.

Ask these veterinarians if they are fully disclosing what declawing is and the potential for problems. Are they explaining the fact that declawing the cat
could make it stop using the litter box or make it start biting? Are they offering other ways to avert scratching problems?

Teach the children about declawing. Get local groups like Girl Scouts to have a cat appreciation day. Have them draw pictures and write letters to veterinarians
begging them to stop declawing because it is hurting cats.

Ask your City Council to publicly condemn declawing of cats.

Declawing is a surgical treatment for a behavior problem. In human medicine, that notion went out with lobotomy!

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Posted on SHARE Yahoo group Nov. 2, 2005