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The following article is taken verbatim from an Internet
site of the Oakland SPCA:
The Oakland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
of Alameda County encourages pet owners to seek alternatives
to the declawing of cats. If you are thinking about having
your pet declawed, please take a moment to consider the
following information. Declawing is a painful procedure
that can have serious physical and behavioral consequences
for your pet.
CLAWS
ARE IMPORTANT TO A CAT
A cat's remarkable grace and agility, its faultless sense
of balance, are, to a great extent, due to its retractable
claws, which allow it to establish footing for walking,
running, springing, climbing, or stretching. A cat's claws
are also its best defense mechanism.
THE
DECLAWING OPERATION
The standard declawing procedure calls for the removal of
the claw, the cells at the base responsible for the growth,
and part or all of the terminal bone of the toe. The operation
is usually performed on the front feet. It is actually an
amputation comparable to the removal of the fingers of the
human hand at the last knuckle. The cat experiences considerable
pain in the recovery and healing process.
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