Michele -- thanks for an awesome contribution to the declawing debate. Fantastic. I think we have all the legislation and surrounding rules and treaties on this page.

Declawing, along with ear cropping is banned in the U.K. and all member states of the European Union under the European Convention for the Protection of Animals, 13th November 1987. Article 10, Clause 1(d) specifically prohibits declawing, as confirmed in the Treaty Agreement below;

http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/en/Treaties/Html/125.htm (new window)

In an attempt to counter arguments from vets in North America in favour of declawing, I decided to approach the subject from a different angle. I wrote to both the RCVS and the BSAVA asking if they could advise me where I might find articles written by U.K. vets on the subject of declawing cats and how the ban came about. Unfortunately neither of them were able to provide me with such information, because apparently the procedure has never been practised in the UK.

It would appear that having an understanding of both feline anatomy and psychology was enough for them to know that declawing is an unnecessary mutilation.

The renowned Nicholas H. Dodman was born in London and graduated from Glasgow University Veterinary School,so perhaps he may be able to shed some light on this particular matter.

Michele (UK)

Hope that some of this "ammunition" helps our North American colleagues shoot down pro-declawers.

DEFRA's web site states;

"From 6 April 2007 in England, and 28 March in Wales, the mutilation of animals was banned under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, with certain exemptions set out in the 2007 and the 2008 (Amendment) Regulations. 'Mutilation' covers any procedure that involves interference with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of an animal other than for therapeutic purposes (medical treatment)."

href="http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/act/secondary-legis/docking.htm - broken link (new window)

The Animal Welfare Act makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring the welfare needs of their animals are met, which includes the need to ?exhibit normal behaviour? (Section 9c of the Act) and ?to be protected from pain, injury, suffering and disease? (Section 9e of the Act). DEFRA?s ?Consultation on Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats? advises owners in detail what these responsibilities involve.

http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/welfare/act/index.htm (new window)
(new window)

Long before declawing was legally banned in the U.K. vets refused to perform the procedure. In fact, Appendix B in the report on animal mutilations prepared by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) which was endorsed and accepted by Council June 1986/February 1987, stated the following regarding the removal of claws;

"This procedure is only acceptable where, in the opinion of the veterinary surgeon, injury to the animal is likely to occur during normal activity. It is not acceptable if carried out for the convenience of the owner. Thus the removal of dew claws in certain breeds of dog where they protrude from the limb and are likely to become caught and torn is justifiable and even advisable. On the other hand, the removal of claws, particularly those which are weight-bearing, to preclude damage to furnishings is not acceptable.?

http://www.cdb.org/vets/mutilations.htm#Reasons (new window)

As a result of this report carried out more than 20 years ago on animal mutilations, RCVS guidelines Clause h(i) state "a veterinary surgeon must not cause any patient to suffer by carrying out any unnecessary mutilation".

http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=89720&int2ndParentNodeID=89717&int1stParentNodeID=89642 (new window)

Thanks a lot for this Ruth - very helpful as it completes the task. I think the England; The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) ( England ) Regulations 2007 provides exceptions to the AWA (or permitted procedures) and declawing is not listed thereby confirming that cat declawing is prohibited.

As for Scotland, the same situation arises. The Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2007 provides a list of operations that are excempt from the umbrella statute and as cat declawing is not listed, it is illegal in Scotland.

So you are correct that there are no exemptions allowing declawing in these regulations that qualify the statutes referred.

Thanks for your input Ruth. It is nice to have the full picture.

Michael

I worked with quite a few newly qualified young vets and as far as I know none of them had even been taught 'declawing a cat'as part of their training. In fact only one person ever asked about having her cat declawed,the owner of the practice had to be asked to tell her this operation was never done in his practice and he didn't know of any other practices which would declaw a cat.I distinctly remember one young vet saying at the time he wouldn't like to perform such a cruel procedure,in fact he'd refuse to do it even if he lost his job by doing that.
So I was very shocked a year ago to find out that declawing happens routinely in the USA and that in fact, far from being done as a last resort, kittens are declawed in neuter/declaw packages and some vets even advertise this !

I emailed the RCVS about declawing a while back and this was the reply:

Thank you for your recent e-mail enquiry.
The RCVS does not produce specific guidance on this issue for veterinary surgeons.
It is my understanding, however, that there is in place different pieces of legislation governing this subject matter depending on which part of the UK you live in namely;
Scotland; The Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) ( Scotland ) Regulations 2007

England; The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) ( England ) Regulations 2007

Wales; The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) ( Wales ) Regulations 2007

The legislation can be downloaded in full at the Office of Public Sector Information at http://www.opsi.gov.uk/
I am not aware of any provisions or exemptions contained in these various pieces of legislation that allow for the removal of cats’ claws in the situation which you describe. The removal of claws for genuine therapeutic reasons may be necessary but it is not acceptable if carried out for the convenience of the owner. By way of an example, the removal of claws, particularly those which are weight-bearing, to preclude damage to furnishings is not acceptable.
You may wish to consider seeking further guidance from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) relating to the current legislation governing the de-clawing of cats at www.defra.gov.uk
DEFRA and OPSI may also be able to provide you with detailed information on the history and evolvement of the various pieces of legislation governing this issue.
I have also attached a link to the DEFRA guidance on Animal Welfare which can be found at
You may also wish to consider seeking advice further information from the Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) at http://www.cawc.org.uk/

I have the writer's contact details if anyone wants furher information.