The special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States is strained by the fact that a substantial section of society in America support the declawing of cats. Clearly, this only affects people who (a) are aware of the fact that some people do declaw their cats in America and (b) love or like cats and animals. That said, a very large part of society in both countries like animals and are sensitive towards the needs of animals. Therefore, the declawing of domestic cats in America is a substantial irritation and barrier to a successful relationship between British and American people.
I like America and in general I like American people. But as stated, when I think of the millions of cats that are put through the terrible process of declawing, by sensible and law-abiding American people, I become irritated and upset and ask myself why do they do this. To a European who is sensitive towards animals and animal rights it seems to me that a person who declaws their cat is unsophisticated and uncivilised. It is an uncivilised act. It is an unrefined form of behaviour. I hate to say that but I can’t avoid the conclusion.
The special relationship between the UK and the USA is probably based upon the simple fact that we are essentially the same people and we speak the same language (almost). The American people came from Europe over 400 years ago. We have the same DNA and the same background and therefore we should understand each other more easily.
But British people who are aware that cats are declawed in America don’t understand the mentality of Americans who do it. It makes me want to dislike the individual American people who request their veterinarian to declaw their cat. I have to dislike these people because it is so contrary to my fundamental way of thinking in respect of our relationship with animals and particularly the domestic cat. It seems brutally uncivilised to me and crude behaviour.
So what is civilised behaviour? What is sophisticated behaviour? I’m sure people have different points of view about that. For me, one aspect of civilised behaviour is to behave in a way which creates harmony in a community of people or a society of people and in the world at large. If there is harmony life is better and life is easier.
Living in harmony with others should, in a civilised society, include living in harmony with all creatures that inhabit the planet. This includes the domestic cat. If a person is to live in harmony with the domestic cat the person must respect the cat. People cannot live in harmony with either the human animal or the animal without respect for others. That must be a fundamental starting point.
When a cat owner has her cat declawed it is disrespectful of their cat. It is modifying, in a rather brutal way, a cat’s anatomy for the convenience of the owner. It is one-way traffic, the cat’s owner is doing exactly what he or she wishes with her cat at her convenience. I conclude, therefore, that this is uncivilised behaviour and it puts a strain as far as I’m concerned on my relationship with the American people because it goes to a fundamental cultural belief.
When you read articles or comments by people who support declawing you understand that there is no way you can present an argument to them that will change their mind. And vice versa, by the way. A pro-declaw person, no matter how hard they try, will never be able to convince an anti-declaw person that it is acceptable. We think completely differently. This strains our relationship because we both like cats, which should be a good starting point in a successful relationship.
If I am right that the act of declawing a cat is uncivilised behaviour, then how did this come about? I can only conclude that when the first Europeans landed in America they had to restart their lives afresh and in doing so they turned the clock back several hundred years and had to rebuild a fresh society. That was a knock back in terms of a developmental process towards civilised behaviour. Today, America is a very advanced society in very many areas such as technology but in some areas they are less advanced than Europeans. The evolution of the American people over the preceding 400 years has not been even. There is still an element of the wild West about the way some American people relate to wildlife. It is almost as if for a part of American society their relationship with animals is about 100 years behind their relationship with technology.
I’ll leave it there. I write this with respect for the American people. I hope the article is not disrespectful. I don’t believe it is because it is honest and I’m sure other Europeans and British people have similar feelings concerning other aspects of European and American life.
Note: I have not generalised. I refer to “some” Americans not “Americans”.
If telling the truth and standing up for what is right upsets someone then I’m sorry but they deserve to be upset! It’s burying their heads in the sand that allows this abuse to go on, just as it does all animal abuse.
I admire you Michael for speaking out, PoC has saved many cats claws because you are not afraid to tell the truth here!
No disagreement here.
It’s true that many vets minimize or downright lie about what will be done to a cat he intends to declaw.
But, as Ruth AKA pointed out, it is the complete responsibilty of the caretaker to know what will be done to their cat and the backlashes that will result. If the vet is unclear with them, they need to go and educate themselves before pursuing anything.
The days of “blind faith” with our vets, docs, lawyers, accountants are over.
Jo, thank you for supporting me. I am always worried about writing the sorts of articles – which am compelled to do because I find the whole thing hateful and upsetting – because I am frightened that I will upset a lot of Americans who will criticise me and stay away from the website. However, as mentioned when I sit down and then decide to write something out of my head the most outstanding topics and issues come to my mind and this must be almost at the top of the pile of subjects because it is so terribly wrong and unjustifiable. I have a deep hatred of it and it makes me dislike people. I do not want to dislike people but when they do this sort of thing what else can I think?
As you say, the veterinarians are shortsighted and they are thinking short-term. They are looking for the quick buck to pay their overheads and earn a decent salary and they feed on the ignorance of the cat owners who should know better. If they changed course and thought about making money in a more moral and humane way, building business slowly through trust not only would they feel better they would be better. They can stop pretending that they were doing the right thing. Any decent veterinarian must struggle on a day-to-day basis with what they are doing if they participate in declawing cats. What kind of miserable life is a veterinarian living if he dislikes declawing but still does it?
I know that it upsets you as much as it upsets me. When I sit down quietly and decide to write something out of my head this sort of subject comes up. It comes up because it is hateful and it hurts. Every minute of every day there’s probably a kitten being mutilated, legally by a respected professional. The whole thing is deeply upsetting and I struggle and struggle again to understand how and why America can accept it. Sometimes I feel like screaming or strangling someone. When I write these articles I worry that it will upset someone badly and they will criticise me but at the end of the day I am compelled to express what is in my heart as honestly as I can.
This article is far from disrespectful, it is true and honest!
How could a British cat lover like or respect anyone who believes it is acceptable to pay a vet to mutilate their cat? Even non cat lovers here who hear of this are shocked at the cruelty even before they know declawing is not ‘simply removing the claws’ When they hear it is actually ten amputations they are aghast at how any vet can legally abuse cats this way for money.
Yes I know that most Americans blame those vets for not telling the truth about what major surgery declawing is. But cat owners, NOT caretakers because caretakers care enough to find out what any vet intends to do to their cat before leaving him to go through any procedure, must take responsibility and stop bleating that ‘they didn’t know what it meant’ Why didn’t they ask?
Sorry but I deeply hate not only declawing vets but also the people who hand their cat over to those butchers. Would they leave their child for surgery without asking exactly what it entailed? Would they go themselves for surgery without knowing how it would affect them? Of course not. So they shouldn’t do just that to their innocent cat!
Hi Michael!
Great article, by the way. It is not in any way disrespectufl. It is simply the truth! I am finding that the only way that we will reach people is through education- education and more education. But it’s not only the folks that “own” these cats that think that declawing is ok. It’s the vets who make a fortune performing this surgery. They have also been “brainwashed” by the schools to which they attended as well.
Unfortunately for many of the vets in the USA (who may have been inspired to become a vet because they love animals (more than humans)- but all too soon discover that veterinary clinics are a business- and they have to bring in the bucks. So why not offer declawing at the same time they are doing a really important surgery (neutering or spaying, at a discount price.
Unfortunately the AVMA puts a “loophole” in their stand on declawing- “If all else fails”- not bothering to educate the vets that there are no “failures”- that they should be helping their clients by educating them how to clip nails- use cat trees, etc.
They could make a lot more money educating their clients who would learn to trust them more- and then refer their friends to the practice. Selling cat trees and other beautiful products in their clinics would bring them in that all important $$$ and also keep their clients happy- and faithful. Just my humble opinion from someone who lives in the USA who feels strongly that declawing MUST be banned here.