DECLAWING A CAT IS INHUMANE AND IN SOME STATES ILLEGAL. Why is declawing cats illegal in some states? Answer: In some countries and states, declawing is considered illegal and inhumane. Before you make the decision to declaw your cat, there are some important facts you should know. Declawing is not like a manicure. It is serious surgery. Your cat’s claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your the cat’s claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cat’s “toes”. When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period. Amputating the important part of their anatomy that contains the claws drastically alters the formation of their feet. The cat is also deprived of its primary means of defense, leaving it prey to predators if it ever escapes to the outdoors. By doing so, your cat is more likely to bite. Written by; Stacey Price Director of Animal Welfare daw@kitsap-humane.org