Onychectomy is the act of surgically removing the claws, most often of a household cat, though occasionally of other animals such as circus lions or dancing bears. This process involves amputating the entire end digit, or bone, on the animal's toes, under anaesthesia, and is popularly known as declawing.

The incidence of declawing varies widely from country to country. In the United States and Canada, it is widespread, although precise figures are hard to come by and there is considerable variation within North America. It is a controversial subject, and often causes heated debate between those who believe it is cruel and that owners who declaw are putting the health of their furniture before that of their cat, and those who argue that declawing is better option in some cases than sending a cat to a shelter where it may be euthanised. A few places, such as West Hollywood, have outlawed the practice entirely, but this is not a common occurrence. ^*

In the United Kingdom, declawing is extremely uncommon, to the extent that most people have never seen a declawed cat. The procedure is considered cruel by almost all British vets, who refuse to perform it except for medical reasons. The "Mutilations report" found in an annex of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' Guide to Professional Conduct states:

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RT @petinsurance101: Declawing your Cat – Pros and Cons http://bit.ly/5uV1fy
Kay4NJ (Karen) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:46:32 -0000
RT @petinsurance101: Declawing your Cat – Pros and Cons http://bit.ly/5uV1fy
Declawing your Cat – Pros and Cons http://bit.ly/5uV1fy
petinsurance101 (Robin Zygelman) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:44:08 -0000
Declawing your Cat – Pros and Cons http://bit.ly/5uV1fy
People who suggest declawing a cat should be declawed themself!!!
DJMarilyn (DJ Marilyn Thomas) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:54:24 -0000
People who suggest declawing a cat should be declawed themself!!!
today at the vet.. right as we were discussing declawing Bear. Bear decided to use my mom's marc jacobs purse as a scratching post. so cute!
GaraS (gara) Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:08:46 -0000
today at the vet.. right as we were discussing declawing Bear. Bear decided to use my mom's marc jacobs purse as a scratching post. so cute!
RT @woodlandvet California Cities Ban Cat Declawing : Discovery News - http://shar.es/aUipz -- Now Sacramento needs to join in the banning!
shaylay21 (Shelene) Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:06:20 -0000
RT @woodlandvet California Cities Ban Cat Declawing : Discovery News - http://shar.es/aUipz -- Now Sacramento needs to join in the banning!
California Cities Ban Cat Declawing : Discovery News - http://shar.es/aUipz
woodlandvet (WoodlandVetHospital) Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:52:59 -0000
California Cities Ban Cat Declawing : Discovery News - http://shar.es/aUipz

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