This one should be a no brainer. 

Bill No. 5656 pending before the Connecticut General Assembly would ban the declawing of cats. The only exception would be for therapeutic reasons, meaning an infection, injury, disease or "abnormal condition" that was jeopardizing the cat's health.  

Therapeutic reasons do not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or the owner's convenience.

The bill is pending before the Connecticut Committee on Environment. Click here to find members and email them and urge them to support this bill.

A public hearing is set for February 29, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. EST before the Committee on Environment in the Legislative Office Building. Click here for directions. Please attend if you can.

You can also email committee members listed at the link above or call them at 860-240-0440. Don't wait.   

If you live in Connecticut, click here to find your legislators and write or call and urge them to support this simple measure that will prevent a world of hurt to so many cats.

The Committee will also accept written testimony. To do that, use this form:

                                         Environment Committee

Public Hearing Testimony on

H.B. 5656, An Act Prohibiting the Declawing of Cats

February 29, 2008

Honorable Members of the Environment Committee:

(Put your comments here. Keep it to no more than 2 pages.)

You can email the testimony to phyllis.brett@cga.ct.gov who is Rep. Marilyn Guiliano's assistant, and is helping collect, copy, and distribute the testimony to the committee. Or you can fax your testimony to the Committee on Environment at 860-240-0207. Submit your testimony no later than 5 p.m. EST on Feb. 28.

Here is information about the cruelty of declawing cats:   

Declawing is not cutting a cat's nails. It is major surgery, the amputation of a joint of each toe, bones and all. It's like having the tips of your fingers cut off at the first joint.

This can mean complications including a bad reaction to the anesthesia, infections, nerve damage, bone chips, and as time passes, weakening of leg, back and shoulder muscles and impaired balance. The nails might regrow abnormally inside the paw, causing pain.

Cats need their claws. They are defenseless without them. Declawing can cause them to  suffer neurosis with bladder problems and skin conditions.

Click here for a copy of the bill.