Article published Dec 31, 2006 Letters to the Editor - 12/31/06 DECLAWING DOES NOT HARM CATS To the editor: In this past Sunday's edition [Dec. 17], I noted the announcement of the upcoming New Hampshire Feline Fanciers Cat Club cat show at the Dover Middle School. I phoned and spoke to a representative of the association in an attempt to gain insight into their non-declawed discriminatory policy, something I view as somewhat ironic in that de-clawed canines are eligible for professional showing. My query was met with considerable disdain as the representative attempted to explain to me why the procedure was an act of maiming, resulting in permanent disfigurement and considerable discomfort to the poor cat. At that, I asked her view of cat castration, but the correlation fell on deaf ears as she went on to categorize those veterinarians and cat owners who approve of declawing. Since then, I have spoken with local veterinarians who assure me that the procedure, if done properly, is not of great risk, nor does it adversely affect the cat's personally or its quality of life, assuming that the cat remains solely indoors. I know of a number of individuals who own cats who have had this procedure done. I have heard no complaints. Perhaps the New Hampshire Feline Fanciers Cat Club fails to realize that many cats would be without a home if this procedure were not available. The net result being more homeless cats and, at worse, more cats put down because potential owners are unwilling to welcome them into their homes. I strongly encourage the New Hampshire Feline Fanciers Cat Club to re- evaluate its self-righteous, discriminatory policy with regard to accepting declawed cats for show. All cats, whether neutered/spayed or declawed, should be eligible for show. Randy G. Heller Barrington Article published Jan 7, 2007 Letters to the Editor - 01/07/07 FELINE FANCIERS RESPONDS TO LETTER To the editor: This letter is written in reference to a Dec. 31 letter to the editor regarding the issue of not allowing declawed cats to compete at cat shows. New Hampshire Feline Fanciers (NHFF) is a Cat Fanciers Association- sanctioned cat club and is required to adhere to all policies, procedures and show rules established by the parent organization and its member clubs. CFA does not support declawing as stated at www.cfa.org/articles/health/declawing.html, therefore the CFA show rule prohibits declawed cats to compete in CFA cat shows. NHFF invites cat owners to enter and compete their beautiful non-declawed kittens and cats at its Jan. 27-28 cat show at the Dover Middle School. Show and entry information are available at www.nhff.org; entry deadline is Jan. 22. All profits from our cat shows are donated to local animal shelters, the New Hampshire spay/neuter program, CFA Purebred Rescue, CFA Disaster Relief Fund, and the Winn Feline Foundation. We are a not-for-profit 501 (C4) corporation. Our cat shows are our fundraisers enabling us to help and support our feline friends. Nancy Jenkins, NHFF President Sandown DECLAWING MORE THAN A NAIL CLIPPING To the editor: This letter is in response to the Dec. 31 letter to the editor regarding the issue of not allowing declawed cats to compete at cat shows. Since dog competitions were referenced, it is unclear to me if the writer was knowledgeable regarding cat competitions. Declawing involves amputation of the last digit or toe, not simply nail or claw removal, and structurally alters the cat. It is not minor surgery as many people think. Declawing does affect the cat physically, emotionally and behaviorally and numerous complications can occur. I would encourage every person to become informed about declawing by going to an excellent website at www.declawing.com, written by a veterinarian. It provides: (1) A detailed description of the surgery including pictures, (2) A list of numerous complications that occur at a rate significantly higher than other routine surgeries (more than 50 percent), (3) A lengthy list of countries that prohibit declawing, and (4) Suggestions and other alternatives to declawing such as nail trimming, scratching posts or softcaps. The United States is the only country that practices declawing on a regular basis, however, more than several states have now passed legislation prohibiting this surgery. Many shelters carefully educate new owners regarding this issue and will not allow their adopted cats to be declawed. I commend the Cat Fanciers Association for its position of not supporting declawing and not allowing declawed cats to compete and also requiring CFA-sanctioned cat clubs, such as New Hampshire Feline Fanciers, to adhere to this show rule. Carol Babel Merrimack WOULD NEVER, EVER DECLAW A CAT To the editor: This is in response to the letters written by Randy G. Heller from Barrington who took issue with the New Hampshire Feline Fanciers Cat Club and its discriminatory policy in regards to accepting declawed cats for show. Quite a few years ago, when I didn't know what I didn't know, I had a six- month-old kitten spayed and declawed at the same time. I was told to not use regular litter but put shredded newspaper in her litter box for a few days until her paws had a chance to heal. Not long after, she started to go to the bathroom outside of her litter box in a particular place in another room — on 200-year-old pumpkin pine floors. She would even go on the newspaper on the floor surrounding her litter box, but not in her box. She also never really walked right again on those front paws. For the next several years this habit continued and even caused a major rift between my husband and myself. She was his cat. I finally gave up cleaning up after her and subsequently on our marriage. There were other mitigating factors mind you, but having a cat who refused to use her litter box after being declawed certainly didn't help things to be right in our world. Last I heard, my now ex-husband had to resort to keeping her in a cat kennel with most of the floor space taken up by a huge litter box. This seems to work for awhile, but eventually she goes back to her old ways after being allowed out for some time. Knowing what I know now, I would never, ever declaw a cat again. As for spaying and neutering — tubal ligation or vasectomy — many humans opt themselves for this procedure after they've had enough children. But I don't know of too many humans who have opted to have their fingernails surgically removed. Thanks for letting me share. Gail Sawyer South Berwick, Maine