Anne Booth

January 18, 2025 I am writing to express my support for House Bill 201 to prohibit the removal of claws from cats. I have worked in cat rescue for 35 years and have seen first-hand the problems "declawed" cats have including, often, pain-related behavior like biting and avoiding the litter box because scratching is painful. Biting can also be a defensive response for a cat without its claws. "Declawing" can cause nerve damage, phantom pain, pain from bone fragments left behind, and arthritis. In addition to paw pain, "declawing" can also result in infection, tissue necrosis, and lameness. "Declawing" is actually the AMPUTATION of the last bone of each toe. It would be like cutting off your fingers at the last knuckle. The standard method of declawing is amputating with a scalpel or guillotine clipper. The wounds are closed with stitches or surgical glue, and the feet are bandaged. Another method is laser surgery, in which a small, intense beam of light cuts through tissue by heating and vaporizing it. Both can cause lasting pain and physical problems for your cat. "Declawing" is a cruel and unnecessary practice. Dozens of countries and the state of New York have banned "declawing". For the above reasons I ask you to join me in supporting HB 201 Prohibiting Cat Declawing, which is actually the removal of the last bone of each of the cat’s toes. Thank you. Anne Booth 117 Spring Hill Road Sharon, NH 03458 P.O. Box 508.Peterborough,NH 03458 booth117@gmail.com