Declawing: The Cruel Practice Hiding in Plain Sight

“Empathy must guide us—if we truly feel for our feline friends, declawing wouldn’t exist.”

Listen to episode #597 now, featuring Dr. Jennifer Conrad, Founder, The Paw Project.

This episode is sponsored-in-part by Maddie’s Fund.

Declawing might sound harmless, but what if it’s one of the most misunderstood and harmful practices affecting cats today? In this powerful conversation, Stacy LeBaron chats with Dr. Jennifer Conrad, the trailblazing veterinarian behind The Paw Project, an organization on a mission to stop declawing for good. Dr. Conrad unravels the dark history of declawing, explaining why it’s less about trimming claws and more about amputating a cat’s defenses—both physically and emotionally.

With passion, relatability, and a wealth of knowledge, Dr. Conrad takes us into the billion-dollar industry that’s kept this cruel practice alive and shares how her team is taking the fight to the legislative level. You’ll learn how to spot humane veterinarians, advocate for change, and help your local community embrace more compassionate practices. Plus, don’t miss her insights in American Cats: The Good, the Bad, and the Cuddly, a new documentary from Amy Hoggart that exposes the shocking truths behind America’s relationship with its feline friends.

This episode will leave you informed, inspired, and ready to take action. Because when it comes to cats, they deserve nothing less than our claws-out advocacy.

Press Play Now For:

• The shocking truth behind the billion-dollar declawing industry.
• Why declawing is more accurately described as “de-knuckling.”
• How declawed cats are impacted both physically and behaviorally.
• The legislative efforts behind banning declawing in the U.S. and Canada.
• Why veterinarians who refuse to declaw are paving the way for a humane future.
• Tips for advocating for humane veterinary practices in your community.
• Insights into American Cats: The Good, the Bad, and the Cuddly, a documentary spotlighting America’s relationship with cats.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Paw Project website. (www.pawproject.org)
• Find no-declaw veterinarians near you. (https://pawproject.org/no-declaw-vets-directory/)
• How you can advocate in your area. (https://pawproject.org/contribute/letter-writing-tips/)
• American Cats: The Good, the Bad, and the Cuddly: A must-watch documentary exploring declawing and cat welfare. (https://youtu.be/b5acPbONnwU?si=i52Ug-Q9qHVrpo-U)
• January, 2020 Episode with Dr. Jennifer Conrad (https://youtu.be/nA1RL1-DJiI?si=exVXAqrlUr65kUSr)

Follow & Review

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple ‘+’ in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-community-cats-podcast/id1125752101?mt=2). Select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.