Declawing

Along the same lines, what are the vets' views on declawing (also called onychectomy, where the distal phalanx and its attached claw are removed) ? This question is not as much of an issue in those countries where the practice is illegal, but it still is permitted in most parts of the United States and Canada.

Are the vets strictly never declaw? Will they do it only as a last resort to save the cat's paws, or if the cat has behavioral issues that cannot be solved any other way? Will they do it whenever the client wants to? Would they ever perform a four-paw declawing? Will they do it to perform two relatively common surgeries under the same anesthesia while the cat is being spayed or neutered (like how an auto mechanic will change the timing belt when a car needs the engine pulled for some other reason) ? How old/ big/ young must the cat be for a declaw surgery? How long will the cat stay at the clinic after surgery? Do they explain the process to their clients, and the possible effects on behaviour it can lead to? Will they show you how to trim you cat's claws, or provide other alternatives? Will they accept your views on the matter? Have they been bullied by the militant anti-declaw movement? Are they lobbying the legislature on one side or the other?