Hi,
Having only just ventured into the cat forum from the dogs I was shocked to read some of the messages! It brought back a very vivd memory from about ten years ago. My cousin, in Virginia USA, had just left home and was excited about getting her first cat. When she wrote telling us about this she was waiting to collect the cat from the vet where he was having his claws removed to save the furniture. This news sent me rushing for the bathroom and I was physically sick.
Here in the UK you would not be able to find a vet willing to carry out such a procedure.
The law in this country recognises the nature of cats and when they are outside the owner is not held responsible for their actions. It is however against the law to take any action that may harm a cat. On the other side of this if a cat is hit by a car no action has to be taken by the driver whereas all accidents involving dogs, required to be under control, must be reported to the police.
We do have a massive feral cat population in this country and many of the "strays" picked up by animal welfare organisations are feral animals. (Most pet moggies in this country have the potential to go feral and survive in a wild state, although it's easier for them if don't!) This is true in the country as well as in the urban areas. We live on the edge of Salisbury plain, it's on our doorstep, and we have plenty of feral cats all over the plain. When I worked on a farm in rural Cornwall we had several ferals in the area.
We don't have the threat of rabies in this country, and the only predators likely to take a cat would only tackle an already injured or sick cat. Our only venemous snake, the adder, rarely bites cats, dogs are much more common victims due to owner ignorance of the snakes habitat and habits.
Traffic is the greatest danger to our cats.
Given all the problems faced by cats in the outside world I still couldn't bear to keep my cats inside for all their lives. If the government wouldn't allow my cats to go outside I simply wouldn't have any - I have always dreamed of owning big cats, but wouldn't dream of it as they would be caged. The same with wolves.
All in all neutering has to become the norm in this country, declawing is right up there with ear cropping dogs as far as I'm concerned and cats have every right to live part of their lives as cats - outside. If you can't afford the vet bills to innoculate your animals, don't have animals.
I love my kids and would defend them to the death but just because I love them doesn't give me the right to lock them up and deny them expression of their true nature.