Bill To Ban Cat Declawing Heads to Governor’s Desk

Cat declawing is recognized internationally as cruel and unnecessary. Dozens of countries have already banned the harmful surgical procedure. Now, California is inching closer towards joining a growing number of U.S. states and cities in ending this practice. Assemblymember Alex Lee’s bill AB 867 to ban cat declawing has passed the Assembly Floor. The bill, which has bipartisan support, is now headed to the Governor’s desk. 

“Mutilating healthy cats for human convenience is cruel and inhumane,” said Assemblymember Lee. “Cat declawing is a permanent disfiguring surgery that’s equivalent to removing a person’s fingers at the top knuckle, and this barbaric procedure causes lifelong pain. AB 867 is a common sense bill reinforcing that declawing goes against ethical treatment standards for animals.”

Declawing involves the amputation of the first knuckle of each cat’s toes — a surgical procedure that can lead to debilitating health effects. Surgical complications include hemorrhage, infection, pain, and anesthetic complications. Removing cats’ claws also increases the likelihood of behaviors like biting, aggression, and litter box avoidance. Overgrooming, chronic back pain, residual bone fragments and mobility issues are among other long-term effects of declawing. 

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(Photo courtesy of the Montreal SPCA)

AB 867 prohibits the declawing of a cat unless a veterinarian performs the procedure for a medically necessary purpose that benefits the cat’s health. Scratching is a natural cat behavior, and non-surgical alternatives are available to address inappropriate behaviors such as nail trimming, soft claw caps, and behavioral training. While some believe that cat declawing reduces health risks for immunocompromised cat owners, experts instead emphasize the importance of proper hygiene and parasite control.

Cat declawing is already outlawed in many places. In 2003, the city of West Hollywood passed the nation’s first legislation to ban cat declawing, with seven other California cities following suit. New York then became the first state in the U.S. to enact the ban on this inhumane practice in 2019. Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts have also passed bans. Globally, dozens of countries including Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. and Switzerland have all banned cat declawing. 

See Assemblymember Lee’s social media video to learn more about his cats, Udon and Soba, and his inspiration for introducing AB 867. In addition, see here for his presentation of the bill on September 9 at the Assembly Floor.