CLAWS OUT January 1 law all pet owners must follow
Animal rights’ groups and lawmakers blasted the procedure as “inhumane”Credit: Getty
A new California law banning most cat declawing procedures takes effect today, drawing criticism from some veterinarians even as animal welfare advocates celebrate the change.
Beginning January 1, declawing cats will be illegal except when the procedure is deemed medically necessary. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law in October.
The law prohibits declawing for cosmetic or behavioral reasons, such as preventing cats from scratching furniture, people, or other animals. Lawmakers and animal rights organizations have long criticized the procedure, noting that declawing involves removing the first joint of a cat’s paw — comparable to amputating a human fingertip.
“Declawing isn’t a nail trim; it’s a painful amputation that has no place in a compassionate society,” said Dr. Marilyn Kroplick, president of In Defense of Animals, in a statement.
Supporters of the ban argue that declawing can lead to lifelong suffering for cats and has been linked to chronic pain, infections, arthritis, and behavioral issues. Democratic Assemblymember Alex Lee, who authored the bill, pointed out that many countries have already outlawed the practice.
“This law shows the nation and the world that California does not endorse surgical mutilation performed electively on healthy cats for human convenience,” Lee said in a statement shared by In Defense of Animals.
Despite broad support from animal welfare groups, veterinary organizations have pushed back. The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) warned that the law sets a “dangerous precedent” by limiting veterinarians’ professional judgment and singling them out within the medical field.
“The decision to declaw a cat should be made by the owner in consultation with their veterinarian on a case-by-case basis,” the CVMA said, adding that the procedure should only be considered for medical reasons or when scratching poses a serious health risk to owners.
Grant Miller, the CVMA’s head of regulatory affairs, said surveys show that more than 80% of California veterinarians already do not perform declawing. He argued that veterinarians have largely self-regulated the practice, making the new law unnecessary.
“When the procedure is performed, it’s often because an elderly or immunocompromised patient — such as someone undergoing chemotherapy or taking blood thinners — cannot risk being scratched,” Miller said during a legislative hearing.
He added that declawing has sometimes been considered as a last resort when owners might otherwise give up their cats, but only after all other alternatives have failed.
Under the new law, veterinarians who violate the ban could face fines or lose their licenses.
California now joins New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in banning most declawing procedures, along with roughly 40 countries worldwide. Several California cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, had already enacted local bans prior to the statewide law.
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