State Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-Milpitas) has introduced a bill to outlaw the practice of cat declawing in the state, calling it inhumane.
“Cat declawing, the amputation of the first knuckle of each cat’s toes, is an outdated, cruel, and unethical surgical procedure that results in lifelong disfigurement and pain,” Lee said in a press release last week.
The purpose of declawing is to prevent cats from scratching other animals, humans, or household furniture. Since claws are one of a cat’s primary defenses, removing them can lead to an increase in aggressive behaviors like biting, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The procedure can be painful and also lead to an increased risk of chronic back pain and over-grooming. Litter box avoidance is also more frequent among declawed cats, according to studies in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery.
“Declawed cats lose their homes because they are more likely to bite and to not use the litter box because of the pain in their amputated toe stubs,” said Dr. Jennifer Conrad in the press release. Conrad is a veterinarian who founded The Paw Project, a nonprofit dedicated to abolishing declawing.
The move to make declawing of domestic cats illegal in the U.S. began in California when the city of West Hollywood banned the procedure in 2003. Seven more California cities have also adopted the ban, including San Francisco and Berkeley.
Cat declawing is still legal in most states. New York became the first state to ban the practice in 2019, followed by Maryland, Virginia and most recently Massachusetts.
The procedure is banned in 38 countries, according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
Existing law in California prohibits the declawing of wild or exotic cats. Lee’s bill would allow exceptions if a licensed veterinarian determines that the procedure is medically necessary for a cat’s health.
A similar bill was introduced in the State Assembly in 2022 by Lee. It passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly before heading to the Senate where it died.
“AB 867 shows the nation and world that California does not endorse surgical mutilation performed electively on healthy cats for human convenience,” Lee said.
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