California Officially Bans Cat Declawing with Governor Newsom’s Signature

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California Becomes Largest State to Ban Cat Declawing

California has taken a historic step in animal welfare by officially banning the declawing of cats, joining a small but growing list of U.S. states that have outlawed the practice. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 867 into law, making California the largest state to prohibit declawing except when medically necessary.

The new law, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, allows the procedure only in cases where it is required to treat injuries, infections, or diseases that directly threaten a cat’s health. For decades, declawing was performed largely for human convenience — to stop cats from scratching people or furniture — but the process itself is far more invasive than many realize. It involves amputating the first bone of each toe or severing tendons that control claw movement, leaving cats to endure lifelong consequences.

Animal welfare groups hailed the decision as a groundbreaking victory. In Defense of Animals, one of the organizations advocating for the ban, praised the law for putting compassion before convenience. “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 the group. “Today’s victory proves California is leading the way in protecting cats and prioritizing their well-being.”

The man's behavior shows the connection between animal abuse and other types of cruelty. He's already been jailed in the past for his violent history, but that obviously didn't address his underlying motivations for this kind of assault.

Declawing has been linked to serious health and behavioral issues, including chronic pain, arthritis, lameness, litter box avoidance, and increased aggression. These problems often lead to abandonment or surrender to shelters, making the procedure even more harmful to cats’ long-term welfare.

Assemblymember Lee emphasized that AB 867 places California in alignment with global standards. “Cat declawing, the amputation of the first knuckle of each cat’s toes, is an outdated, cruel, and unethical surgical procedure,” he said. “Many countries have already outlawed this inhumane practice. AB 867 shows that California does not endorse surgical mutilation performed on healthy cats for human convenience.”

With this move, California joins New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island as the only U.S. states with statewide bans on declawing. The law builds on existing local bans already in place in several California cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, and West Hollywood — the latter being the first city in the U.S. to prohibit the practice back in 2003.

Not everyone supported the bill. The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) opposed AB 867, voicing concerns about limiting veterinarians’ ability to make nuanced medical decisions. Grant Miller, CVMA’s director of regulatory affairs, pointed out that about 80% of veterinarians in the state no longer perform declawing voluntarily, but said there may still be rare cases where the procedure is necessary to protect vulnerable pet owners.

Despite these concerns, the majority of animal advocates view the ban as a defining step in prioritizing animal health over outdated practices. “California has long been a leader in animal protection,” In Defense of Animals stated. “Today’s signing of AB 867 further cements the state’s commitment to compassion and ethical treatment of animals.”

With the passage of this law, California once again sets a standard for animal welfare nationwide, ensuring that cats across the state are spared from a practice long considered both cruel and unnecessary.

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