California bans declawing cats

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Cat paws are now protected in California after Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill banning declawing on Thursday.

The anti-cat declawing bill, AB 867, was championed by State Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-Milpitas). Lee wrote the bill with inspiration from his own beloved cats, named Udon and Soba.

“AB 867 marks a historic milestone for animal welfare,” Lee said Friday. “This important legislation shows our commitment to protecting our cat companions. After years of pushing to make this a reality, I’m proud to see California create a more compassionate society for our feline friends by moving away from this inhumane practice.”

The new law prohibits declawing a cat unless a veterinarian performs the procedure for a medically necessary purpose that benefits the cat’s health.

Declawing is a surgical procedure in which the cat’s toes are amputated at the last joint, similar to cutting off a human’s fingers and toes at the last joint, according to the Paw Project, a nonprofit advocacy group that sponsored the bill.

“Declawing isn’t a manicure — it’s an amputation that needlessly harms cats to spare sofas,” said Jennifer Hauge, legislative affairs manager at Animal Legal Defense Fund.

The bill passed the California State Assembly floor with a unanimous 72-0 vote in April.

Lee represents the 24th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Fremont, Newark, Milpitas, and San Jose.