Declawing your cat is now a crime in California

A Win for Cats

Starting January 1, 2026, veterinarians in California can no longer declaw cats unless the procedure is medically necessary.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on October 9, 2025, making California the biggest state to ban a surgery that animal welfare groups have fought against for decades.

The procedure isn’t what most people think it is, and the fight to end it started in an unlikely place with a veterinarian treating Hollywood’s big cats.

Declawing Amputates Bone, Not Nails

Most people assume declawing is like a permanent nail trim. It’s not.

The surgery removes the last bone of each toe, which is where the claw grows from. In human terms, it’s the same as cutting off every finger at the top knuckle.

Veterinarians perform the procedure using scalpels, guillotine-style clippers, or lasers, and complications include hemorrhage, infection, and nerve damage.

The cat’s anatomy is permanently changed.

Chronic Pain Lasts for Years

Studies show declawed cats face a higher risk of back pain, arthritis, and mobility problems.

Many develop behavioral issues like biting and litter box avoidance because digging in litter hurts their damaged paws. Some cats become more aggressive, not less, because they’ve lost their primary defense.

Shelters report that these behavioral problems are a leading reason owners surrender cats, which means the surgery often backfires.

Assemblymember Lee Has Two Cats

Alex Lee, a Democrat from Milpitas, wrote the bill after watching his own cats, Udon and Soba. He called declawing a barbaric procedure done for human convenience.

Lee represents the 24th Assembly District and has pushed animal welfare legislation before. He introduced AB 867 in February 2025 and spent months building support.

His office emphasized that scratching is natural behavior, not a problem to solve with amputation.

72 to 0 Result Passes on to Gavin

In a rare show of unity, both Democrats and Republicans backed the ban.

The bill passed the Assembly floor unanimously on April 28, 2025, then moved through the Senate and landed on Newsom’s desk in September.

Cat declawing became one of the few issues in Sacramento where partisan fighting disappeared entirely.

Even legislators who didn’t speak at hearings voted yes when it came time.

Violators Risk Losing Their Licenses

The law gives California’s Veterinary Medical Board power to deny, revoke, or suspend licenses for vets who declaw cats for non-medical reasons.

Fines are also on the table.

The only exception is when a veterinarian determines the procedure is therapeutically necessary for the cat’s health, such as removing a tumor on the nail bed.

Cosmetic reasons and furniture protection don’t qualify.

West Hollywood Started This in 2003

In April 2003, West Hollywood became the first city in America to ban cat declawing.

The California Veterinary Medical Association sued to block it, but the Court of Appeals reinstated the ban in 2007.

Seven more California cities followed, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Beverly Hills, and Berkeley. The local victories created momentum, but a statewide ban took another 18 years to finish.

New York Banned It First in 2019

New York became the first state to outlaw declawing when Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill in July 2019.

Maryland followed in 2022, then Virginia, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island joined the list. Washington D.C enacted its ban in 2023.

Dozens of countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and most of Europe, had already banned the procedure years earlier.

The U.S. was late to the movement.

A Vet Started Fixing Declawed Big Cats

Dr. Jennifer Conrad worked with exotic animals in Hollywood and noticed that declawed lions, tigers, and cougars couldn’t walk without pain.

She began performing reparative surgeries on their paws in the 1990s, paying for many procedures herself.

She founded the Paw Project in 2000 to educate the public and push for legislation. The nonprofit sponsored AB 867 and has worked on declawing bans for over 25 years.

Veterinary Groups Spent Big to Fight It

The California Veterinary Medical Association opposed AB 867 throughout the legislative process. The group argued that veterinarians should keep professional discretion over medical decisions.

Records show the association spent at least $1 million on lobbying since 2018, when the first statewide ban attempts began.

Five different bills died before this one finally passed. The association’s opposition delayed the ban for years.

Nail Caps and Posts Work Instead

Cat owners have plenty of options that don’t involve surgery. Soft nail caps fit over claws and prevent damage when cats scratch.

Regular nail trimming every two to four weeks keeps claws blunt. Scratching posts made with sisal fabric give cats a satisfying place to stretch and mark territory.

Behavioral training with positive reinforcement teaches cats where to scratch. None of these methods require amputation.

California Joins a Growing Movement

With nearly 40 million residents, California’s ban sends a signal to the rest of the country. Animal welfare groups hope the law will inspire other states to follow.

Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Illinois all have bills pending.

The Paw Project, which started with one vet treating injured big cats, has now helped pass bans protecting millions of house cats.

Udon and Soba’s owner made sure California joined that list.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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