California – Cats in California will no longer be subjected to painful, sometimes debilitating, claw removal surgery. Governor Newsome has signed Assembly Bill 867, from Assemblymember Alex Lee, into law and veterinarians will no longer be able to perform declawing surgery on cats.
Cats are typically declawed because of behavior issues, such as destroying furniture. But the surgery has long been controversial because it is more than simply removing the claws. Declawing cats is considered cruel because it isn’t just nail removal — it involves amputating the last bone of each toe, similar to cutting off a human finger at the last joint. This can lead to chronic pain, behavioral issues, and long-term physical problems like difficulty walking or arthritis.
Cats who have been declawed may develop other behavior issues because of pain, including avoiding using their litterbox, or aggression. The main opposition to the bill came from the California Veterinary Medical Association which expressed concern that veterinarians were being targeted, and that it set a “dangerous precedent.”
Most animal rights organizations are in support of the new legislation.
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