06/05/2026
There is a common misconception about cat declawing that has persisted for a long time, and it has caused real harm to real animals.
Many people believe that declawing is simply a more extreme version of trimming a cat's nails. It is not. The procedure, known medically as onychectomy, involves the surgical removal of the last bone in each of a cat's toes. On the front paws, that can mean removing up to ten small bones.
Veterinarians and animal welfare researchers have documented that the consequences of this surgery go far beyond the operating table. Cats who have been declawed frequently experience chronic pain that persists for years, sometimes for life. They are more likely to avoid their litter box, more likely to bite, and more likely to develop arthritis in their paws over time. The way a cat walks changes when those bones are gone.
Despite all of this, the procedure was performed routinely in the United States for decades, largely to prevent scratching of furniture or people.
That is now changing. California banned the practice effective January 1, 2026. Rhode Island and Massachusetts had already moved to prohibit it. Washington state has a bill, House Bill 1904, moving through the legislature that would make it the next state to adopt a statewide ban.
Internationally, declawing has been banned in the United Kingdom, most of Europe, Australia, and many other countries for years. The US has been slower to catch up.
The shift happening right now across American states reflects a growing understanding that cat ownership comes with a responsibility to consider the animal's long-term health over human convenience.
(Source: California AB 867; Washington HB 1904; Humane World for Animals reporting)
