PETITION TARGET: Business and Professions Committee
Declawed cats may suffer chronic pain, have difficulty walking, show signs of anxiety, and may even show increased aggression due to the daily stress they endure.
Declawing isn’t just a simple nail trim — it’s a surgical procedure where cats’ toe bones are partially amputated or the tendons that control their paws are cut. As a result, declawed cats must adjust to walking on the backs of their feet instead of their toes and become more prone to back pain. They also struggle with balancing, climbing, jumping, and general mobility.
Now, a new bill in California seeks to protect felines by banning these cruel and unnecessary procedures.
AB 867, introduced by Assemblymember Alex Lee, prohibits declawing surgeries for cats unless deemed medically necessary by a licensed veterinarian. This means cats won’t be subjected to a declawing for cosmetic purposes or because their guardian finds it more convenient.
“AB 867 shows the nation and world that California does not endorse surgical mutilation performed electively on healthy cats for human convenience,” Assemblymember Lee said.
If passed, California would become the fourth state to have banned this horrific procedure.
Declawing procedures cause unnecessary suffering and rob cats of their natural abilities. Felines are remarkable beings who should be admired for their natural traits — not surgically altered to suit human preferences.
Sign our petition urging the Business and Professions Committee to support this legislation and protect cats from declawing procedures in California.
