San Andreas, CA – Performing Animal Welfare Society, or PAWS, is celebrating a new law banning cat declawing in California.
The new law makes it illegal in the state to declaw cats for non-medical reasons, like preventing furniture damage. In September, AB 867 passed unanimously through the state Assembly and Senate, and Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law in October. It went into effect on the first of this year. The bill was sponsored by The Paw Project and co-sponsored by the Animal Legal Defense Fund, the Humane Veterinary Medical Alliance, and Humane World for Animals.
Declawing involves the partial digital amputation, where the toes are amputated at the last joint. Those opposed to this practice decry that it inflicts serious pain, discomfort, and chronic health problems on felines. The only exception is that a licensed veterinarian can perform the procedure only if it’s medically necessary for the cat’s health. They must document the medical necessity and any alternatives considered before performing a declaw; click here for more information on the procedure.
