Last Updated on March 29, 2026 by admin
Declawing a cat doesn’t remove the nail. It removes the last bone of every toe.
For decades, veterinary clinics across the United States offered onychectomy — the clinical term for declawing — as a standard option for cat owners frustrated by scratched furniture and shredded curtains. Many owners were told it was no different from trimming nails. In reality, the procedure amputates the distal phalanx, or P3 bone, from each of the cat’s front toes. On a human hand, that would mean cutting off every finger at the last knuckle.
As of January 1, 2026, California made that procedure a crime.
One in Four American Cats
The scale of the problem is staggering. A 2001 estimate found that roughly 25 percent of domestic cats in the United States had been declawed. A 2014 survey of veterinarians reported that 72.7 percent still performed the surgery at least occasionally. For millions of cats, the consequences were lifelong.
A peer-reviewed study published in Scientific Reports found that declawing is associated with neuroplastic sensitization and long-term painful afflictions. A separate study in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery found that declawed cats were 4.5 times more likely to bite, 7.2 times more likely to have litter box problems, and 2.9 times more likely to suffer from back pain than cats with intact claws.
The reason: 63 percent of declawed cats showed radiographic evidence of residual bone fragments left behind in their paws. Those fragments press against the paw pad with every step.
What to Watch For If Your Cat Is Already Declawed
If your cat was declawed before the ban, the damage is done — but you can manage the fallout. Watch for these signs.
Limping or reluctance to jump, especially onto hard surfaces. Avoiding the litter box or going outside the box — that’s not spite, it’s pain. The litter presses against damaged tissue every time they dig. Increased biting or aggression when their paws are touched. Overgrooming the paws or the base of the legs.
If your declawed cat shows persistent lameness, sudden litter box avoidance, or flinches when you touch their paws, don’t wait. A veterinarian can take X-rays to check for retained bone fragments and recommend pain management — including anti-inflammatory medications and padded surfaces — that can make a real difference.
The Law: What AB 867 Actually Does
AB 867, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, prohibits any veterinarian in California from declawing a cat unless the procedure is medically necessary for the cat’s own health. A vet who declaws for cosmetic or convenience reasons can face criminal charges and lose their license.
California joins New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. in banning the practice statewide. At least 42 countries worldwide — including the U.K., Germany, Switzerland, and Australia — had already outlawed it.
What to Do Instead
Your cat’s scratching isn’t vandalism. It’s biology. Cats scratch to shed claw sheaths, stretch their muscles, and mark territory. Instead of removing the tools, redirect the behavior.
Trim your cat’s nails every two to three weeks. It takes less than five minutes once they’re used to it. Try soft nail caps — adhesive vinyl covers that slip over each claw and fall off naturally every four to six weeks. And invest in a sturdy scratching post placed next to the furniture they’re targeting. Sisal rope works better than carpet — cats prefer the resistance.
For a full walkthrough of claw-friendly alternatives, KQED put together a practical guide worth bookmarking.
Your Cat’s Claws Are Part of Their Skeleton
That’s the part most owners never heard. A claw isn’t an accessory. It’s attached to bone, supported by tendons, and wired into the nervous system. Removing it changes how a cat walks, balances, and defends itself for life.
California’s ban isn’t radical. It’s overdue. And if you live outside the seven states that have banned the procedure, you can still choose not to do it. Your cat — and their 10 toe bones — will thank you.
Does your cat still have their claws? Tell us in the comments. 🐾