Victory! This alert helped the declawing bill pass the California House. It has since passed the Senate. Now, we need your help to encourage Governor Newsom to sign it into law.

California could soon take a big step to protect cats from being declawed with legislation that would make it illegal statewide.

The bill (AB 867), which was recently introduced by Assemblymember Alex Lee, would make declawing illegal unless it's medically necessary to treat an underlying condition that would improve a cat's health. Urge assembly members to support this important legislation to ban this cruel and unethical surgical procedure!

Declawing has remained a controversial topic among veterinarians, animal advocates, and cat guardians, but it's a simple fact that this isn't a simple procedure that merely removes a cat's nails. The procedure, which is formally known as onychectomy, involves surgically removing the last bone in a cat's toe to which the nail is attached — it's akin to removing a human fingertip at the last joint, but, unlike cats, we don't walk on our hands.

While people still have this cruel procedure performed on cats for human convenience to stop them from scratching furniture, this is a natural behavior they need to engage in. When they can't, they may start avoiding the litter box and biting as a defense, which, ironically, makes them more likely to be relinquished to shelters.

Sadly, many declawed cats also suffer from botched surgeries that leave bone fragments behind, and other debilitating complications, such as infections, arthritis, and back pain, which is believed to be caused by chronic pain in their paws causing them to shift their weight, and shortening of their joints, which changes the way they bear their weight.

Eight cities in California have already banned declawing. It's time to protect cats from this cruel and unethical surgery by making it illegal statewide.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Pass AB 867: Ban Declawing Cats

As someone who is concerned with animal welfare, I’m writing to urge you to support AB 867, which will make declawing cats illegal in California.

While declawing has remained a controversial topic among veterinarians, animal advocates, and cat guardians, it’s a simple fact that this isn’t a simple procedure that merely removes a cat’s nails. The procedure, which is formally known as an onychectomy, involves surgically removing the last bone in a cat’s toe to which the nail is attached along with severing nerves and tendons — it’s akin to removing a human fingertip at the last joint.

Although many continue to argue this can help keep cats in homes, this surgery can ironically cause even worse problems than scratching.  When they can’t, they may start avoiding the litter box and biting as a defense.

This isn’t keeping cats in homes or helping address the number of unwanted cats. According to the Paw Project, which is sponsoring this bill, there’s evidence that declawed cats are disproportionately abandoned in shelters and may be killed more because of behavioral and physical problems caused by declawing.

Sadly, many declawed cats also suffer from botched surgeries that leave bone fragments behind, and other debilitating complications, such as infections, arthritis, and back pain, which is believed to be caused by chronic pain in their paws causing them to shift their weight, and shortening of their joints, which changes the way they bear their weight.

It’s completely unacceptable that this surgery is being allowed when there are humane alternatives, such as the use of nail caps.

Eight cities in California have already acted to ban this cruel and unethical procedure. I sincerely hope you will pass this important piece of legislation to protect cats and improve animal welfare in California.

Sincerely,

Signed

Victory! This alert helped the declawing bill pass the California House. It has since passed the Senate. Now, we need your help to encourage Governor Newsom to sign it into law.