California Residents: Help Stop Declawing

This action is ONLY for residents of California

Update: May 3, 2019

Thanks to everyone who took action on this bill. Unfortunately, it has been left in committee. This bill will carryover into the 2020 legislative session. We will keep you updated!

Update: April 3, 2019

The hearing date has changed to April 23, 2019. The location and time will remain the same.

Update: April 2, 2019

The Assembly Committee on Business and Professions will consider Assembly Bill 1230. Passing the bill in the House committee is the first step toward banning declaw surgery statewide. Please testify at the hearing or send a message to your legislators to support AB 1230!

Original Message:

The California Assembly Committee on Business and Professions is considering an important bill to ban the declawing of cats statewide Assembly Bill 1230. Eight California cities have already banned declawing. If this bill passes, it would prohibit declaw surgery throughout the state.

Declaw surgery is far from a nail trim; it is the surgical amputation of the last joints of a cat’s toes. Declawing is traumatic to cats and can cause permanent damage and chronic pain. Without their claws, cats can have trouble walking and balancing. Discomfort in their feet may cause them to avoid using the litter box. Also, because they may feel unsafe without their natural protection, declawed cats are more likely to bite. These are some of the most common reasons that owners relinquish their cats to animal shelters, where most cats are killed.

Declawing is often done to address unwanted scratching behavior. However, many humane and affordable alternatives are widely available such as scratching posts, vinyl nail covers, and deterrent spray.

Alley Cat Allies is working closely with the Paw Project in support of this bill and we need your help to move it forward. Ask your legislators to support AB 1230 to end declawing throughout California.