California's Cat Declawing Ban Takes Effect, Joining Seven Other States

California's Assembly Bill 867, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2025, took effect on January 1, 2026, making California the seventh U.S. state to prohibit elective cat declawing. The law bars veterinarians from performing the procedure, known clinically as onychectomy, unless it is medically necessary for the cat's health.

The bill was authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee and sponsored by animal welfare groups including The Paw Project, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and the Humane Veterinary Medical Alliance. Violations can result in a misdemeanor charge and disciplinary action against a veterinarian's license through the California Veterinary Medical Board.

California joins New York (2019), Maryland (2022), Virginia (2024), and Massachusetts and Rhode Island (both 2025) in banning the procedure statewide. The District of Columbia and a number of individual cities, including Los Angeles, Denver, and Pittsburgh, already had local bans in place. Washington state is currently considering similar legislation.

Veterinary organizations have largely supported the shift. The American Veterinary Medical Association has said the amputation involved in declawing may result in chronic pain and maladaptive behavior, while a 2018 peer-reviewed study following a Canadian declawing ban found no resulting increase in shelter relinquishment for destructive behavior. Advocates point to data from Los Angeles, where cat surrenders reportedly dropped after that city's 2009 local ban took effect.

For owners looking for non-surgical alternatives to manage scratching, our guide on how to stop a cat from scratching furniture for good covers scratching post selection, deterrents, and nail care routines that work without declawing.

Sources

• AVMA — California latest state to ban cat declawing for nonmedical reasons
• KQED — California Banned Declawing. How Can You Manage Your Cat's Claws Now?
• Alley Cat Allies — Washington: Ban Cat Declawing Once and For All in 2026