Vets Flag Long-Term Complications in Previously Declawed Cats as Bans Expand

With declawing bans now active in at least seven U.S. states, veterinary clinics are also drawing attention to long-term complications in cats that were declawed years or even decades ago, before the procedure became widely restricted. Complications identified in veterinary literature include retained bone fragments in the toe, chronic pain, and altered gait.

Veterinary sources note that owners of previously declawed cats should watch for litter box avoidance that begins well after the original surgery (often a sign of chronic toe pain rather than a behavioral issue), new biting behavior that wasn't present before, limping or altered movement, and reluctance to be touched along the back.

Imaging can identify retained bone fragments — small pieces of amputated bone left behind during the original procedure — which veterinarians say are treatable once identified but often progressively worsen if the associated behavior changes are mistakenly written off as personality quirks or aging.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has stated that the amputation involved in declawing can result in chronic pain, maladaptive behavior, and disability, part of why the majority of veterinary professionals surveyed by the Animal Legal Defense Fund reported opposing the procedure when it isn't medically necessary.

Sources

• Bestie Paws Hospital — Cat Declawing
• CBS San Francisco — California ban on cat declawing to take effect in 2026