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Assembly committee advances ban on non‑therapeutic cat declawing with exemptions for medical necessity
Summary
AB 867 would prohibit declawing cats for non‑therapeutic reasons in California; the bill passed out of committee after testimony from veterinarians, animal welfare groups and opposition from the California Veterinary Medical Association about regulatory scope and reporting provisions.
Assemblymember Phil Ting Lee presented AB 867 to prohibit cat declawing unless the surgery is performed by a licensed veterinarian for a veterinary therapeutic purpose. The measure would ban declawing done for owner convenience.
Dr. Jennifer Conrad of the Paw Project, a licensed California veterinarian, described declawing as the amputation of the last bone in a cat’s toe and said the procedure is predictably painful and has no health benefit for the animal when performed for cosmetic or convenience reasons. Supporters said veterinary and polling data show declawing remains common in the United States and the bill protects animal welfare.
The California Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) testified in opposition, saying the veterinary profession has largely moved away from preventing declawing as standard practice but objected to the legislature regulating a surgical procedure that falls within veterinary medicine and to language requiring veterinarians to report declaw procedures to the Veterinary Medical Board. The CVMA said reporting provisions risk harassment of veterinarians through public records requests and urged amendments.
Committee members expressed support for limiting non‑therapeutic declawing; the committee passed the bill to Appropriations. The author and stakeholders indicated willingness to continue refining language addressing CVMA concerns about reporting and scope.
