Is Declawing Cats Illegal in California? What the Law Says in 2026
June 28, 2026
California has officially made it illegal to declaw cats for anything other than a genuine medical reason. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 867, prohibiting the declawing of a cat unless a veterinarian performs the procedure for therapeutic purposes. If you own a cat in the Golden State, or you are a veterinary professional practicing here, the rules changed on January 1, 2026, and the consequences for non-compliance are real.
Understanding exactly what the law bans — and what narrow exceptions still exist — protects you, your cat, and any licensed professional involved in your pet’s care. This article walks through every layer of California’s declawing ban, from the specific procedures covered to the penalties that follow a violation, plus the humane alternatives that are both legal and effective.
Key Insight: AB 867 is codified under California’s Business and Professions Code and applies to every city and county in the state. Whether you live in Los Angeles, Sacramento, or a small rural community, the same rules apply statewide.
Is Declawing Cats Legal in California?
No — declawing cats for cosmetic or convenience reasons is illegal throughout California. California’s ban on cat declawing, AB 867, went into effect on January 1, 2026, making it illegal to perform the procedure for cosmetic or convenience purposes. The law applies to licensed veterinarians and to any person who might attempt the procedure without a license.
California joins a growing number of cities and states to outlaw this practice. In 2003, the city of West Hollywood passed the nation’s first legislation to ban cat declawing, with seven other California cities following suit. AB 867 now extends that protection to every corner of the state.
California has become the seventh state to prohibit cat declawing for non-medical reasons. Other states with prohibitions in place are New York, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. If you are curious how California’s approach compares to states where the procedure remains legal, you can review the declawing cats laws in Alabama and the declawing cats laws in Wyoming for contrast.
The law is also relevant if you rent your home. California law specifically bars property owners and managers from advertising rentals in a way that discourages applicants whose pets are not declawed, refusing to rent to someone who will not declaw, or requiring any tenant to have a pet declawed. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $1,000 per incident.
What the Law Actually Bans in California
AB 867 is written broadly to close any procedural loopholes. The law prohibits onychectomy (surgical claw removal), tendonectomy, or any procedure that impairs normal claw function, unless it is medically necessary for the cat’s health. That means the ban is not limited to the most common surgical approach — it covers every method of permanently removing or disabling a cat’s claws.
Tendonectomies, surgery that removes a small part of the tendon in each claw so that the cat cannot extend or retract their claws, are also now illegal. Some owners and veterinarians once viewed tendonectomy as a softer alternative to full onychectomy, but California treats both procedures identically under AB 867.
The ban also applies to non-veterinarians. This also goes for the owner. The owner of a cat cannot perform this surgery on the cat whatsoever. Attempting the procedure at home is not a workaround — it is a violation of the same law.
Important Note: AB 867 explicitly states that “therapeutic purpose” does not include a procedure performed to make a cat more convenient to keep or handle. Scratching furniture, scratching people, or a landlord’s preference are not valid justifications under the law.
The statute does preserve two non-surgical options. This section shall not prohibit a veterinarian from nail trimming or applying nonsurgical scratching mitigation solutions, such as the application of a device to the tip of a claw. Routine nail trims and soft claw caps remain entirely legal and are not affected by the ban.
For a broader look at how California regulates pet ownership, the pet laws in California page covers additional state-level rules that affect cat and dog owners alike.
Therapeutic Exceptions to the Declawing Ban in California
One narrow exception survives under AB 867: a licensed California veterinarian may still perform a declawing procedure when it is genuinely medically necessary. The law gives “therapeutic purpose” a precise, limited definition so that the exception cannot be stretched to cover elective procedures.
According to the text of AB 867 as published by the California Legislature, “therapeutic purpose” means a medically necessary procedure to address an existing or recurring infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claws, nail bed, or toe bone, which jeopardizes the feline’s health. “Therapeutic purpose” does not include a procedure performed for a cosmetic or aesthetic purpose or to make the feline more convenient to keep or handle.
In practical terms, qualifying medical scenarios are limited. Examples of legitimate medical exceptions include traumatic injury where a cat’s foot is crushed in an accident making the toes non-viable, tumors affecting the nail bed or toe bone, severe recurrent infections that do not respond to other treatments, and congenital deformities that impair the cat’s ability to walk.
The exception also comes with a documentation requirement. If a veterinarian determines that declawing is necessary for a therapeutic purpose, the veterinarian shall prepare and file a written statement with the board setting forth the purpose for performing the procedure and providing the date on which the procedure was performed. The veterinarian shall also provide a copy of that statement to the owner of the cat. A veterinarian who fails to comply with this section shall be subject to discipline by the board.
Note that California’s exception is strictly limited to the cat’s own health. This differs from Virginia’s law, which also permits declawing when a cat owner or household member has a documented medical condition that scratches could seriously worsen, but that exception requires a physician’s documentation. California’s AB 867 does not include that owner-health carve-out — the therapeutic justification must benefit the cat, not the person.
City and County-Level Declawing Restrictions in California
Before AB 867 took effect statewide, a number of California cities had already enacted their own local bans. Those ordinances remain valid and are not erased by the new law. Nothing in this measure shall be interpreted to preempt any local ordinance adopted before January 1, 2026, limiting the performance of the feline declawing procedures identified in this measure, or any penalties imposed for a violation of the ordinance.
West Hollywood was the first jurisdiction in the United States to institute a ban in 2003, prompting other California cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, to follow suit. Dozens of California cities — including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Burbank, and Berkeley — had already passed local bans before the statewide law closed the gap.
The practical effect today is that every city and county in California is covered by AB 867, and any city with a pre-existing ordinance that imposes stricter penalties or additional requirements may still enforce those local rules on top of the state law. If you live in one of these cities and want to understand the full scope of local animal regulations, the dog leash laws in California and leash laws in California pages offer related context on how state and local rules interact.
| City | Year Local Ban Enacted | Status Under AB 867 |
|---|---|---|
| West Hollywood | 2003 | Local ordinance preserved; statewide law also applies |
| Los Angeles | Prior to 2025 | Local ordinance preserved; statewide law also applies |
| San Francisco | Prior to 2025 | Local ordinance preserved; statewide law also applies |
| Burbank | Prior to 2025 | Local ordinance preserved; statewide law also applies |
| Berkeley | Prior to 2025 | Local ordinance preserved; statewide law also applies |
| All other CA cities | N/A | Covered by AB 867 statewide ban as of January 1, 2026 |
Penalties for Illegal Declawing in California
AB 867 creates a tiered system of consequences that can affect both a veterinarian’s finances and their ability to practice. The California Veterinary Medical Board is the primary enforcement body.
Under California’s law, veterinarians who perform unnecessary declawing surgeries can face fines and the possibility of having their license denied, revoked, or suspended. These are not minor administrative warnings — license revocation ends a veterinary career.
The statute also classifies a violation as a crime. Because a violation of these provisions would be a crime under the act, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. California’s new statewide law also classifies violations as a misdemeanor, which can carry jail time.
On the civil penalty side, the American Veterinary Medical Association has noted the board’s authority to assess fines in addition to license discipline. Under the law, veterinary professionals who perform any of these procedures for any reason other than for a medical purpose may face fines or have their license or registration revoked, suspended, or denied.
The landlord-side penalty is separate. As noted above, property owners who require tenants to declaw a cat as a rental condition face civil penalties of up to $1,000 per violation under California Civil Code Section 1942.7. That provision exists independently of the veterinary enforcement framework.
Pro Tip: If a landlord insists on declawing as a lease condition, you can cite California Civil Code Section 1942.7 directly. The requirement is unenforceable, and the landlord faces their own separate civil penalty for making it.
For a broader picture of how California enforces animal-related regulations, the dog bite laws in California and wildlife removal laws in California pages show similar enforcement structures at work in other areas of animal law.
Alternatives to Declawing in California
Because the law now removes declawing as an option for managing scratching behavior, it is worth knowing which alternatives are both legal and genuinely effective. Scratching is a natural cat behavior, and non-surgical alternatives such as nail trimming, soft claw caps, and behavioral training are available to address unwanted behaviors.
The AVMA and the Animal Legal Defense Fund both emphasize that humane options exist that address scratching without surgery. Here are the most practical approaches:
- Regular nail trimming: Trimming your cat’s nails every two to three weeks significantly reduces the damage caused by scratching. A veterinarian, groomer, or confident owner can do this safely at home with the right tools.
- Soft claw caps: Vinyl nail covers — sold under brand names like Soft Paws — slip over each claw and blunt the tip. They are temporary, non-surgical, and need to be replaced as the cat’s nails grow.
- Scratching posts and pads: Scratching posts and mats provide a surface that is often preferred by cats to furniture. Placement matters — position posts near the furniture your cat already targets.
- Pheromone-based deterrents: Feliscratch by Feliway is a pheromone-based scratching post attractant shown in clinical trials to redirect cat scratching to appropriate surfaces within four weeks in most cats.
- Furniture protectors: Double-sided tape, plastic corner guards, and commercial deterrent sprays make surfaces less appealing to scratch without harming the cat.
- Positive reinforcement training: Rewarding your cat with treats or play when they use a scratching post builds a reliable habit over time. Consistency is the key variable.
Declawed cats are at risk of experiencing paw pain, lameness, infection, dead tissue, nerve damage, bone spurs, back pain, and more. Since declawing inhibits a cat’s normal means of movement and defense, behavioral impacts can also result. The alternatives above avoid all of those risks while still protecting your home.
If you are navigating other aspects of cat or pet ownership in California, the following resources may be useful: emotional support animal laws in California, backyard chicken laws in California, and beekeeping laws in California. For rules specific to other animals you may keep alongside cats, see goat ownership laws in California and backyard pig laws in California.
What California’s Declawing Ban Means for You
California’s AB 867 draws a clear line: declawing a cat for any reason other than a documented, cat-specific medical necessity is now illegal statewide, effective January 1, 2026. The law covers every procedure type — onychectomy, tendonectomy, and any other method of permanently impairing claw function. Violations can result in misdemeanor charges, civil fines, and loss of a veterinary license.
If you are a cat owner, the practical takeaway is straightforward: nail trimming, soft claw caps, scratching posts, and behavioral training are all legal, available, and effective. If you are a veterinarian, any therapeutic declawing procedure requires written documentation filed with the California Veterinary Medical Board and a copy provided to the cat’s owner. And if you are a renter, no landlord in California can legally require you to declaw your cat as a condition of housing.
For additional context on how California regulates animals more broadly, explore the American Bully laws in California, pit bull laws in California, and German Shepherd laws in California pages.