The Cat Declaw Bill (S.B. 180AA/ H.B. 5668A) has been signed into law by Governor McKee of Rhode Island. The law, supported by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), Humane World for Animals, and the Paw Project, bans cat declawing in Rhode Island, except in the rare circumstance where it is medically necessary to address a condition that compromises the cat’s health, such as cancer in their nail bed.
Cat declawing is a painfully invasive surgical operation that is similar to amputating a human finger at the last knuckle. Aside from being cruel, declawing can cause lifelong issues for cats, including nerve damage, chronic back pain, and lameness.
Experts warn that removing a cat’s claws deprives them of essential tools needed for natural behaviors such as scratching, stretching, and marking territory, often resulting in a host of other issues.
“Too many cats are forced to endure an unnecessary surgical procedure in an attempt to protect a piece of furniture, when such a serious surgery should be reserved only for the infrequent instances where it is medically necessary for the animal’s health,” said ALDF Senior Legislative Affairs Manager Stephanie Harris. “Thanks to the leadership and savvy of Senate sponsor Senator Melissa Murray, and the support of House sponsor Representative William O’Brien, Senate President Senator Valarie Lawson, and Speaker of the House Representative Joseph Shekarchi, Rhode Island will join neighboring Massachusetts and other jurisdictions in protecting cats from unnecessary declawing.”
Many declawed cats develop issues with litter box avoidance and inappropriate marking. Without claws for defense, some cats may resort to biting or become more anxious or aggressive. These behavioral changes are among the top reasons why cats are surrendered to shelters, contributing to the crisis of pet overpopulation.
Fortunately, humane alternatives to declawing are widely available. Regular nail trimming, a variety of scratching posts, and positive reinforcement training can help manage unwanted scratching behavior without causing harm.
In June 2024, ALDF released new polling results showing that 70% of veterinary professionals oppose declawing. Half of the veterinarians surveyed said their clinics no longer offer the procedure, either due to an internal policy or because no veterinarians on staff are willing to perform the procedure.
Momentum is building nationwide to ban the cruel practice. Rhode Island is the latest state to prohibit declawing, following Massachusetts, which passed similar legislation in 2023. New York and Maryland have also enacted statewide bans, while major cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Austin, and Washington, D.C., have adopted local ordinances against the procedure. Virginia has also implemented a ban with limited exemptions.
