In a unanimous decision, the Massachusetts Senate approved a bill (S 2552) on Thursday that aims to make the state the third in the nation to prohibit declawing surgeries for cats.
Declawing involves the amputation of the first bone on each toe, and tendonectomies include cutting a tendon in each toe that controls claw extension. The bill permits these procedures only when deemed medically necessary by a licensed veterinarian to address a condition jeopardizing the cat’s health.
Many cat owners choose declawing to prevent scratches or damage to household items like furniture and rugs.
However, veterinarians and the Humane Society of the U.S. argue that declawed cats are more likely to experience paw pain, back pain, infections, tissue death, or lose the ability to use their legs. Nerve damage and bone spurs are also common due to claw regrowth.
Senator Mark Montigny, the bill’s lead sponsor, stated, “Declawing is an abhorrent practice that most veterinarians view as inhumane.” He added that passing the legislation would relieve veterinarians from making difficult choices, knowing that owners might seek the procedure elsewhere.
The bill imposes disciplinary action on veterinarians performing non-medically necessary declawing, with civil penalties of $1,000 for the first offense, $1,500 for a second offense, and $2,500 thereafter. If enacted, Massachusetts would join New York and Maryland in statewide bans on declawing.
Kara Holmquist, Director of Advocacy for the MSPCA-Angell, emphasized that the procedure is “unnecessary amputation,” noting that their animal hospital has refrained from declawing for decades due to its adverse impact on animals.
