Massachusetts Senate passes bill to outlaw declawing of cats

BOSTON (WLNE) — The Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a bill to outlaw surgeries that declaw cats on Thursday.

The bill (S. 2552) sponsored by Sen. Mark Montigny prohibits feline declawing, which many veterinary professionals say is “inhumane.”

Animal advocates say that many pet owners have their cats declawed to prevent ripping furniture or household items without realizing potential health risks.

According to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, feline declawing is “a procedure usually involving the removal of the claws and the first bone of the toes of a cat’s front feet, and sometimes also the hind feet.”

“The equivalent operation would involve amputating a person’s fingertips at the first knuckle,” the MSPCA said in a release.

The organization said declawed cats often suffer painful complications, infections, and sometimes lifelong behavioral problems.

Montigny said the bill is a step forward in improving the lives of animals in Massachusetts.

“By passing this legislation, veterinarians will no longer have to weigh the choice knowing that if they don’t provide the procedure an owner is likely to just look for someone who will,” he said.

Senate President Karen Spilka agreed with the importance of protecting cats from the unnecessary and potentially harmful surgery, saying the procedure is “outdated and cruel.”

The bill has exemptions for medical emergencies determined by veterinary professionals, such as the removal of a cancerous tumor from the nail bed.

If passed, Massachusetts would be the third state to outlaw declawing cats.

New York was first in 2019, and Maryland became the second in 2022.