Overview

• The new law prohibits tendonectomy, onychectomy, or any claw removal on cats unless a veterinarian determines it is medically necessary for a therapeutic purpose such as treating an existing or recurring complication.
• Authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, the measure passed with broad support, clearing the Assembly 74-0-6 and the Senate 36-0-4.
• The California Veterinary Medical Association opposed the bill, warning it narrows clinical discretion and noting many veterinarians already avoid elective declawing, citing rare cases involving high-risk owners such as those on blood thinners.
• California joins New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island with statewide bans, building on earlier local prohibitions in cities including West Hollywood, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Burbank, Culver City, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills.
• Newsom also signed companion measures targeting the pet trade, including AB 506 on origin and health disclosures and voiding certain nonrefundable deposits, AB 519 barring third‑party pet brokers, and SB 312 requiring electronic dog import health certificates to the state within 10 days.