Minnesota Moves to Ban Elective Cat Declawing
- Wendy Kaplar
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 30
Minnesota lawmakers are considering legislation that would ban the elective declawing of cats, positioning the state to follow New York, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., and to join Massachusetts and Virginia, where similar legislation has been proposed, in restricting the controversial procedure.
The proposals, filed as SF 1935 and HF 1857, would permit declawing only when deemed medically necessary to treat illness or injury.
Feline onychectomy, commonly referred to as declawing, is a surgical procedure that entails the amputation of the last bone of each toe, altering a cat’s anatomy and biomechanics. A peer-reviewed study published in 2023 in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery examined 86 declawed cats. Researchers documented the presence of retained bone fragments associated with clinical signs such as pain and lameness.
The bills also include a prohibition on tendonectomy, a procedure in which the tendons controlling the claws are severed to impair claw function without requiring amputation. A 1998 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association compared elective tendonectomy and declawing in cats, finding that both procedures resulted in similar complication rates, including pain, bleeding, lameness, and infection.
If Minnesota passes its proposed legislation, HF 1857/SF 1935, it would become one of the first states in the Midwest to implement such a ban.
Humane alternatives to declawing:
Regular Nail Trimming: Keeping your cat's nails trimmed reduces damage from scratching.
Scratching Posts and Pads: Providing cats with appropriate outlets for scratching can help deter them from damaging furniture.
Nail Caps: Soft, plastic caps can be glued over your cat's claws to prevent damage from scratching.
Behavioral Training: Positive reinforcement can teach cats to use scratching posts instead of furniture.
