Quick answer: Declawing is banned in the US in 6 states as of 2026: New York, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and California, plus Washington, D.C. and cities such as Denver, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. There is no federal ban. Most laws allow declawing only for a medical reason, and penalties can include fines.
Declawing used to be routine in the United States. Today it is banned in a growing list of states and cities, and the trend has moved quickly in the last few years. If you are wondering whether declawing is banned where you live, this guide lists the state and local bans in place in 2026, explains what they usually allow and what they do not, and covers the practical alternatives. Laws change, so treat this as a starting point and check your own state's current rules. Whatever the law says, furniture can be protected without surgery: nail trims plus a stable sisal surface right where the cat scratches, such as the CozeCat Side Table at the sofa arm.
Give them a better corner, right where they already scratch
Training works best when the right scratching surface sits exactly where the habit happens. The CozeCat Side Table puts natural sisal at the sofa corner and a table top above it, so the fix looks like furniture, not a cat accessory.
Which US states have banned declawing?
As of 2026, these states ban elective declawing:
| State | In effect since | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New York | July 2019 | First state to ban; civil penalty of up to $1,000 |
| Maryland | October 2022 | Therapeutic purpose only; civil fine of up to $1,000 |
| Virginia | July 2024 | Therapeutic purpose, which here can include an owner's health documented by a physician |
| Massachusetts | April 2025 | Fines of up to $1,000, $1,500 and $2,500 for repeat offenses |
| Rhode Island | September 2025 | Bans declawing and tendonectomy except for a therapeutic purpose |
| California | January 2026 | Signed in 2025; applies statewide |
Washington, D.C. also banned declawing in 2023. The Animal Legal Defense Fund's summary of cat declawing laws notes that the number of states with a ban doubled from three to six in 2025, when California, Massachusetts and Rhode Island enacted theirs. The ABA Journal's report on California's law describes it as the latest state to ban the practice, following years of local bans inside the state.
Which US cities have banned declawing?
Local bans came first. West Hollywood, California, banned declawing in 2003, the first US city to do so, and several California cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, followed. Outside California, Denver, Pittsburgh and St. Louis are among the more than a dozen cities the ABA Journal lists with their own bans. In states that now have a statewide law, the state ban applies everywhere; in other states, a city ordinance may still apply locally. If you live in a state without a ban, check your city's code.
Is there a federal declawing ban in the US?
No. There is no federal law banning declawing. Animal welfare rules for pet procedures are mainly set by states and cities, which is why the map is a patchwork. Professional and welfare groups have pushed in the same direction anyway: the ASPCA says it is strongly opposed to declawing cats and supports behavioral and environmental alternatives instead.
What do declawing bans usually allow?
Most bans prohibit declawing, and often related procedures such as tendonectomy, unless there is a therapeutic purpose. In plain terms, that means a medical reason affecting the cat's own claw or toe, such as an infection, injury or tumor, treated by a veterinarian. Bans generally do not allow declawing for convenience, cosmetic reasons or to protect furniture. Exact wording differs by state. Virginia is the clearest example: its declawing statute also counts protecting the health of an owner or household member, documented by a licensed physician, as a therapeutic purpose. Read your own state's statute or ask your vet.
What are the penalties for declawing where it is banned?
Penalties vary. New York's law, as passed in bill S5532B, sets a civil penalty of up to $1,000. Maryland also allows a civil fine of up to $1,000, and the Maryland Department of Agriculture explains that its veterinary board can separately discipline a vet who willfully breaks the law. Massachusetts sets maximum fines that rise for repeat violations: up to $1,000 for a first offense, $1,500 for a second and $2,500 for a third or later one. Several laws also expose veterinarians who break them to licensing discipline. The penalties mostly target whoever performs or arranges the procedure, though the details vary by state.
How can you check the declawing law where you live?
Start with your state legislature's website and search the statute for "declaw" or "onychectomy". Your state veterinary medical board often publishes guidance for vets on what the law allows. If your state has no ban, search your city or county code too, because local ordinances can apply even when the state is silent. Your own veterinarian is also a good, practical source: clinics in states with bans know exactly what they can and cannot do, and some clinics in states without bans have chosen not to offer elective declawing.
Why are more places banning declawing?
Because declawing is not a nail trim. The ASPCA describes the procedure as the amputation of the last bone of each front toe, including the nail bed and claw. It lists risks such as anesthesia complications, bleeding, infection and pain, and possible chronic pain when bone fragments are left behind. It also notes that declawing has not been proven to fix behavior problems such as aggression. For more on the medical side, see why declawing is bad for cats.
Give them a better corner, right where they already scratch
Training works best when the right scratching surface sits exactly where the habit happens. The CozeCat Side Table puts natural sisal at the sofa corner and a table top above it, so the fix looks like furniture, not a cat accessory.
What if declawing is still legal in your state?
Legal does not mean recommended. Even where it is allowed, many owners now choose alternatives, and they work. The ASPCA lists the main ones: regular nail trims, scratching posts with training, double-sided tape on furniture and soft nail caps. Our declawing alternatives guide walks through eight options in detail.
How do you protect furniture without declawing?
Furniture damage is almost always a placement problem. Cats scratch the sofa because it is tall, stable and in the room where they spend their day. Fix those three things:
- Put a stable scratcher exactly where the damage is, usually the sofa arm. A scratcher side table stands flush against the arm, so the sisal is in the same spot as the old habit.
- Make it tall enough for a full stretch. The CozeCat Side Table comes in 21.5, 23.5 and 25.5 inches.
- Cover the old spot with a throw or tape for a few weeks.
- Trim claws every couple of weeks.
- Reward the switch with treats or praise.
The full steps are in how to stop your cat scratching the couch. If you are bringing home a new kitten, start right with our kitten scratching post training plan.
Do renters or landlords ever require declawing?
Some leases have listed declawing as a condition for having a cat. Where declawing is banned, a vet cannot lawfully perform it for that reason. If your lease mentions declawing, ask the landlord about alternatives such as nail caps and scratchers, and get any agreement in writing.
Bottom line
Declawing is banned in the US in New York, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and California as of 2026, plus Washington, D.C. and a number of cities. There is no federal ban, and the list is likely to keep changing, so check your state's current law. Wherever you live, the humane way to protect furniture is the same: trim the claws and give the cat a better place to scratch, such as the CozeCat Side Table at the sofa arm.
FAQ: declawing banned in us
Is declawing banned in the US?
Not nationally. There is no federal ban, but as of 2026 six states ban it: New York, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and California, plus Washington, D.C.
Which state banned declawing first?
New York, in 2019. Cities such as West Hollywood banned it earlier, starting in 2003.
Is declawing illegal in California?
Yes, except for a medical reason. California's statewide law was signed in 2025 and took effect on January 1, 2026, after years of city-level bans.
Can a vet still declaw a cat where it is banned?
Usually only for a therapeutic purpose, meaning a medical problem with the cat's own claw or toe. Virginia also allows it to protect the health of an owner or household member, documented by a physician.
What can I do instead of declawing?
Trim claws regularly, put a stable sisal scratcher where the cat already scratches, cover the old spot for a few weeks and consider soft nail caps.
Give them a better corner, right where they already scratch
Training works best when the right scratching surface sits exactly where the habit happens. The CozeCat Side Table puts natural sisal at the sofa corner and a table top above it, so the fix looks like furniture, not a cat accessory.
Sources
- ASPCA: Position statement on declawing cats
- ABA Journal: California is latest state to ban cat declawing
