New York becomes first state to ban cat declawing News
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New York becomes first state to ban cat declawing

The governor of New York signed a bill Monday making New York the first state to ban cat declawing.

The bill adds a new section to the agriculture and markets law and expressly prohibits “the practice of declawing a cat.” The procedure “involves the removal of all or most of the last bone of each of the toes of the front feet” as well as other “tendons, nerves and ligaments.” The procedure causes cats to experience intense and chronic pain, subjects them to possible medical issues and also changes how the cats balance and shift their weight on their paws, which “can lead to early onset arthritis and prolonged back and joint pain.” Cats that have been declawed also often develop behavioral problems.

The bill took effect immediately after being signed into law, and did include a provision that would allow a cat to be declawed if it were for a “therapeutic purpose” for the cat’s health. Otherwise, any person who declaws a cat could face a fine of up to $1,000.

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