A huge effort to ban the declawing of cats in New York is now moving through the state Assembly.
The chamber’s agriculture committee further advanced the measure Tuesday. If the new law is eventually passed, New York would be the very first U.S. state to ban declawing. The act is already banned in Denver as well as 10 California cities.
Supporters signaled the move as a sign of positive momentum. The bill still needs to pass a second committee before going to the Assembly. Animal welfare advocates and various veterinarians say declawing a cat is inhumane since it involves the amputation of a cat’s toes back to the first knuckle.
The state’s largest veterinary association still opposes the bill. It explains that the procedure should be allowed as a last resort for felines that won’t stop scratching furniture or humans.
