Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Governor Maura Healey signed an act into law Wednesday that bans cat declawing throughout the state.
Cat declawing is an invasive surgery to get rid of cat’s claws, often to prevent cat scratches or furniture from being ripped up.
Under An Act Prohibiting Inhumane Feline Declawing (S.2552), cat declawing can only be practiced under rare circumstances where it’s medically necessary, such as cancer under their nails.
According to the Animal Defense League, cat declawing can cause lifelong medical complications for cats, such as permanent disability, nerve damage, chronic back pain, and difficulty walking.
It can also cause behavioral problems in cats, since scratching is a natural tendency. Declawed cats are four times more likely to bite and seven times more likely to develop inappropriate litter box habits, according to The Animal Rescue League of Boston.
Massachusetts is the fourth state to ban the practice, joining New York, Maryland and Virginia.