New York could become 1st state to ban declawing of cats

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York would be the first state to ban the declawing of cats under a legislative proposal that has divided veterinarians.

The state's Veterinary Medical Society opposes the legislation, saying the surgical procedure can often save cats with destructive scratching behavior from being euthanized.

Assembly sponsor Linda Rosenthal, a Manhattan Democrat, says support is growing as more cat owners learn the details of the procedure.

Supporters of the ban say destructive clawing can often be dealt with through nail clipping, nail caps or scratching posts.

[...] the vets lobbying for the legislation on Tuesday said that declawing a cat can often lead to worse behavior problems, including difficulty using a litterbox or biting — something disputed by the veterinary society.