Buffalo Grove in Illinois Reads Proclamation Opposing Cat Declawing

Contact: media@aldf.org

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill. — This week, the Buffalo Grove Board of Trustees read a proclamation opposing cat declawing and encouraging the Illinois General Assembly to pass legislation to prohibit cat declawing statewide.  

Cat declawing is an invasive surgical operation — akin to cutting off the last knuckle of a human finger — typically performed for owner convenience rather than the well-being of a cat. Declawing can cause lifelong medical issues for cats, including permanent disability, nerve damage, chronic back pain, and lameness.  

“Declawing is an inhumane and unnecessary surgery that can cause lifelong suffering for cats,” says Buffalo Grove Village Truste Denice Bocek. “It is important that our community, the veterinary community, and our state as a whole take a stand against this cruelty.”  

“Cats need their claws to carry out many different natural behaviors and removing them sets cats up for chronic injury and pain,” says Animal Legal Defense Fund Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager Alicia Prygoski. “We applaud the Buffalo Grove Board of Trustees for standing up against cruel declaw procedures.” 

Declawing can cause many adverse behavioral effects in cats because it removes their ability to use their claws to scratch, stretch, and mark territory. Issues with litterbox use and inappropriate marking are common in declawed cats, and some declawed cats resort to biting — which can lead to infection in humans — to defend themselves because they no longer can with their claws. All these behavioral issues can make it more likely that cats are surrendered to shelters. There are many humane alternatives to control scratching behavior, including regular nail trims, scratching posts, and behavioral training.  

In June 2024, the Animal Legal Defense Legislative Fund released poll results revealing 70 percent of veterinary professionals oppose cat declawing. The poll also found that half of the veterinarians interviewed report that their practice does not perform any declawing procedures due to policy or no veterinarians willing to perform the procedure. 

Currently New York, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., in addition to several other municipalities nationwide have already banned declawing cats with narrow exceptions for a cat’s health, and Virginia has banned the procedure with limited exemptions.