Evanston, Illinois Passes Ordinance Prohibiting Cat Declawing

Contact: media@aldf.org

EVANSTON, Ill. — This week, the Evanston City Council passed an ordinance to prohibit the declawing of cats. Cat declawing is an invasive surgical operation that is akin to cutting off the last knuckle of a human finger. Declawing can cause lifelong medical issues for cats, including permanent disability, nerve damage, chronic back pain, and lameness. 

“We are grateful to the Evanston City Council for prohibiting cruel cat declaw surgery, which causes chronic injury and pain,” said Animal Legal Defense Fund Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager Alicia Prygoski. “Cats need their claws to carry out many different natural behaviors and their health should not be jeopardized for the convenience of their owners.” 

“Declawing is an outdated and cruel procedure that prioritizes owner preference over the well-being and health of a cat,” said Council Member Devon Reid. “It is inhumane and can cause lifelong suffering for cats. This kind of cruelty has no place in Evanston.” 

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.