Declawing a cat in Missouri is legal under state law, but two local governments have outlawed the elective procedure: the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County. If you live outside those jurisdictions, a licensed veterinarian can perform the surgery. If you live inside them, it is only permitted when a vet determines it is medically necessary.
Where Declawing Is Banned in Missouri
The City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen approved a ban on elective cat declawing in 2019, making it one of the first Midwestern cities to do so. The ordinance prohibits non-therapeutic declawing but preserves an exception for procedures a veterinarian determines are medically necessary for the cat’s health.
St. Louis County passed its own ban in April 2021. Bill 69 cleared the County Council by a unanimous 7-0 vote and applies throughout the county. Repeat violations carry fines of up to $1,000. As with the city ordinance, a medically necessary procedure is still allowed.
No other Missouri city or county has enacted a declawing ban.
Where It Remains Legal
No Missouri statute mentions or restricts cat declawing. The state’s animal cruelty law makes it an offense to purposely cause injury or suffering to an animal, but it does not single out declawing or any specific veterinary procedure.1Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Revised Statutes of Missouri, RSMo Section 578.012 Because declawing is performed by a licensed veterinarian under anesthesia, prosecutors have not treated it as abuse under that statute.
The Missouri Veterinary Medical Practice Act, in Chapter 340, governs how veterinarians practice but does not prohibit any specific elective surgery.2Missouri Veterinary Medical Board. Missouri Code Chapter 340 – Veterinary Medical Practice Act Anywhere in Missouri that is not covered by a local ordinance, a licensed vet who follows professional standards of care can legally perform the procedure.
Could the Law Change?
After St. Louis City and County enacted their bans, Missouri lawmakers introduced bills that would have preempted local declawing ordinances and barred cities and counties from restricting a procedure state law allows. Those efforts drew opposition from animal welfare and veterinary groups, and as of early 2025 no preemption bill has been signed into law. The St. Louis city and county bans remain in effect.
The direction of future legislation could run either way. A preemption bill in a later session could undo the local bans, while a statewide prohibition could extend restrictions across all of Missouri.
What Declawing Actually Involves
Declawing is not a nail trim or a simple claw removal. The procedure, called onychectomy, amputates the last bone of each toe. A congressional resolution on the practice described it as the surgical removal of a cat’s third phalanges and claws.3Congress.gov. H. Res. 985 – Expressing Opposition to the Use of Onychectomy for Elective Surgery in Cats The closest human comparison is cutting off each finger at the last knuckle. Removing the entire third phalanx is what prevents the claw from growing back.
Declawing is almost always elective, done to protect furniture or prevent scratches to household members rather than to address a medical problem in the cat.
Health and Behavior Risks
Complications often appear long after the surgical wounds heal. Studies suggest roughly one in three declawed cats develops at least one behavioral problem following the procedure, most commonly litter box avoidance and increased biting.
Litter box problems trace back to the mechanics of the surgery. Cats dig and cover waste with their paws, and pressure on amputated toes can be painful even after recovery. Many declawed cats start eliminating outside the box because they associate the litter with discomfort. That is one of the top reasons declawed cats end up in shelters.
Biting tends to increase because the cat has lost its primary defense. A cat that would have swiped a warning may now go straight to a bite, and cat bites carry a higher infection risk than scratches. Declawed cats may also become more anxious or aggressive toward other animals in the household.
Chronic pain is the less visible consequence. Nerve damage, lameness, and permanent disability are all documented complications, and some cats need lifelong pain management.
Alternatives to Try First
If your cat is shredding furniture or scratching people, several approaches work without surgery. Most veterinary professionals now recommend trying them before even considering declawing.
- Scratching posts and pads. Vertical posts, horizontal pads, or angled scratchers made of sisal or cardboard give the cat a sanctioned outlet. Place them near wherever the cat already prefers to scratch.
- Regular nail trims. Clipping the sharp tip of each claw every two to three weeks sharply reduces damage. Cat-specific clippers make the job straightforward once the cat is used to having its paws handled.
- Nail caps. Small plastic covers glued onto each claw prevent scratching damage while the cat keeps full use of its paws. They need replacement every four to six weeks as the claws grow out.
- Deterrents. Double-sided tape, aluminum foil, or commercial sprays on furniture surfaces discourage scratching in off-limits spots. Cats dislike sticky or crinkly textures under their paws.
- Environmental enrichment. Boredom and anxiety drive destructive scratching. Cat trees, window perches, interactive toys, and daily play that mimics hunting can redirect that energy.
If scratching remains severe, a veterinarian or certified animal behaviorist can evaluate whether an underlying anxiety issue is driving it. That consultation costs far less than surgery and avoids the risks of permanent amputation.