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Khloe Kardashian Faces Criticism from PETA After Revealing She Declawed Her Cats
Khloe Kardashian has come under fire from animal rights group PETA following her admission that she declawed her two Russian Blue cats, a procedure that is illegal in California. The 41-year-old reality star disclosed this on the May 20 episode of her podcast, Khloé In Wonder Land, expressing regret over the decision.
Declawing is often misunderstood as a simple nail trim, but in reality, it involves the surgical amputation of the last bone of each cat’s toe. This irreversible procedure can have serious consequences on a cat’s mobility and behavior.
In her podcast, Khloe said, “I was really misadvised about getting my cats declawed. I’ve never owned cats before.
I didn’t even know that was a thing. I feel really, really terrible that I did go in this direction.
I feel like that’s why my cats are miserable and it was at my doing.” She also shared her concerns about their safety, stating that her cats wear AirTags and are kept away from doors since they can no longer defend themselves without their claws.
PETA’s Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations, Daphna Nachminovitch, responded to Khloe’s confession by emphasizing the harm caused by declawing. “Amputating cats’ toes leaves them with lifelong misery and pain, and robs them of their natural ability to stretch, climb, and defend themselves,” she told the Daily Mail. Nachminovitch urged cat owners to opt for scratching posts and regular nail trims instead of declawing, calling on others to avoid making the same mistake.
California, where Khloe resides, joined a growing list of states banning declawing for non-medical reasons. Assembly Bill 867, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, prohibits declawing unless performed by a veterinarian for therapeutic purposes. Other states with similar bans include New York, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, as well as several cities across the country.
Khloe’s admission highlights ongoing debates about pet care practices and the importance of education on animal welfare. The episode serves as a reminder that while well-intentioned, some procedures can have serious and lasting effects on pets’ well-being.