Ban the declawing of cats.

 

This bill aims to protect cats from unnecessary health risks, as declawing cats poses major physical and behavioral

issues. Banning declawing procedures will promote the well-being of cats and humane treatment of pets.

 

Physical and behavioral issues stem from performing an onychectomy on cats. These physical issues include back pain, paw

pain, infections, and tissue necrosis. They suffer from imbalances and difficulty walking after the surgery. The surgery

itself can be dangerous if it is done wrong; it can allow the bone to regrow improperly and cause nerve damage.

Furthermore, scratching is a natural behavior of cats. It stems from wild cats’ instincts, such as defense mechanisms

and prey-catching. They use their claws to stretch and spread their scent. Without their claws, they feel vulnerable and

unable to defend themselves, increasing the likelihood of biting. Outdoor cats are at a higher risk of injury or death

without claws because they cannot defend or escape dangers. All these factors make it unethical to allow onychectomies

for cats. The only exception to the ban should be for medically necessary circumstances that help a cat's health.

Alternatives to declawing cats, such as nail caps, scratching posts, nail trimming, and behavior training, exist to

avoid cats scratching furniture or people. About 31% of cats in the U.S. are declawed. 6 states have already banned

declawing, and to help bring down the national percentage of declawed cats, this ban should be brought to Minnesota.

 

Tissue necrosis: Also called tissue death. The tissues and cells in an area die due to restricted blood flow or exposure

to harmful substances.

Declawing: Removing the last bone of each toe on a cat's paw.

Onychectomy: an operation to remove an animal's claws surgically. This surgery removes the last bone of each toe on a

paw. This is also referred to as declawing.

Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine: The state agency responsible for regulating the practice of veterinary medicine

to protect public and animal welfare by licensing veterinarians and setting standards of practice.

Financial audit: An independent review of a company's financial records and statements to ensure accuracy and compliance

with regulations and laws.

Medically necessary: In the context of the bill, medically necessary reasons for allowing a declawing service would be a

tumor, severe trauma to or in the paw, deformities, or abnormalities causing infection or pain to the cat.

 

 

An additional fee of $25 will be added to the veterinarian license fee and license renewal fee. All money gained from

the additional fee will fund the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine for any additional workers or costs. All money

collected from fines will go towards this funding as well.

 

All licensed veterinarians performing an illegal procedure of declawing a cat will face a $3,000 fine and suspension of

their license per violation. Medically necessary procedures of declawing a cat are the only exception to this ban. To

enforce this bill, an annual investigation from the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine must be conducted of all vet

clinics/businesses offering feline services. This investigation will consist of reviewing financial audits and surgery

records of the vet clinic/business to see that no illegal declawing services took place.

 

January 1, 2027