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S5532Senate2019-2020 SessionSame asA1303

Ban Cat Declawing

Official title

“Relates to the prohibition of the declawing of cats”

Sponsor Michael GianarisSD-12+7 co-sponsorsAffects Legal
Status
Signed by Governor
Impact
4/10
Low
Outcome
Signed into law

Bill progress

Signed into law

What's happening

This bill prohibits declawing of cats in New York except for specific medical reasons, with violators facing civil penalties.

Why it matters

  1. The bill defines specific surgical procedures (onychectomy, phalangectomy, tendonectomy) as illegal for cats, except when medically necessary. , making it clear what forms of declawing are banned and closing loopholes for alternative surgeries.

  2. It restricts exceptions strictly to therapeutic purposes related to the cat’s health. , meaning declawing for convenience, cosmetic, or behavioral reasons is explicitly prohibited—raising the bar for when such procedures can be performed.

  3. The law imposes a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for violations. , creating a financial deterrent for veterinarians or others who might otherwise perform these banned procedures, which may affect how veterinary practices approach feline care across New York.

  4. By enacting this prohibition statewide, New York would become a leader in animal welfare legislation. , potentially influencing similar policies in other states and reflecting growing concerns over animal rights and humane treatment.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Ban Cat Declawing

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Michael Gianaris

Senator · Senate District 12

History

  1. Signed chap.107
  2. Delivered to governor
  3. Returned to senate
  4. Passed assembly
  5. Ordered to third reading cal.476
  6. Substituted for A1303B
  7. Referred to codes
  8. Delivered to assembly
  9. Passed senateVote 50–12
  10. Ordered to third reading cal.1150
  11. Committee discharged and committed to rules
  12. Print number 5532b
Show 4 earlier actions
  1. Amend and recommit to domestic animal welfare
  2. Print number 5532a
  3. Amend and recommit to domestic animal welfare
  4. Referred to domestic animal welfare

Companion bill

The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.

A1303Assembly

Ban Cat Declawing

Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal

Impact 5 · Moderate0% to pass

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

5532--B

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

May 6, 2019

Introduced by Sens. GIANARIS, RIVERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Domestic Animal Welfare -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to prohibiting the declawing of cats

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 381 to read as follows:

§ 381. Prohibition of the declawing of cats. 1. No person shall perform an onychectomy (declawing), partial or complete phalangectomy or tendonectomy procedure by any means on a cat within the state of New York, except when necessary for a therapeutic purpose. Therapeutic purpose means the necessity to address the physical medical condition of the cat, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury or abnormal condition in the claw that compromises the cat's health. Therapeutic purpose does not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the cat.

2. Any person who performs an onychectomy, partial or complete phalangectomy or tendonectomy procedure on any cat within the state of New York in violation of the provisions of subdivision one of this section shall be punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars.

§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD06056-04-9

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to prohibiting the declawing of cats

Purpose

This bill prohibits the performance of declawing procedures on cats.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one amends the agriculture and markets law by adding a new section 381 prohibiting the practice of declawing a cat.

Justification

Cats' claws play an important role in various aspects of their lives. Cats use their claws to assist in climbing and maintaining balance, to help them fully stretch, to relieve stress through kneading and to escape danger. When a person has its animal declawed, usually in an attempt to protect furniture, they do fundamental damage to that animal both physically and in behavioral ways. There are harmless ways to manage undesirable behavior through simple training and other estab- lished methods.

Declawing, also known as onychectomy, involves the removal of all or most of the last bone of each of the toes of the front feet, and tendons, nerves and ligaments that allow for normal function of the paw are severed, resulting in intense and chronic pain and other serious medical issues. Abscesses often develop as the area comes into contact with dirt or litter, and sometimes regrowth can occur spontaneously resulting in sharp pain or infection. After the claws are removed, the animal tends to shift its gait and where it places most of its weight, causing strain on its leg joints and spine, which can lead to early onset arthritis and prolonged back and joint pain.

Declawed cats often develop behavioral problems that lead to their being surrendered to animal shelters where they are, for the most part, not adoptable.

Declawing is currently banned in nearly 10 cities in California and in many countries around the world, including Switzerland, Israel and the U.K. This bill seeks to ban such practice in New York State.

Legislative history

2018: Died in Agriculture 2017: Died in Rules 2016: Died in Agriculture 2015: Died in Agriculture

Fiscal implications

None

Effective date

This bill shall take effect immediately.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.