COLUMBUS, Ohio — A bipartisan proposal, Senate Bill 252, in the Ohio Senate would make it illegal for a person to declaw a cat. Owners would be prohibited from having their felines’ claws surgically removed or disabled, except in cases deemed medically necessary by a veterinarian.
Senate Bill 252, introduced Wednesday, September 5, by State Senators Al Cutrona (R–Canfield) and Hearcel Craig (D–Columbus), seeks to prohibit procedures that amputate portions of a cat’s paw, remove phalange bones or modify tendons so the cat’s claws no longer function properly.
The bill specifically exempts:
- Trimming nonviable claw husks
- Placing non-permanent claw caps
- Procedures performed for legitimate medical reasons, such as recurring illness or infection
Veterinarians performing a medically necessary de-clawing would be required to file a statement with the Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board within 10 days of the procedure. The filing would include the owner’s contact information, details to identify the cat (including microchip number if available) and confirmation that the procedure was therapeutic rather than for cosmetic or convenience purposes.
Enforcement would be managed by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, with penalties ranging from $1,000 for a first offense to $2,500 for third or subsequent offenses. Individuals cited under the law would have the right to challenge the department’s determination in a hearing.
The bill reflects a growing movement nationwide to stop cat declawing, a procedure many animal welfare advocates consider inhumane. Proponents of the procedure say declawing a cat can help protect furniture, reduce the risk of scratches to people, potentially lower biting behavior and may make multi-pet households easier to manage.
Cats can also transmit an infection to humans called Cat Scratch Fever, or Cat Scratch Disease caused by the bacterium Bartonella henselae, which cats can carry in their saliva and on their claws. Most cases are mild and clear up on their own, though antibiotics may be needed in more serious cases.
You can read Ohio Senate Bill 252 here.
