Cat Declaw Bill Passes NJ Senate Committee

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Declawing a cat is a "cruel practice," says the Burlington County senator co-sponsoring a bill in the New Jersey legislature to prohibit surgical declawing for cosmetic reasons.

Senator Troy Singleton (D-Burlington) and Senator Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) are seeking to add a new section to state law on animal cruelty, which bans veterinarians from removing an animal's claws for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons.

The exact procedures listed in the bill are an onychectomy (declawing) and flexor tendonectomy procedure. Declawing a cat involves amputating the last bone of each toe, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

The Senate Economic Growth Committee voted 4-1 to advance the legislation, which is bill S-1803, on Feb. 16.

Anyone who violates the proposed provision may be guilty of a disorderly person's offense and also face a civil penalty, legislation shows.

“Declawing is seen by many as a quick fix for unwanted scratching by cats,” said Gopal. “However, these invasive procedures are medically unnecessary and can cause lasting physical problems and other consequences."

Under the bill, a licensed veterinarian could determine that declawing is necessary for a medical reason, such as illness, infection, or injury (referred to as a "therapeutic purpose") in the bill. That veterinarian would be required to file a written statement with the Department of Health, the bill states.

“Declawing a cat is a cruel practice that more often than not is done for the sake of convenience rather than necessity,” Singleton added.

The states of New York and Maryland have banned declawing, as well as several major cities around the U.S., Ally Cat Allies reports. According to the Humane Society, removing a cat's claws can cause infection, paw pain, and other lasting issues.

The full text of the proposed addition to the state's animal cruelty statues reads:

1. a. No person shall perform, or cause to be performed, an onychectomy (declawing) or flexor tendonectomy procedure by any means on a cat or other animal, unless the procedure is deemed necessary for a therapeutic purpose by a licensed veterinarian. A person who violates this provision shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.
b. Whenever a licensed veterinarian determines that an onychectomy or flexor tendonectomy is necessary for a therapeutic purpose, the veterinarian shall prepare and file a written statement with the Department of Health setting forth the purpose for performing the procedure and providing the name and address of the owner or keeper of the animal, and provide a copy of that statement to the owner of the animal. A veterinarian who fails to comply with the provisions of this section shall be subject to disciplinary action by the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
c. As used in this section, “therapeutic purpose” means for purpose of necessity to address the medical condition of the animal, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in a claw that compromises the animal’s health. “Therapeutic purpose” shall not mean cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the animal.