Bill > HB1333

This bill amends Indiana's rental law to prohibit landlords from requiring tenants to declaw their cats as a condition of a rental agreement. The bill explicitly defines "declaw" as any surgical procedure that removes or prevents the normal function of a cat's claws, including specific medical procedures like onychectomy (surgical removal of claws), tendonectomy (cutting the tendons that control claw movement), or phalangectomy (removal of bone segments). By adding this provision to the Indiana Code, the bill aims to protect cats from potentially painful and medically unnecessary surgical procedures and give tenants more flexibility in keeping their pets intact. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, providing landlords and tenants time to adjust to the new requirement. This legislation represents a growing trend of animal welfare protections that recognize the potential harm and ethical concerns associated with declawing cats.

Justice

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/house/1333/details