Bill > HB1904

This bill prohibits veterinarians from performing declawing procedures on cats, which are defined as surgeries that remove parts of a cat's paw or digit to remove a claw, or procedures that cut tendons to prevent normal claw movement, or any surgery that stops claws from functioning normally, but it does not include nail trimming, filing, or temporary nail caps. The bill specifies that declawing is only allowed if it is for a "therapeutic purpose," meaning it's medically necessary to treat an existing infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claw, nail bed, or toe bone that threatens the cat's health, and not for convenience or cosmetic reasons. This new law, which applies to domesticated cats and not wild species, also states that it overrides any local ordinances that might regulate declawing.

Health and Social Services

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1904&Year=2025&Initiative=false