Bill > SB846

This bill amends Pennsylvania's animal cruelty laws to specifically address cat declawing, making it illegal to declaw cats except when medically necessary for therapeutic purposes as determined by a licensed veterinarian. The bill defines declawing broadly to include any procedure that removes or modifies a cat's claw or prevents its normal functioning, such as partial digital amputation or tendon modification. Violations are treated as summary offenses with escalating fines: the first offense carries a fine of $50-$750, the second offense $150-$1,000, and third or subsequent offenses $500-$1,500. The law clarifies that therapeutic purposes are strictly limited to addressing specific medical conditions that compromise the cat's health, explicitly excluding cosmetic or convenience-based reasons. The bill also specifies that some actions like trimming non-viable claw husks or applying temporary nail caps are not considered declawing. The legislation will take effect 60 days after its enactment, and does not prevent prosecution under other existing animal cruelty statutes.

Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=S&type=B&bn=846