Bill > HB1220

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, amends Indiana law to prohibit the declawing of cats, defining "declawing" as any surgical procedure to amputate or modify a portion of a cat's paw to remove its claws, and also prohibiting "tendonectomy," which involves cutting or modifying tendons in a cat's limbs, paws, or toes to impair claw function. The bill clarifies that these prohibitions do not apply to procedures performed solely for a "therapeutic purpose," which is defined as a medically necessary intervention to address existing or recurring infections, diseases, injuries, or abnormal conditions in a cat's claws, nail bed, or toe bone that jeopardize its health, and explicitly excludes procedures done for cosmetic or convenience reasons. Violators will face escalating civil penalties, starting at $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $2,500 for any subsequent violations, with all collected penalties going to the state general fund.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2026/bills/house/1220/details