LANSING (WWJ) - New legislation introduced at the state Capitol on Thursday could see Michigan become one of three states to ban the declawing of cats as cruel and unnecessary.
House Bill 4674, sponsored by Rep. Jimmie Wilson, Jr., D-Ypsilanti, calls for banning the surgical procedure except for "therapeutic" purposes -- declawing cats to protect furniture from damage and other scratches would not be permitted.
If the bill passes, Michigan would join New York and Maryland who have already banned the practice.
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) "strongly opposes" the elective declawing of domestic cats not only because scratching is a normal feline behavior, but because the procedure, also known as a onychectomy, is commonly confused with trimming or removing the nail.
Only, it's not.
"It is an amputation of the third bone in each toe," the association stated. "There are inherent risks and complications with the surgical procedure including, but not limited to anesthetic complications, analgesic side effects, hemorrhage, infection and pain."
AAHA encourages veterinarians to provide educational tools and guidance for effective alternative training programs for owners who may be considering declawing.
According to recent retrospective studies, cats who undergo the surgery have a significant increase, between three to seven times more likely, of the following compared to non-declawed cats:
• Chronic back pain
• Inappropriate urination
• Biting
• Overgrooming
This isn't the first bill to ban declawing that's been introduced state Legislature. The most recent bill from 2020 was proposed but never made it into law.
The bill would not apply to claw removal when it is deemed medically necessary, such as to treat illness, infection, disease, injury, or an abnormal condition in the claw of a cat that compromises their health.
So far, the bill does not outline any fines or penalties for veterinarians who perform the procedure, but Leaha Skylar Dotson, Wilson's legislative and policy director, said they are considering a review of veterinary licenses and possible sanctions.
