1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to animal cruelty; prohibiting elective declawing of cats; providing for
1.3 civil penalties; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 343.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. [343.256] ELECTIVE DECLAWING PROHIBITED.
1.6 Subdivision 1.Definitions.(a) For purposes of this section, the terms in this subdivision
1.7have the meanings given.
1.8 (b) "Cat" means an animal of the taxonomic family Felidae.
1.9 (c) "Declawing" means an onychectomy or any other surgical procedure to amputate or
1.10modify a portion of a cat's paw in order to remove the cat's claws. Declawing does not
1.11include the trimming of nonviable claw husk or placing nonpermanent nail caps.
1.12 (d) "Procedure performed solely for a therapeutic purpose" means a medically necessary
1.13procedure to address an existing or recurring infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition
1.14in the claws, nail bed, or toe bone, that jeopardizes the cat's health. Procedure performed
1.15solely for a therapeutic purpose does not include a procedure performed for a cosmetic or
1.16aesthetic purpose or to make a cat more convenient to keep or handle.
1.17 (e) "Tendonectomy" means a procedure in which the tendons to a cat's limbs, paws, or
1.18toes are cut or modified so that the normal functioning of the claws is impaired.
1.19 Subd. 2.Prohibited acts.Except as provided in subdivision 3, a person must not perform
1.20surgical claw removal, declawing, or a tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise alter a cat's
1.21toes, claws, or paws in a manner that prevents or impairs the normal function of the cat's
1.22toes, claws, or paws.
1Section 1.
REVISOR BD/HL 25-0379202/13/25
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 1857
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Smith03/03/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy 2.1 Subd. 3.Therapeutic purpose.The prohibition in subdivision 2 does not apply to a
2.2procedure performed solely for a therapeutic purpose.
2.3 Subd. 4.Civil penalties.A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty
2.4of $500 for the first violation, $1,000 for the second violation, and $2,500 for the third and
2.5any subsequent violation. Civil penalties may be recovered by a civil action brought by the
2.6county attorney or the attorney general in the name of the state.
2Section 1.
REVISOR BD/HL 25-0379202/13/25