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Ohio senators introduce bill to ban elective declawing of cats, with medical exceptions
Summary
Senators Cottrona and Craig gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 252, which would prohibit elective declawing of cats in Ohio while allowing licensed veterinarians to perform the procedure when medically necessary; the bill would create civil penalties and explicitly permit alternatives such as nail trims and temporary nail caps.
Senator Cottrona and Senator Craig gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 252 during a first hearing of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Sept. 30, 2025. The bill would prohibit elective declawing of cats in Ohio while allowing licensed veterinarians to perform the procedure when they determine it is medically necessary for infection, disease, injury or abnormal claw conditions.
The sponsors told the committee that declawing is an amputation rather than a simple nail trim and described possible long‑term harms. "This bill looks to end the act of declawing cats," Senator Cottrona said, adding that the procedure "is not like clipping your fingernail, but taking out the entire joint." Senator Craig said the bill "prohibits the elective declawing of cats except when it is medically necessary to treat illness, infection, disease, injury or abnormal claw conditions." The testimony said declawing can cause chronic pain, arthritis, nerve damage and lasting behavioral problems such as biting, inappropriate urination and overgrooming.
The sponsors cited positions from veterinary and public‑health organizations and pointed to other states that have enacted bans. The testimony named the American Animal Hospital Association, the Paw Project and the American Veterinary Medical Association as groups that oppose routine declawing, and noted that New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Virginia have enacted bans. The sponsors also referenced data from British Columbia, Canada, saying shelter surrenders or euthanasia did not increase following restrictions there.
Senate Bill 252 would establish civil penalties for violations beginning at $1,000 for a first offense and up to $2,500 for repeated offenses, according to sponsor testimony. The measure explicitly allows alternatives, including close trimming and the use of nonpermanent nail caps, and aims to preserve veterinarians' ability to perform the procedure when they determine it is medically necessary.
This was a first hearing; senators present had no committee questions during the public sponsor testimony and the committee did not take a vote on the bill. The sponsors said they are available to answer committee follow‑up questions as the measure proceeds.
