Expressing opposition to the use of onychectomy, also known as declawing, for elective surgery in cats.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 985 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 985

    Expressing opposition to the use of onychectomy, also known as 
                declawing, for elective surgery in cats.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 9, 2026

     Mr. Nadler (for himself, Mr. Carson, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Dean of 
  Pennsylvania, Ms. Dexter, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. 
  Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Lieu, Ms. Lofgren, Ms. Norton, Mr. Quigley, Ms. 
  Rivas, Ms. Simon, Mr. Soto, Ms. Titus, Ms. Tlaib, and Mr. Vindman) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                             on Agriculture

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Expressing opposition to the use of onychectomy, also known as 
                declawing, for elective surgery in cats.

Whereas over 40,000,000 households in the United States have a cat or cats, and 
        research shows that cats can improve psychological health, offer 
        emotional support, and enhance quality of life;
Whereas scratching is a normal, instinctive cat behavior done by cats to mark 
        objects with visual cues and their scent, exercise muscles, relieve 
        stress, express emotions, and manage claw health;
Whereas onychectomy, also known as declawing, is a serious medical procedure in 
        which a cat's third phalanges and claws are surgically removed;
Whereas tendonectomy, often considered an alternative to onychectomy, cuts the 
        tendons on each toe to prevent grasping motions, disabling normal 
        function of their claws;
Whereas these are painful procedures, preventing a cat from being able to use 
        their claws and leaving them unable to properly scratch, affecting their 
        balance, and rendering them unable to effectively defend themselves or 
        fully express normal behaviors;
Whereas there is ample evidence that links onychectomy and tendonectomy to life-
        long pain and adverse and long-lasting physical and behavioral effects 
        on cats and that complications from these surgeries can include nerve 
        damage, lameness, chronic pain, litter box aversion, and permanent 
        disability;
Whereas, for purposes of this resolution, the term ``declawing'' includes 
        onychectomy and any surgical, chemical, or mechanical procedure that 
        removes, severs, alters, or otherwise disables a cat's claws or the 
        normal function of the claw, including through modification of tendons, 
        ligaments, or other anatomical structures, but not including trimming 
        the nonviable tips of the claws or placing temporary nail caps;
Whereas tendonectomy is one example of a procedure used to disable a cat's claws 
        by altering paw function, often described as an alternative to 
        onychectomy;
Whereas declawing as an elective surgery unnecessarily increases public health 
        and safety risks as declawed cats become more prone to biting as a form 
        of defense, leading to increased chance of infection for humans;
Whereas there is no evidence that declawing reduces the number of cats 
        surrendered to shelters;
Whereas the behavioral implications, such as problems with litterbox use and 
        biting, are common reasons cats are surrendered;
Whereas there are many humane alternatives to address and coexist with 
        scratching behaviors that involve no physical harm to the cat;
Whereas there is widespread support for outlawing this practice, including from 
        the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the International 
        Society of Feline Medicine, and the American Association of Feline 
        Practitioners;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control, US Public Health, National Institutes 
        of Health, and Infectious Diseases Society of America have a joint 
        position statement avowing declawing as unnecessary to protect human 
        health;
Whereas many countries have banned elective onychectomies by law, and in others 
        the practice is considered unethical and prohibited under veterinary 
        professional standards, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia 
        and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, 
        England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, 
        Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Montenegro, 
        Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Romania, 
        Scotland, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, 
        and Wales;
Whereas, in Canada, declawing is outlawed in 9 of the 10 provinces;
Whereas multiple States, including New York, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, 
        Rhode Island, and California, have banned onychectomies and 
        tendonectomies as elective procedures;
Whereas several other States have introduced legislation but have yet to codify 
        the bans into law;
Whereas a number of municipalities have implemented bans or passed resolutions 
        opposing this practice, including Malibu, Marin County, and Ojai, 
        California; Denver, Colorado; Washington, District of Columbia; Volusia 
        County, Florida; Buffalo Grove, Downers Grove, and Evanston, Illinois; 
        the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County, Missouri; Allentown, Easton, 
        Forks Township, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Austin, Texas; Tacoma, 
        Washington; and Madison, Wisconsin;
Whereas it is also outlawed in 8 California cities, including Berkeley, Beverly 
        Hills, Burbank, Culver City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica, 
        and West Hollywood;
Whereas recognizing that the elective practice of onychectomy or tendonectomy is 
        inhumane, and such recognition is an important step forward in 
        prioritizing animal welfare in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) opposes declawing, as defined in this resolution, when 
        performed for cosmetic or aesthetic purposes, or for reasons of 
        convenience in keeping or handling a cat, and encourages 
        veterinary professionals to discourage the practice with vigor;
            (2) recognizes that these practices should only be 
        performed when medically necessary for a therapeutic purpose 
        for the physical health of the cat, meaning a medically 
        necessary procedure to address an existing or recurring 
        anatomical pathology issue such as infection, disease, injury, 
        or abnormal condition in the claws, nail bed, or toe bone that 
        jeopardizes the cat's health, and not for the purpose of 
        convenience, property protection, or behavioral modification;
            (3) urges State legislatures that have not yet banned 
        onychectomy (declawing) and tendonectomy for elective reasons 
        to consider this on the grounds of animal welfare and public 
        health; and
            (4) affirms the commitment of the United States to 
        advancing the cause of animal protection and animal welfare.
                                 <all>