AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DECLAWING OF CATS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2008) (a) No veterinarian licensed pursuant to chapter 384 of the general statutes shall perform a feline onychectomy or tendonectomy, except for a therapeutic purpose. For purposes of this section, "therapeutic purpose" means to address an existing or recurring infection, disease, injury or abnormal condition that jeopardizes the cat's health, but does not include cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or the cat owner's convenience in keeping or handling the cat.

(b) Any violation of this section shall result in the revocation of such license.

Statement of Purpose:

To prohibit the declawing of cats.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]