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Read. Follow. Verify.Ohio Prohibits Declawing Cats and Sets Civil Fines Up to $2,500
Last action · October 1, 2025: Referred to Agriculture and Natural ResourcesSponsors: Al Cutrona and 2 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Ohio Senate Bill 252 prohibits any person from knowingly performing declawing procedures, tendonectomies, or partial digital amputations on cats, with exceptions for therapeutic medical needs determined by a licensed veterinarian. Violators face civil penalties ranging from $1,000 for a first offense to $2,500 for subsequent offenses imposed by the director of agriculture.
Cat owners, veterinarians, and animal shelters face new legal restrictions and reporting mandates regarding surgical claw alterations, backed by tiered civil fines enforced by the state.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Cat owners and keepers
Cat owners are prohibited from having cats declawed for cosmetic or convenience reasons and must receive copies of veterinary filings for any medically necessary procedures.
Licensed veterinarians
Veterinarians are restricted from performing declawing procedures unless meeting therapeutic exceptions and must fulfill mandatory 10-day reporting requirements when therapeutic procedures are performed.
State Veterinary Medical Licensing Board
The board receives and maintains written statements and documentation from veterinarians regarding therapeutic procedures.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cat owners allowed to use temporary nail caps?
What information must a veterinarian submit if a declawing procedure is medically necessary?
What are the penalties for violating the declawing ban?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- Oct 1, 2025SenateCommitteeReferred to Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Sep 3, 2025SenateIntroducedIntroduced
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.legislature.ohio.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance60How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy65Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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