H.Res. 985

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

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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.
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