Senator Cheryl Kagan of District 17, who is sponsoring Senate bill 67, hopes to have it passed in the House this week which would progress the ban of declawing cats in the state of Maryland.
Not to be a total process geek, but it doesn't go to the Gov quite yet. The Senate bill has to pass in the House, and the House version has to be OK'd by Senate. THEN to @GovLarryHogan for his (hopefully!) signature. #MDGA22 https://t.co/r0R3v26Jm9
— Cheryl C. Kagan (@CherylKagan) March 10, 2022
The exception of this ban would be if declawing was needed for “therapeutic purpose,” according to the Maryland General Assembly website. For example, the procedure, which is meant to prevent cats from scratching, would only be allowed if it would help the cat physically and/or medically.
Declawing a cat means removing the claws and essentially amputating partial bone, which the Humane Society compared to “cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.”
Any veterinarian who refuses to follow this bill would face consequences such as paying a fine or possible suspension and revocation of their license.
In 2019, New York became the first state to ban declawing of cats.
