HOUSE BILL NO. 5208

A bill to prohibit certain medical procedures for declawing a cat; and to prescribe civil sanctions.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. As used in this act:

(a) "Cat" means a domestic cat of any age of the species Felis catus or a hybrid of that species. Cat includes, but is not limited to, a savannah cat, Serengeti cat, Maine coon, Bengal cat, or chausie.

(b) "Therapeutic purpose" means a physical medical condition of a cat, including, but not limited to, an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claw of a cat that compromises the cat's health. Therapeutic purpose does not include a cosmetic or aesthetic reason or reason of convenience in keeping or handling a cat.

Sec. 3. (1) An individual shall not perform by any means an onychectomy, a partial or complete phalangectomy, or tendonectomy procedure, or any other surgical procedure that prevents normal functioning of the claws, toes, or paws, on a cat, unless the procedure is necessary to address a therapeutic purpose.

(2) An individual who violates this section is subject to a civil fine as follows:

(a) For a first violation, a civil fine of not more than $2,500.00.

(b) For a second or subsequent violation, a civil fine of not more than $5,000.00.

(3) A violation of this section may be prosecuted by the prosecutor of the county in which the violation occurred, or by the attorney general.