HB 1904 — Prohibiting the act of declawing cats.

H-3169.1H-1206.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1904 State of Washington 69th Legislature 20262025 Regular Session By House Health Care & Wellness (originally sponsored by Representatives Peterson, Leavitt, Parshley, Fosse, and Macri)Macri READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 01/27/26.02/10/25.

Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

(2) ThisA sectionveterinarian preemptswho anyperforms ordinancea regulatingdeclawing theprocedure practiceon of declawing a cat enactedshall bykeep a county,record city,of town,the orprocedure otherfor politicala subdivisionperiod of thisfour state.years after the last contact with the cat.

(3)The Forrecord themust purposesbe ofsubject thisto section,audit by the followingboard. definitions apply:

The record must include the name and address of the cat's owner, the name and address of the person from whom payment is received for the procedure, and a description of the cat including, but not limited to:

(a) The cat's name, breed, date of birth, sex, color, markings, and current weight;

(b) The date and time of the procedure;

(c) The reason the procedure was performed;

and (d) Any diagnostic opinion, analysis, or test result to support the diagnosis.

p.

1 HB 1904 (3)(a) Any person who performs a declawing procedure on a cat shall report the number of performed procedures to the board annually no later than March 30th each year.

The board shall maintain all notices received under this subsection for four years from the date of receipt.

(b) Records maintained under this subsection may not be publicly disseminated and are not considered public records as defined in RCW 40.14.010.

(4)(a) Any person who performs a declawing procedure on a cat within the state of Washington in violation of this section shall be subject to a fine of not more than:

(i) $1,000 for a first offense;

(ii) $1,500 for a second offense;

and (iii) $2,500 for a third or subsequent offense.

(b) A veterinarian licensed under this chapter who violates any provision of this section may be subject to disciplinary action by the board.

(5) This section preempts any ordinance regulating the practice of declawing a cat enacted by a county, city, town, or other political subdivision of this state.

(6) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

p.(B) A tendonectomy or any other procedure that cuts or modifies the tendon of the limb, paw, or digit of a cat in order to prohibit the normal movement of a claw;

1 SHB 1904 (B) A tendonectomy or any other procedure that cuts or modifies the tendon of the limb, paw, or digit of a cat in order to prohibit the normal movement of a claw;

(c)(i) "Therapeutic purpose" means any action intended to address as a matter of medical necessity an existing or recurring infection, disease,p. injury, or abnormal condition in the claw, nail bed, or toe bone that jeopardizes the afflicted animal's health.

2 HB 1904 disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claw, nail bed, or toe bone that jeopardizes the afflicted animal's health.

23 SHBHB 1904