HARTFORD – State Rep. Tom Delnicki testified in support of a proposal that would prohibit the cruel and inhumane procedure of declawing cats.

The legislation, House Bill 6267 An Act Concerning the Declawing of Cats would ban the practice of surgical claw removal, declawing or a tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise alter any cat’s toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the normal function of such cat’s toes, claws or paws. The prohibition would not apply to any procedure performed solely for a therapeutic purpose.

Rep. Delnicki said, “Declawing is a cruel and painful procedure that only negatively impacts a cat. Many don’t know that the declawing procedure eliminates part of the cat paw, some down to the knuckle. Cats are than unable to scratch normally and may experience a higher level of frustration. This can lead to unwanted behaviors such as inappropriate elimination (soiling and/or urinating outside of the litter box) and aggression or biting, which can lead to the surrender of a cat to our organizations.

The bill now awaits committee action.