It’s Time for New Hampshire to Ban Declawing Cats! - National Humane Education Society
January 24th, 2025
Paws Up! To New Hampshire State Representative Mike Bordes for sponsoring HB-201 to ban declawing procedures
It is a well-known fact that a cat needs claws, just like a dog needs their nose or a horse need his hooves. Cats use their claws for many of their natural behaviors: they use them for exercise and self-defense, to knead things for comfort, and even to communicate via scent glands in their paw pads. Declawing cruelly prevents cats from acting on their natural instincts and causes them lifelong discomfort. Representative Mike Bordes of New Hampshire plans to protect cats from this inhumane treatment with his sponsorship of HB-201 to ban all declawing procedures in the state.
Previously, the state of New Hampshire’s numerous attempts to legally ban the declawing of cats have all ended in a gridlock. Animal advocates were met with opposition over the government’s role in regulating veterinary medical care. At NHES, we believe that in order to prevent unnecessary harm, it is well within reason that any state government can and should ban this type of procedure. Declawing, also called onychectomy, removes the first joint of the toe along with the nail itself. The pain they experience and the fear from losing their natural self protection can cause many cats to compensate with behaviors such as biting or difficulty using the litter box.
The language of HB-201 thoroughly explains the parameters to this potential legal ruling, explicitly stating “No person shall remove the claws of a cat for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or for reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the cat”. The only exception allowed would be if removing the claws of a cat is medically necessary. If the bill is passed New Hampshire will join a growing list of states and localities that all ban declawing: this list includes New York, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia, as well as citywide bans across the nation. It is our hope that 2025 will be the year New Hampshire’s legislators successfully outlaw onychectomies, making their state a more humane place for the animals who rely on them to be their voice.
Take Action: Contact Your New Hampshire State Representative to voice your support for New Hampshire’s kitties and HB-201!
