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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78406</law_id><section_number>54.1-3814</section_number><catch_line>Declawing cats; prohibition</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="38">Veterinary Medicine</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> As used in this section:
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Cat</span>&#x201D; means any domesticated species of the family Felidae and does not include any wild or nonnative species of the family Felidae.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Declawing procedure</span>&#x201D; means (i) an onychectomy, a dactylectomy, a phalangectomy, or any other procedure that removes a portion of the paw or digit of a <span class="dictionary">cat</span> in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to remove a claw; (ii) a tendonectomy or any other procedure that cuts or modifies the tendon of the limb, paw, or digit of a <span class="dictionary">cat</span> in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to prohibit the normal movement of a claw; or (iii) any procedure that prevents the normal functioning of one or more claws of a <span class="dictionary">cat</span>. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Declawing procedure</span>&#x201D; does not include nail filing, nail trimming, or the placement of temporary nail caps on one or more claws of a <span class="dictionary">cat</span>.
			&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Therapeutic purpose</span>&#x201D; means any action intended (i) to address an existing or recurring infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in an animal&#x2019;s claw, nail bed, or toe bone that jeopardizes the animal&#x2019;s health, and for which addressing the infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition is a medical necessity, as documented by a licensed veterinarian, or (ii) to protect the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>&#x2019;s life or health, as documented by a licensed physician, when such <span class="dictionary">owner</span> has been diagnosed with an infection, disease, disorder, or similar condition that could reasonably be expected to worsen if such <span class="dictionary">owner</span> were to be scratched by a <span class="dictionary">cat</span>. For purposes of this definition, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">owner</span>&#x201D; includes members of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>&#x2019;s household. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Therapeutic purpose</span>&#x201D; does not include any action performed for cosmetic or aesthetic reasons or reasons of convenience in the keeping or handling of a <span class="dictionary">cat</span>. <a id="paragraph-281019" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3814/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> It is unlawful for any person engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine to perform a <span class="dictionary">declawing procedure</span> on a <span class="dictionary">cat</span>, except such person may perform such a procedure if it is necessary for a <span class="dictionary">therapeutic purpose</span>. <a id="paragraph-281020" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3814/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2024, c. 748.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
