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HB 201 · 2025 · House · Environment and Agriculture Committee

Ban on cat declawing

AI-generated

prohibiting the removal of claws from cats.

Prohibits removing a cat's claws except when medically necessary to treat an existing illness, injury, or condition, and imposes escalating civil penalties of $500 to $2,500 for violations.AI-generated

Status

Killed in the House — Inexpedient to Legislate · February 13, 2025
  1. ✓Introduced
  2. ✕House
  3. Senate
  4. Governor
  5. Law

Analysis

This bill creates a criminal penalty for declawing a cat.

From the bill's official ANALYSIS section.

Official record

Bill page — docket & status

gc.nh.gov · the authoritative source

Sponsors

Rep. Mike BordesRPrime
  • Rep. Ellen ReadDDeputy Ranking Member· Housing
  • Rep. Nicholas GermanaDDeputy Ranking Member· Environment and Agriculture
  • Rep. Christine SeibertDRanking Member· State, Federal, and Veterans Affairs
  • Rep. Timothy SoucyDDeputy Ranking Member· Labor
  • Sen. Daryl AbbasRPresident Pro Tempore

Also: Rep. Charlie St. ClairD, Rep. Douglas TrottierR

Public testimony

263 signed in online · 105 wrote testimony

64% support36% oppose0% neutral

ForDeclawing is an inhumane amputation, not a nail trim

AgainstDeclawing should remain a vet-and-owner medical decision

AI-generatedLeading arguments, summarized by the testimony tool.

Read the arguments

In their wordsVerbatim, exactly as submitted

“I beg you all to please do the right and humane thing to stop this abuse and mutilation of cats. There are no good reasons to do this to a cat and many reasons not do it. It’s time to end this barbaric and cruel practice. Thank you.”
— BJ Wahl, Sullivansupports
“My husband and I are definitely against this bill to mutilate cats.”
— patricia snyder, Durhamsupports
“Declawing actually removes functional bones and handicaps the cat.”
— Deborah Munson, Chestersupports
“I am a licensed veterinarian in the state of NH and have been practicing for 23 years. Twenty + years ago, declawing cats was more in favor. It is already strongly discouraged by the AVMA and veterinarians are well versed in the complications that can occur.…”
— Lisa Boyer, Brentwoodopposes
“no or very few veterinarians in nh even perform this surgery anymore. This is four years of effort (bill has failed three times already) and a lot of money wasted just to “virtue signal” about a procedure almost no veterinarian in NH performs.”
— Diane Richardson, Georges millsopposes
“One in five cats has long-term complications from declaw surgery and 50% have immediate post-surgical complications. One in three cats manifest at least one behavioral problem after declawing. Improperly removed claws can regrow, causing nerve damage and bone spurs.…”
— Kathleen Collinsworth, Keeneopposes

Verbatim excerpts of submitted testimony, quoted from the testimony tool.

Read the testimony · as of Aug 12, 2026

Hearings

  • 2025-01-2110:00 amHouse Environment and AgricultureLOB 301-303Public hearing
  • 2025-01-2811:00 amHouse Environment and AgricultureLOB 301-303Public hearing
  • 2025-02-0411:45 amHouse Environment and AgricultureLOB 301-303Public hearing

Legislative history

  1. Jan 8, 2025HouseIntroduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Environment and Agriculture HJ 2 P. 10
  2. Jan 21, 2025HousePublic Hearing: 01/21/2025 01:30 pm LOB 301-303
  3. Jan 28, 2025HouseFull Committee Work Session: 01/28/2025 11:00 am LOB 301-303
  4. Feb 4, 2025HouseExecutive Session: 02/04/2025 11:45 am LOB 301-303
  5. Feb 4, 2025HouseMajority : Inexpedient to Legislate 02/04/2025 (Vote 9-7; RC) HC 11 P. 15
  6. Feb 5, 2025HouseMinority : Ought to Pass
  7. Feb 13, 2025HouseInexpedient to Legislate: MA DV 191-177 02/13/2025 HJ 5 P. 38

Coverage

No reporting linked yet.

Documents (PDF)

Bill text & amendments link direct to gc.nh.gov; committee reports stream from the state record.