JEFFERSON CITY — The latest attempt to prohibit local governments from banning the declawing of cats is moving again in the Missouri Legislature.
Rep. Jim Murphy, a south St. Louis County Republican, is sponsoring a proposal that would overturn local bans on the practice approved in the city of St. Louis in 2019 and adopted by St. Louis County in 2022.
Murphy, who has pushed for similar measures in previous years, says the local ordinances overstep the bounds of regulating animals.
Opponents of the legislation are again raising questions about the latest GOP-led push to limit the powers of municipalities and counties.
In testimony to a House committee last month, Springfield lobbyist Will Marrs said the push is “in direct conflict with the concept of local control” and would limit the city’s ability to step in to address local concerns.
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“We want to be able to adapt to various changes in professions and to be able to curtail the actions of bad actors should it become necessary in the future, especially when the city population is continually expanding as is the metro region,” he wrote.
Honey, a cat, waits for dinner at her home in Jefferson City, Mo.
The measure was approved in the House in March on 103-30 vote, with no Democratic support. It now awaits further debate in the Senate.
The bill would allow the state to preempt any local government from enacting or enforcing a policy that restricts a number of licensed professions, ranging from doctors to pharmacists. The inclusion of veterinarians in the list has become a focus of those who oppose the plan.
Bob Baker, who represents the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation, called it “problematic” that veterinarians are included in the proposal.
“Every profession has its bad apples. If this bill passes, they will have absolutely no oversight whatsoever,” Baker said.
The Humane Society of the United States also opposes the plan, arguing that declawing is a “particularly nasty” procedure that can encourage biting by otherwise defenseless cats.
Once a common procedure, many veterinary professionals now advise against declawing. The American Association of Feline Practitioners “strongly opposes” the practice. The American Veterinary Medical Association discourages declawing but leaves it up to veterinarians to decide what’s best for the cat.
Declawing can lead to complications for cats, including chronic pain, infection, nerve trauma, behavioral problems and lameness, according to the feline practitioner association. Alternatives include providing more scratching posts, regularly trimming claws and temporary nail caps.
During debate, Murphy said veterinarians who oppose his bill were “just shameful.”
Under St. Louis County’s ordinance, the procedure must be deemed “medically necessary” and can only be performed by a licensed veterinarian while the animal is under anesthesia.
The procedure is illegal in several European countries. New York prohibited elective declawing of cats in 2019. Other cities with bans include Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver.Murphy has previously attempted to overturn ordinances approved by the Democrat-controlled city and county. He has backed legislation that would stop the local governments from imposing
on private property and has also fought against local government health orders designed to control the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19.
The legislation is House Bill 325.
Pet owners don't usually get much attention from politicians. That is, until this year, when comments from JD Vance about childless cat ladies briefly created a pet-centric campaign issue.
