31755.
(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:(1) “Cat” means an animal of the taxonomic family felidae, except an animal that is a member of an exotic or native wild cat species as defined in Section 597.6 of the Penal Code.
(2) “Declawing” means an onychectomy or any other surgical procedure to amputate or modify a portion of a cat’s paw in order to remove the cat’s claws. “Declawing” does not include the trimming of nonviable claw husk or placing nonpermanent nail caps.
(3) “Tendonectomy” means a procedure in which the tendons to a cat’s limbs, paws, or toes are cut or modified so that the normal functioning of the claws is impaired.
(4) “Therapeutic purpose” means a medically necessary procedure to address an existing or recurring infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claw that jeopardizes the cat’s health. “Therapeutic purpose” does not include a procedure performed for a cosmetic or aesthetic purpose or to make the cat more convenient to keep or handle.
(b) (1) A person shall not perform surgical claw removal, declawing, or a tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise alter a cat’s toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the normal function of the cat’s toes, claws, or paws.
(2) This subdivision does not apply to a procedure performed solely for a therapeutic purpose.
(c) A violation of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for the first violation, one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the second violation, and two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for the third and any subsequent violation.
(d) This section does not preempt any local ordinance adopted before January 1, 2022, prohibiting surgical claw removal, declawing, or a tendonectomy on any cat, or otherwise prohibiting the altering of a cat’s toes, claws, or paws to prevent the normal function of the cat’s toes, claws, or paws, or imposing a more severe penalty for performing such an action.