§ 381. Prohibition of the declawing of cats. 1. No person shall
perform an onychectomy (declawing), partial or complete phalangectomy or
tendonectomy procedure by any means on a cat within the state of New
York, except when necessary for a therapeutic purpose. Therapeutic
purpose means the necessity to address the physical medical condition of
the cat, such as an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease,
injury or abnormal condition in the claw that compromises the cat's
health. Therapeutic purpose does not include cosmetic or aesthetic
reasons or reasons of convenience in keeping or handling the cat.

2. Any person who performs an onychectomy, partial or complete
phalangectomy or tendonectomy procedure on any cat within the state of
New York in violation of the provisions of subdivision one of this
section shall be punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed one
thousand dollars.