Rhode Island made its position on cat declawing unmistakably clear in 2025. The state enacted Senate Bill 180 and House Bill 5668, which ban the declawing of cats other than for medically necessary purposes to improve a cat’s health, with the law taking effect on September 1, 2025. If you own a cat in Rhode Island — or if you work in veterinary medicine there — understanding exactly what this law covers matters.
Cat declawing, known medically as onychectomy, is an invasive surgical procedure that involves amputating the last bone of each of the cat’s toes, and has been compared to severing a human’s fingers at the final knuckle. Rhode Island’s law treats that reality seriously, and the rules it sets out are straightforward once you know where to look.
Is Declawing Cats Legal in Rhode Island?
No — with one narrow exception. Rhode Island officially banned the declawing of cats, becoming the fourth U.S. state to do so. The legislation prohibits the declawing of cats for non-therapeutic purposes, ending a practice long criticized as inhumane and unnecessary.
As of June 26, 2025, this legislation became law. The companion bills — SB 180 Sub A and HB 5668 Sub A — each passed both chambers in June. The initial language was amended, and the substitute language extended the effective date and aligned the penalties with existing violations of the Veterinary Practice Act…