This Minnesota Senate bill (S.F. No. 1935) prohibits the elective declawing of cats. The bill defines declawing as any surgical procedure that amputates or modifies a cat's paws to remove claws, excluding routine nail trimming or temporary nail caps. It also bans tendonectomy, a procedure that cuts or modifies tendons to impair claw function.

Exceptions are made for procedures performed solely for therapeutic purposes, meaning those that are medically necessary to treat infections, diseases, injuries, or abnormal conditions that threaten a cat’s health. The bill explicitly states that procedures performed for cosmetic reasons, convenience, or ease of handling are not allowed.

Violators of this law face civil penalties:
- $500 for the first violation
- $1,000 for the second violation
- $2,500 for the third and any subsequent violations

These penalties can be enforced through civil actions brought by the county attorney or the attorney general in the name of the state.