Animals: cats; certain medical procedures for declawing a cat; prohibit. Amends 1978 PA 368 (MCL 333.1101 - 333.25211) by adding sec. 18830.

This bill prohibits veterinarians and other licensed professionals from performing declawing surgeries on cats unless the procedure is medically necessary to treat a specific health condition. The law defines a cat to include various breeds and hybrids, while strictly limiting the exception for surgery to cases involving illness, injury, or disease that threatens the animal's health. It explicitly bans removing claws for cosmetic reasons or to make the cat easier to handle, ensuring that the decision is based solely on therapeutic needs. By adding a new section to the state's public health code, the legislation aims to restrict a common but controversial medical practice to only those situations where it is required for the cat's well-being.