R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-44
This is the official text of R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-1-44, part of Rhode Island’s Gen. Laws — part of the compiled statutory law of Rhode Island, published by the state as "Gen. Laws." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§ 4-1-44. Declawing cats prohibited.
Official statutory text
(a) For purposes of this section:
(1) Declawing means an onychectomy or any other surgical procedure to amputate or modify a portion of a cats paw in order to remove the cats claws. Declawing does not include the trimming of nonviable claw husk or placing nonpermanent nail caps.
(2) Tendonectomy means a procedure in which the tendons to a cats limbs, paws, or toes are cut or modified in order that the normal functioning of the claws is impaired.
(3) Therapeutic purpose means a medically necessary procedure to address an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claws, nail bed, or toe bone, that compromises the cats health. Therapeutic purpose shall not include a procedure performed for a cosmetic or aesthetic purpose or to make the cat more convenient to keep or handle.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to perform surgical claw removal, declawing, or a tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise alter a cats toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the normal function of the cats toes, claws, or paws.
(c) This section does not apply to a procedure performed solely for a therapeutic purpose.
(d) The prosecution of and procedure for discipline for violations of this section shall be in accordance with §§ 5-25-9 and 5-25-15.
(1) Declawing means an onychectomy or any other surgical procedure to amputate or modify a portion of a cats paw in order to remove the cats claws. Declawing does not include the trimming of nonviable claw husk or placing nonpermanent nail caps.
(2) Tendonectomy means a procedure in which the tendons to a cats limbs, paws, or toes are cut or modified in order that the normal functioning of the claws is impaired.
(3) Therapeutic purpose means a medically necessary procedure to address an existing or recurring illness, infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition in the claws, nail bed, or toe bone, that compromises the cats health. Therapeutic purpose shall not include a procedure performed for a cosmetic or aesthetic purpose or to make the cat more convenient to keep or handle.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to perform surgical claw removal, declawing, or a tendonectomy on any cat or otherwise alter a cats toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the normal function of the cats toes, claws, or paws.
(c) This section does not apply to a procedure performed solely for a therapeutic purpose.
(d) The prosecution of and procedure for discipline for violations of this section shall be in accordance with §§ 5-25-9 and 5-25-15.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Rhode Island?
Find a Rhode Island lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.