prohibition; cat declawing; exceptions

HB 2186 prohibits the surgical procedure known as "declawing" (amputation of a cat's claws) or "tendonectomy" (modifying tendons to prevent claw extension) in Arizona, except when performed for a documented medical necessity. The bill defines "therapeutic purpose" as addressing an existing infection, disease, injury, or abnormal condition that jeopardizes the cat's health, explicitly excluding cosmetic or convenience reasons. This law directly affects veterinarians who perform these procedures on cats, requiring them to justify any declawing as medically necessary under the statute. The bill focuses on clarifying prohibited practices through defined terms rather than imposing new penalties or enforcement mechanisms.