New York's state Senate has passed a bill that would make the state the first in the U.S. to ban cat declawing operations.
The proposal is also expected to get a vote in the Assembly later Tuesday.
The bill would subject veterinarians to $1,000 fines for performing the procedure, which involves amputating part of a cat's toes.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo hasn't said whether he supports the bill.
Declawing a cat is already illegal in much of Europe as well as in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Denver.
Supporters of a ban include animal welfare advocates, who say declawing is cruel.
The New York Veterinary Medical Society opposed the bill, arguing that declawing should be allowed as a last resort in some circumstances.
Cuomo and the majority of legislators are Democrats.
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