(ONN) – Ohio could join five other states and the District of Columbia to ban the practice of declawing cats.

Senate Bill 252 was recently introduced in Ohio.

It would make it illegal to declaw cats unless medically necessary.

Animal advocates say declawing isn’t just a nail trim – they say it’s literally cutting off the first knuckle of a cat’s paw.

If the bill passes, violators would face fines starting at $1,000 and going up to $2,500 for multiple offenses.