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Aug. 18, 2008 5:29 PM PT _This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts._ Things are getting catty in

California’s Legislature. Really. Passing laws to make the declawing of cats illegal is itself not legal, according to a bill approved today. The legislation is aimed at cities and counties

that have tried to regulate professions licensed by the state. In this case the city of West Hollywood wanted to bar veterinarians from declawing cats. As Patrick McGreevy reports via the

L.A. Now blog: > The Senate voted 23 to 3 to restrict local governments from > prohibiting actions allowed under state licensing by numerous > professions, including veterinarians, 

optometrists and dentists. > Sen. Sheila Keuhl, a Democrat who represents West Hollywood, blasted > the decision, saying it usurps the ability of cities to set higher > standards 

for businesses. AB 2427 was written by Assemblyman Mike > Eng (D-Monterey Park) following an appeals court decision last year > that found existing state law did not preempt the city 

of West > Hollywood from adopting an ordinance barring veterinarians from > declawing cats. City officials believe the procedure is inhumane. > Without the law, which previously was

 approved by the Assembly, > ‘We would have a collage of laws throughout the state, county by > county, saying what healthcare professionals can and cannot do,’ > said Sen. Sam 

Aanestad (R-Grass Valley), an oral surgeon. ‘That is > not acceptable.’ > As part of the compromise to get the bill approved, Eng agreed it > would not apply to city ordinances 

approved before Jan. 1, 2009, so > West Hollywood felines remain safe. Meanwhile, the Legislature has missed the six-week deadline to pass a budget, L.A. Now’s Veronique de Turenne

writes, adding, ‘There ought to be a law.’ -- Francisco Vara-Orta