Friday, March 29, 2024

Declawing cats will no longer be allowed in British Columbia

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Animal activists in BC can now safely retract their claws when it comes to kitty welfare!

The College of Veterinarians of British Columbia has just banned declawing cats unless it is necessary for specific medical purposes.

According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, cats need their nails to help with balance, climbing, and self-defence. Scratching is a normal aspect of feline behaviour and helps them stretch, remove the dead husks from their claws, and mark their territory.

Therefore declawing cats can lead to a plethora of health problems, including adverse reactions to anesthetics, hemorrhage, and infection during the surgery.

The practice is currently banned in Nova Scotia, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Brazil, the United Kingdom, parts of Europe and some cities in California.

The CVBC will also be able to investigate and impose disciplinary measures on vets who ignore the new law. Under the Veterinarian’s Act, people found in non-compliance of the ban will face legal action.

Alternate solutions

Besides training cats to use scratching posts, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association recommends several other measures cat owners can take to protect their belongings from getting scratched to shreds.

These include:

  • double-sided tape to deter cats from scratching the edges of furniture;
  • regular nail trimming (recommended every two weeks);
  • artificial nail covers;
  • environmental enrichment and appropriate daily play to decrease feline aggression;
  • avoidance of hand/foot play which can lead the cat to see these human parts as prey;
  • the application of basic principles of reinforcement of desirable behaviour, including the use of catnip, treats, and verbal praise.

Approved by the BC SPCA

“For nearly two decades the BC SPCA has been on record opposing procedures such as declawing, tail docking, ear cropping, and devocalization that impact an animal’s ability to experience good welfare and to express natural behaviours,” says Dr. Emilia Gordon, senior manager of animal health for the BC SPCA.

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Brishti Basu
Former Senior Staff Writer and Content Manager at Victoria Buzz.

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