![['A cat has his front claws removed by a veterinarian. The Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association has made the decision to amend the Code of Ethics making it illegal to perform surgeries that are purely for cosmetic purposes, for example ear cropping and tail docking. Declawing in domestic cats is still legal in the province.']](https://saltwire.imgix.net/cosmetic-surgery-650328.jpg?cs=srgb&fit=crop&h=568&w=847&dpr=1&auto=enhance%2Ccompress%2Cformat)
It’s a good day to be a cat in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The province’s college of veterinarians passed a resolution that prohibits licensed vets to perform declaw surgeries on cats.
The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2019, thereby allowing member veterinarians who offer the service a chance to educate their clients about the change.
The change is supported by the province’s veterinary medical association.
Nova Scotia became the first Canadian province to ban medically unnecessary cat declawing earlier this year.
Last year, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association strengthened its position, saying scratching is normal behaviour that cats use to mark territory, and claws help with balance, climbing and self-defence.
Declawing has been common practice across Canada for some time, but more and more veterinarians are refusing to perform the procedure, believing it causes unnecessary and avoidable pain. Moreover, some studies indicate that it can result in behavioural issues later in life.
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