Nova Scotia becomes 1st province to ban cat declawing

Nova Scotia has become the first province in Canada to ban elective cat declawing. 

The decision by the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association was announced in December, with a three month grace period before it took effect today.

“I see declawing as a mutilation of an animal for no direct benefit to the animal. It’s something that’s done mostly to protect furniture,” said retired veterinarian Hugh Chisholm, who has advocated for a declawing ban for years.

Unlike the name suggests, declawing actually