New Law Says No More Declawing Cats In Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. There is a new law starting in July that bans veterinarians from declawing cats, unless there’s a valid medical reason to perform the operation.

The banning of declawing in Virgina is great news for cat lovers who have petitioned for this inhumane practice to stop.

Prohibition On Declawing

The Bill was introduced by Del. Marty Martinez (D) and signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). Del.

Mary Martinez said “I’m an animal lover, and anything we can do to prevent any kind of cruelty to animals is something that I will support.”

The “HB 1354 Cats; prohibition of declawing” bill:

“Makes unlawful the practice of declawing cats for any person engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine except as necessary for a therapeutic purpose, as defined in the bill.”

Virginia’s Legislative Information System

The therapeutic exceptions in the bill mainly involve keeping the cat healthy in medical situations that involve the cat and sometimes the cat’s owner.

A veterinarian would have to make a decision on declawing if there is a therapeutic reason involved. This might be to prevent recurring infection or disease. Or there might be an injury to the nail bed or toe bone that only declawing will fix long-term.

Declawing Is Inhumane

There are lasting problems that are caused by declawing. Because declawed cats can’t stretch properly, they might get lameness or arthritis because their tendons are not retracting, or their limbs aren’t being stretched.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) told the subcommitee that declawing involves not just the removal of the nail but “actually the amputation of the first digit of every paw.”

Cats that can’t scratch will bite which makes them unloved. It’s the only thing left to the poor cats who are declawed. This leads to cats being unwanted and abandoned which is a terrible outcome of declawing.

Cats Need Claws

Cats require claws so they can mark their territory or mark a specific place. They also need claws to open things, scratch themselves, or when defending themselves from other animals.

Cats have agile bodies that they stretch so that their muscles are prepared for using their claws on a post, tree or furniture. After they have scratched, they retract their claws and pull back from their hold.

Scratching is a hardwired behavior in cats. The wellbeing of their mental and physical state depends on them being able to scratch. This is what cats love to do, and to take way their ability to scratch is inhumane.

For all healthy cats, having a scratching post is a great option for their scratching. Instead of raking their claws on furniture or rugs, a scratching post provides an irrresistable way for cats to scratch and stretch.