The city of Norfolk, Va., has passed an ordinance that bans cat declawing and other cosmetic alterations of cats, except for medical purposes.
Microchipping, tattooing and ear tipping are not considered cosmetic alterations under the new ordinance and therefore are allowed under the new rules, which were approved by the City Council April 25.
“It shall be unlawful for any person to cosmetically alter any companion animal,” the addition to the municipal code reads in part.
The only exceptions to this are procedures certified to be medically necessary to preserve the animal’s health and safety and performed under proper anesthesia by a veterinarian licensed in Virginia.
In addition to declawing, certain other procedures, including tail docking, ear cropping and debarking (for dogs) are considered cosmetic alterations and therefore banned in the city.