The CVMA Code of Practice for the Care of Domestic Cats was released in July 2025. Originally published in 2009, the standards were used to promote humane treatment of cats in a variety of settings.
Written by Dr. Elissa Bessonette, DVM
I recently was asked to provide a witness statement for an Animal Protection Act (APA) violation. The animals were examined at a location removed from the property and a statement on the living conditions was required. I was provided photos and body camera footage documenting the conditions found at the property. It was reasonable to give a statement that supported violations to the APA; however, the difficulty came with finding appropriate resources to support the level of welfare concern.
As a shelter veterinarian I am familiar with the ASV Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters the basic principles of which are fundamental to the promotion of welfare across all animal housing situations. The Association of Shelter Veterinarian (ASV) guidelines were developed to direct care in animal shelters and did not feel like the right resource to support my claims of APA violations in a private home setting. I had not attended the residence and was asked for an environmental assessment months after the initial seizure with only photographic and video evidence. The Tufts Animal Care Environmental Health Scale (Patronek) was not readily applicable to substantiate my statement. The CVMA document Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations was useful as a resource in this dog related case as it facilitated careful dissection of the conditions and the lack of adequate resources. The CVMA Codes, however, are not legally binding legislation. There are limitations when using best practices to substantiate claims of inadequate care and husbandry.
As of July 2025, there is now a similar document for cats: The Code of Practice for the Care of Domestic Cats, setting out standards of care for domestic cats with an emphasis on breeding operations. The principles are easily transferred to all cat ownership situations and are intended to be “applicable to any situation in which cats are housed or managed, such as in breeding, boarding, shelter or rescue facilities, research institutions, veterinary hospitals, pet stores and even home environments, with a focus on the care of groups of cats (Code of Practice, 2025).”
The CVMA Code of Practice for the Care of Domestic Cats, was originally created in 2009 “to establish standards to promote the sound care, management, and humane treatment of populations of cats in various settings in Canada” and the second edition continues to uphold this purpose while remaining aligned with evolution’s in understanding and supporting societal expectations for responsible care. As such, this becomes an essential resource for all situations where cats are housed in group settings (including vet clinics, catteries, and shelters) where achieving best practices maximizes health and welfare. The Code is a thorough resource when looking to become educated or when advising owners of recommended practices and may be used to direct compliance or as a reference for enforcement. Unfortunately, it is not likely to hold much weight in court as it references best practices which are removed from the minimum standards of care that are legislated.
The Code of Practice for the Care of Domestic Cats covers health and welfare topics from the frequency of weight rechecks to psychological well-being and references scientifically supported resources for guiding assessments of cats in care. Record keeping, veterinary care (with a VCPR), mental well-being, nutrition, housing, sanitation, transportation, health and safety and working conditions as well as emergency preparedness are comprehensively addressed, and all sections are summarized into requirements and recommendations. This guide is a useful reference when developing policies and procedures for any situation in which cats are housed or managed for any reason and can be used to support improvements to businesses or shelters. As an educational tool, this document is essential for any veterinary team member advising owners or shelters on appropriate care of cats in group housing situations while also addressing the needs of individual cat ownership and care. It is readable and easy to navigate with useful summaries and appendices of additional resources.
With respect to shelter medicine, the CVMA Code of Practice aligns with the ASV Guidelines (Dr. Wagner’s familiar enclosure diagram makes an appearance), and offers detailed recommendations on:
- group housing standards
- behavioural health
- lifecycle planning
Revisions to the ASV Guidelines in 2022 included sections on disaster response and forensics addressing the expanding involvement of shelters in investigative cases and emergency/disaster response all of which are present in the updated CVMA Code.
Supporting a One Health concept recognizing the interconnected human, animal and environmental health, the Code outlines:
- preventive care
- record keeping and identification
The importance of veterinary care and guidance is emphasized but there is no mention of how to manage challenges when it comes to access to care.
As veterinarians, we are responsible for guiding owners in the appropriate care of their animals, and we are obligated to report and defend standards of care. Having a document such as the Code of Practice for the care of Domestic Cats provides a benchmark to uphold appropriate welfare for cats in any setting, including animals under care in our own clinics. There continues to be a large gap in the ability to enforce such standards. As a tool in advancing the welfare of domestic cats, access for the public to a scientifically referenced, peer reviewed, educational resource is a great place to start.