Judge affirms cat custody ruling, distinguishes parenthood from pet ownership

An Alberta judge ruled that two former spouses, Kishan Singh and Reba Smith, should each keep two of their four cats following their separation, emphasizing that pets are legally treated as property, not children. Justice Douglas Mah stated that the legal standards for custody of children and pets differ and that considerations of a pet’s best interests do not apply in Alberta. The ruling stemmed from a dispute where Singh took the cats when Smith left their shared home. Mah also rejected Singh’s appeal for costs associated with caring for the cats while he was away.

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