December 3, 2020

Today Representatives Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District and Brian Mast of Florida’s 18th Congressional District introduced the Cat Abuse in Testing Stops (CATS) Act. The bipartisan legislation would permanently end painful and unnecessary taxpayer-funded experiments on cats conducted by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill is being introduced with the support of 19 House co-sponsors.

According to documents released by the VA – including disturbing photos and videos of the cat testing – tax dollars have recently been used by the VA to purchase cats and kittens, sever their spinal cords, implant electrodes into their brains, and perform other abusive and even deadly procedures. 

“The VA’s deadly and outdated cat experiments are sickening. You don’t have to be a cat owner like I am to recognize that,” said Congresswoman Titus (NV-1). “I’m proud to introduce the CATS Act with Congressman Brian Mast, an Army veteran, to stop the VA’s cruel and unnecessary tests on cats so that these resources can be redirected to modern and humane research that will improve veterans’ lives.” 

“The VA’s continued use of taxpayer dollars to conduct painful and wasteful experiments on cats and kittens is unacceptable,” said Congressman Mast (FL-18). “These tests are barbaric, unnecessary and do nothing to actually help veterans.  That’s why I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Rep. Titus to bring them to an end once and for all.”

“We applaud Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Brian Mast (R-FL) for introducing the CATS Act and their outstanding leadership to end the VA’s taxpayer-funded kitten catastrophe, which is opposed by most Americans and squanders precious VA money, space, staff, and time,” said Justin Goodman, vice president of advocacy and public policy at taxpayer watchdog group White Coat Waste Project.

The CATS Act builds on other efforts led by Congresswoman Titus (NV-1) and Congressman Mast (FL-18) to stop unnecessary and harmful animal testing at the VA, including the PUPPERS Act (H.R. 1155), which currently has 125 cosponsors. The FY21 VA appropriations bill passed by the House in July 2020 included a Titus-Mast measure to defund VA dog testing. The FY20 VA spending bill enacted last year also restricted the VA’s testing on cats, dogs, and primates, and requested a phase-out plan for the use of these animals.