The Myth of Declawing (Onychectomy)

What Exactly is Declawing?

One thing it's certainly not is a manicure for
cats. A recent poll showed that 60% of Americans
are in favour of this barbaric surgery. But are
we surprised? It's still legal in the U.S to
crop ears and dock tails on dogs. A cats claw is
part of the last bone (distal phalanx) in the
cats foot. It is not a nail like a humans nail.
There are a lot of vets that mislead people into
thinking that this procedure is a small step up
from clipping your cats nails. But AMPUTATION is
not a small procedure! In order to declaw without
any future re-growth, they have to take out, the
claw, the bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral
ligaments, and the extensor and flexor tendons.
That is exactly what declawing is. A complete
removal of the distal phalanx at the joint. 10 X
AMPUTATION. Would you want to lose the tops of
your fingers up to the first joint..... ten
times ? No - neither would I. In these countries
it is illegal unless there are extreme
circumstances where it is required. England
Scotland Wales Italy France Germany Bosnia
Austria Switzerland Norway Sweden Netherlands
Northern Ireland Ireland Denmark Finland
Slovenia Portugal Belgium Brazil Australia New
Zealand Yugoslavia Malta Israel

Why Do Cats Scratch?

It's their natural instinct to scratch, it
sharpens their claws for them to catch their
prey and removes old nails. It is also a way to
mark their territory as they secrete sweat from
the glands in their feet. If they're an outdoor
cat, then trees and wooden fences will do, but
if you own an indoor cat then your furniture
will be the next best thing. A good way to get
your little tiger into the idea of using a
scratching post is to put the new item in the
area that your cat scratches at most. It may
mean moving your sofa and furniture over, so
that your cat can get used to the idea of a post
instead of your favourite chair, but it'll only
be until your kitty has gotten familiar to the
new addition to the furniture. Then you can
probably move it to another area of your home.
The more they scratch, the more they will mark
their scent and eventually they will get used to
using the post for their scratching needs. Also
adding toys and a little bit of catnip to the
material on the scratch post may entice your
feline to use this rather than your furniture.
Of course kitty may return to his old scratching
haunts, so it may be wise to invest in some get
off spray for furniture. Never tell your cat
off, they need to scratch to maintain their
nails, strengthen and stretch their muscles and
limbs. They'll carry on doing it anyway :D

What to Look For in a Scratching Post.

A strong and sturdy base -Height should be the
height of your cat when stretching, plus a few
more inches.

A platform at the top for your cat to survey his
kingdom.

Cat toy and activities to engage and stimulate
your cats mental abilities.

Sisal textile material (not rope) is the
preferred kitty post material as it is durable
enough for him to scratch at again and again.

And remember, DON'T throw away his stand if it
looks battered, he'll have just got it the way
he likes it and certainly wont thank you for it.

----------------------------------------------------
Alex Kelly

As a pet and website owner, my articles are
based on issues I feel are important for fellow
animal lovers.
Pet Promenade has everything you will need for
the furry member of the family. From pet food,
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