In contrast, most civilized nations of the world have outlawed declawing for years, considering it cruel, unnecessary,
and potentially causing severe pain and long-term harm. I personally can think of operations
that are even more unnecessary, such as cropping dogs' ears (also illegal in many nations and in Norfolk, Virginia!)
Declawing can be performed in a way that minimizes pain and surgical complications. Still, declawing IS medically
unnecessary and it would be nice to see it relegated to an uncommon procedure of last resort (i.e., when scratching
becomes such a problem the cat is in danger of losing its home or life.)
Declawing requires the complete removal of the third, or end, bone of each toe. If the end bone is not entirely
removed, the claw can grow back again. Therefore, successful declawing actually consists of ten (or more)
small amputations.
Using care, skill, and attention to modern pain-control standards, veterinarians can shield feline patients from the
main complications of declaw surgery. Still, any surgery, including declawing, carries a small risk of infection, improper
healing, or bad reactions to anesthetics or analgesics.
You may have heard that declawing can lead to long-term behavioral disorders in cats, but there is no evidence to
support these erroneous beliefs. However, I do believe that declawing interferes with the cat's ability to stretch and
tone its leg and shoulder muscles in a normal fashion.
If we agree that declaw surgery is undesirable, at least from the cat's standpoint, how can we manage our cats'
natural tendency to scratch things so that we don't have to resort to removing their claws?
Don't think that you can ever eradicate cats' instinctive scratching behavior. They scratch not only to clean and
sharpen their claws, but to mark territory with the visible scratch marks and also the scent deposited on the scratched
object. Even declawed cats continue to "go through the motions," stretching out and alternately moving their front
paws back and forth, as if scratching. If you want to prevent both furniture damage and declaw surgery, you MUST
provide a suitable scratching object for your cat, especially if it stays indoors.
Commercially-available scratching posts aren't always appealing to cats. They are often too small, or covered with
too soft a substrate (e.g. deep pile carpet.) A good scratching device can be horizontal, vertical, or mounted on a
slant, but it should be long enough for the cat to stretch out to its full length while using it. It must be firmly anchored
somehow so it doesn't move around when being scratched. If the cat stands on the device during its use, the cat's
own weight will anchor it.
The texture of the scratching surface is very important. Cats want something fairly tough to sink their claws into;
there should be some resistance to the drag of the claws through the material. On the other hand the cat needs to be
able to rip and damage the material somewhat. Good substrates would be heavy upholstery fabric (but not the exact
same texture as your couch!), or very low-pile carpet like indoor-outdoor or Berber. Or you could consider bringing a
large tree limb indoors for natural cat furniture that doubles as a scratching post. I have also found that the cheap,
corrugated-cardboard scratching "posts" sold at pet stores and discount stores have an appealing texture for most
cats.
The scratching post must be properly located, that is, kept in a prominent place along traffic-flow routes in the
house. While a cumbersome, raggedy object may not strike you as acceptable decor, your cat wants everyone to
notice his territorial totem. So don't hide it in the corner; place it next to the coffee table or just inside the door, and it
will be used more consistently.
You can encourage your cat to use a scratching post by rubbing it with catnip, scratching it yourself in view of the
cat, and playing with the cat on and around the post. Once the cat experiences the satisfaction of a good
healthy scratch on his very own special piece of furniture, he'll go back to it again and again.
Naturally, the best time to train your cat to use a scratching post is when it is still a kitten. If the kitten starts to
scratch on your upholstery or fancy wallpaper, mild scolding and gentle redirection to a
well-designed scratching post should do the trick. Older cats with established "bad habits" could be harder to train. In
addition to providing appealing, "allowable" scratching surfaces, you may have to make your cat's
previously favored places unrewarding to scratch. You can use obnoxious-smelling repellants like citronella or
antiperspirant spray. Or put physical barriers like aluminum foil or heavy clear plastic over furniture arms and
cushions. Hopefully, the measures will be needed only temporarily!
For refractory cases, frequent clipping of the claws can reduce some of the property damage and risk of human
injury. There are also acrylic nail caps for cats (SoftPaws®) which effectively blunt the claws, but they must be
re-applied often and are therefore rather inconvenient.
Hopefully, we all care enough about our cats to make every effort to provide healthy outlets for their scratching
behavior. A decision to declaw should never be taken lightly.
and potentially causing severe pain and long-term harm. I personally can think of operations
that are even more unnecessary, such as cropping dogs' ears (also illegal in many nations and in Norfolk, Virginia!)
Declawing can be performed in a way that minimizes pain and surgical complications. Still, declawing IS medically
unnecessary and it would be nice to see it relegated to an uncommon procedure of last resort (i.e., when scratching
becomes such a problem the cat is in danger of losing its home or life.)
Declawing requires the complete removal of the third, or end, bone of each toe. If the end bone is not entirely
removed, the claw can grow back again. Therefore, successful declawing actually consists of ten (or more)
small amputations.
Using care, skill, and attention to modern pain-control standards, veterinarians can shield feline patients from the
main complications of declaw surgery. Still, any surgery, including declawing, carries a small risk of infection, improper
healing, or bad reactions to anesthetics or analgesics.
You may have heard that declawing can lead to long-term behavioral disorders in cats, but there is no evidence to
support these erroneous beliefs. However, I do believe that declawing interferes with the cat's ability to stretch and
tone its leg and shoulder muscles in a normal fashion.
If we agree that declaw surgery is undesirable, at least from the cat's standpoint, how can we manage our cats'
natural tendency to scratch things so that we don't have to resort to removing their claws?
Don't think that you can ever eradicate cats' instinctive scratching behavior. They scratch not only to clean and
sharpen their claws, but to mark territory with the visible scratch marks and also the scent deposited on the scratched
object. Even declawed cats continue to "go through the motions," stretching out and alternately moving their front
paws back and forth, as if scratching. If you want to prevent both furniture damage and declaw surgery, you MUST
provide a suitable scratching object for your cat, especially if it stays indoors.
Commercially-available scratching posts aren't always appealing to cats. They are often too small, or covered with
too soft a substrate (e.g. deep pile carpet.) A good scratching device can be horizontal, vertical, or mounted on a
slant, but it should be long enough for the cat to stretch out to its full length while using it. It must be firmly anchored
somehow so it doesn't move around when being scratched. If the cat stands on the device during its use, the cat's
own weight will anchor it.
The texture of the scratching surface is very important. Cats want something fairly tough to sink their claws into;
there should be some resistance to the drag of the claws through the material. On the other hand the cat needs to be
able to rip and damage the material somewhat. Good substrates would be heavy upholstery fabric (but not the exact
same texture as your couch!), or very low-pile carpet like indoor-outdoor or Berber. Or you could consider bringing a
large tree limb indoors for natural cat furniture that doubles as a scratching post. I have also found that the cheap,
corrugated-cardboard scratching "posts" sold at pet stores and discount stores have an appealing texture for most
cats.
The scratching post must be properly located, that is, kept in a prominent place along traffic-flow routes in the
house. While a cumbersome, raggedy object may not strike you as acceptable decor, your cat wants everyone to
notice his territorial totem. So don't hide it in the corner; place it next to the coffee table or just inside the door, and it
will be used more consistently.
You can encourage your cat to use a scratching post by rubbing it with catnip, scratching it yourself in view of the
cat, and playing with the cat on and around the post. Once the cat experiences the satisfaction of a good
healthy scratch on his very own special piece of furniture, he'll go back to it again and again.
Naturally, the best time to train your cat to use a scratching post is when it is still a kitten. If the kitten starts to
scratch on your upholstery or fancy wallpaper, mild scolding and gentle redirection to a
well-designed scratching post should do the trick. Older cats with established "bad habits" could be harder to train. In
addition to providing appealing, "allowable" scratching surfaces, you may have to make your cat's
previously favored places unrewarding to scratch. You can use obnoxious-smelling repellants like citronella or
antiperspirant spray. Or put physical barriers like aluminum foil or heavy clear plastic over furniture arms and
cushions. Hopefully, the measures will be needed only temporarily!
For refractory cases, frequent clipping of the claws can reduce some of the property damage and risk of human
injury. There are also acrylic nail caps for cats (SoftPaws®) which effectively blunt the claws, but they must be
re-applied often and are therefore rather inconvenient.
Hopefully, we all care enough about our cats to make every effort to provide healthy outlets for their scratching
behavior. A decision to declaw should never be taken lightly.
| Welcome Home My Florida! |
Declawing... What used to be considered proper etiquette for all indoor cats has today become
taboo. Why? Because of the wonderful world of communication. We now know more than we
did about the procedure and how traumatic it is to our feline friends. Read what Dr. Carla
Haddix has to say about declawing and learn about alternatives available to help your pet.
taboo. Why? Because of the wonderful world of communication. We now know more than we
did about the procedure and how traumatic it is to our feline friends. Read what Dr. Carla
Haddix has to say about declawing and learn about alternatives available to help your pet.
| The Family Pet |
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| Adopt a stray! They need you. Spay or Neuter your outdoor animals! Don't buy, adopt! |
| Fur Ball & Feather Fun! |
| Submit a funny pet story and photo! All are welcome to join in on the fun, so come get involved. EMAIL HERE No Attachments! |
| When sending photos... Please downsize to a maximum of 400 x 400. Got questions? Email me here! Please, NO attachments! |
| July 2008 |
Dr. Carla Haddix DVM
| YOUR PET PHOTOS AND STORIES! |
| Cat Fence? Wouldn't you just love to open your back door and let your cats roam around in your yard? A friend of mine has the fence as in the picture and her cats love the freedom it affords them! The neighbors like the fact she keeps her cats out of their property and everyone couldn't be happier! Contact PURRFECT FENCE to learn more! |
There is a way to balance out regular bird food… let them eat your food! Birds are like us in that they need a lot of things in OUR
food pyramid. They can get the nutrition they need just by eating the same thing as you. Let’s say you’re having spaghetti that
has whole wheat and low fat dressing. That’s great for a bird’s wheat’s and veggie needs. I’ll give you the things they need
often, sometimes, and never.
NEVER GIVEN FOOD
Chocolate- it speeds up their heart and a single piece to them is like us eating 10 pounds of it
Caffeine or alcohol- it can give them seizers that can lead to death, this includes tea and coffee
Avocado- the pit releases toxic juices to high for birds
Shell fish- too toxic for them (so forget shrimp scampi and clam dip for them.)
Uncooked or reheated meats, fish, poultry or eggs. Only fresh cooked to humane standards. So no sushi or milkshakes made
with raw eggs.
Dairy products- it’s not good for their bones and digestive system
SOMETIMES GIVEN
Chips or crackers- unsalted
Fries- again unsalted
Cookies, cakes and other sweet goodies- too much sugar
White bread or white rice- very small amounts
OFTEN GIVEN FOOD
Beans
Lean COOKED meats (poultry is fine)
Cooked eggs
Whole grain pasta and bread
Brown or wild rice
Fat free sauces on the pasta and such
Almost any veggie
Some seeds or nuts
Unsaturated fats or oils for cooking for the birds
food pyramid. They can get the nutrition they need just by eating the same thing as you. Let’s say you’re having spaghetti that
has whole wheat and low fat dressing. That’s great for a bird’s wheat’s and veggie needs. I’ll give you the things they need
often, sometimes, and never.
NEVER GIVEN FOOD
Chocolate- it speeds up their heart and a single piece to them is like us eating 10 pounds of it
Caffeine or alcohol- it can give them seizers that can lead to death, this includes tea and coffee
Avocado- the pit releases toxic juices to high for birds
Shell fish- too toxic for them (so forget shrimp scampi and clam dip for them.)
Uncooked or reheated meats, fish, poultry or eggs. Only fresh cooked to humane standards. So no sushi or milkshakes made
with raw eggs.
Dairy products- it’s not good for their bones and digestive system
SOMETIMES GIVEN
Chips or crackers- unsalted
Fries- again unsalted
Cookies, cakes and other sweet goodies- too much sugar
White bread or white rice- very small amounts
OFTEN GIVEN FOOD
Beans
Lean COOKED meats (poultry is fine)
Cooked eggs
Whole grain pasta and bread
Brown or wild rice
Fat free sauces on the pasta and such
Almost any veggie
Some seeds or nuts
Unsaturated fats or oils for cooking for the birds
| Gainesville FOSTER HOMES! We have a GREAT need for more foster homes! Please, if you can help us, our pets will smother you with love! Call us today! (352) 692-4773 |
| We NEVER euthanize! |
We need FOSTER HOMES! This is an
opportunity to help without any long term
commitment and you'll have so much fun
doing it!
opportunity to help without any long term
commitment and you'll have so much fun
doing it!
Please don't buy your new pet from a pet store! (Unless they have
rescue groups bringing in cats that need adoption). There are so
many animals roaming the streets of our cities! Help us help the
unwanted, abandoned and abused animals of Osceola County.
rescue groups bringing in cats that need adoption). There are so
many animals roaming the streets of our cities! Help us help the
unwanted, abandoned and abused animals of Osceola County.
ANNIE
Hi, I'm Annie. My brother Rex and I
somehow ended up in the middle of traffic
on a very busy street. We were terrified.
Then some nice lady stopped and saved us,
we were sure to get hit by a car. She took us
home and found this group who said they
would get us both good homes.
I am now in a foster home with other kittens
to play with. I love playing with all my new
friends, but especially love my brother Rex.
We are like peas in a pod, we do look alot
alike. My foster mom says that we are very
socialized and we will make someone such
great companions. We'd love it if someone
could adopt us both together !
I'm ready to come home with you so email
SpayTheStrays@aol.com and ask for Annie !
Hi, I'm Annie. My brother Rex and I
somehow ended up in the middle of traffic
on a very busy street. We were terrified.
Then some nice lady stopped and saved us,
we were sure to get hit by a car. She took us
home and found this group who said they
would get us both good homes.
I am now in a foster home with other kittens
to play with. I love playing with all my new
friends, but especially love my brother Rex.
We are like peas in a pod, we do look alot
alike. My foster mom says that we are very
socialized and we will make someone such
great companions. We'd love it if someone
could adopt us both together !
I'm ready to come home with you so email
SpayTheStrays@aol.com and ask for Annie !
| Say hello to ANABELLA! Shepherd Mix Est. Date of birth: 12/05/07 Puppy Female Tan |
| Meet DEXTER! English Springer Mix Est. Date of birth: 2/27/08 Puppy Male |
GINGER
Bobtail / Calico Female
Current Age: 3 Months 6 Days
Housetrained: Yes
Ginger is an adorable bobtail
calico kitty. She is very playful and
just adorable ! Please email
SpayTheStrays@aol.com for
inquiries about adopting one of our
kitties.
Bobtail / Calico Female
Current Age: 3 Months 6 Days
Housetrained: Yes
Ginger is an adorable bobtail
calico kitty. She is very playful and
just adorable ! Please email
SpayTheStrays@aol.com for
inquiries about adopting one of our
kitties.
Pick me! Pick me!
| DON'T SHOP ADOPT! |
Kissimmee/St. Cloud's
Spay The Strays
Cat Rescue
We NEVER euthanize animals!
Spay The Strays
Cat Rescue
We NEVER euthanize animals!
| Meet Sebastian! He's a beauty who needs a new home. Email us HERE to learn more! |
CAT FACTS:
The American cat population reached
nearly 68 million in 1996. American
Demographics magazine estimates
that's about 200 million kitty yawns per
hour and a whopping 425 million
catnaps each day!
Ailurophilia is the "love of cats."
The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a
pattern that is unique, just like the
fingerprint of a human.
The American cat population reached
nearly 68 million in 1996. American
Demographics magazine estimates
that's about 200 million kitty yawns per
hour and a whopping 425 million
catnaps each day!
Ailurophilia is the "love of cats."
The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a
pattern that is unique, just like the
fingerprint of a human.
DECLAWING OF CATS, AND HOW TO AVOID IT
Declawing of domestic cats, for purposes other than medical necessity, has become a highly
controversial practice in the past decade or so. Animal rights proponents have challenged the
legality of the procedure in court, leading to laws banning the practice in West Hollywood,
California and Norfolk, Virginia. Everywhere else in our nation, veterinarians may legally perform
feline declaw surgery, which is done to prevent damage to furniture and injury to humans. About
25% of owned house cats in this country have been declawed.
Declawing of domestic cats, for purposes other than medical necessity, has become a highly
controversial practice in the past decade or so. Animal rights proponents have challenged the
legality of the procedure in court, leading to laws banning the practice in West Hollywood,
California and Norfolk, Virginia. Everywhere else in our nation, veterinarians may legally perform
feline declaw surgery, which is done to prevent damage to furniture and injury to humans. About
25% of owned house cats in this country have been declawed.
| BIRD MAN ALEX |
Hi faithful readers.
This is Alex the bird man, here for another article on,
well you guessed it, birds. This month I was thinking,
that I have been telling you all about birds except for
one thing: Nutrition. Now some people think that bird
food brands that say something like ‘balanced diet
formula’ means that it’s a balanced diet for all birds.
Well it’s actually balanced for the average bird, but not
all. Ask your vet what a balanced diet is for your bird.
This is Alex the bird man, here for another article on,
well you guessed it, birds. This month I was thinking,
that I have been telling you all about birds except for
one thing: Nutrition. Now some people think that bird
food brands that say something like ‘balanced diet
formula’ means that it’s a balanced diet for all birds.
Well it’s actually balanced for the average bird, but not
all. Ask your vet what a balanced diet is for your bird.
So now you and your bird can eat the some of the same food. This also helps them to like you more. Well that’s all the time I
have so until next time bye bye.
have so until next time bye bye.
