To Declaw or Not To Declaw...That is the Question

Bringing a new cat into your home is a great adventure. The years of love and companionship a cat provides are well worth the time and energy required to keep him or her happy and healthy. Scratching is a natural behavior for cats, but if you think declawing is the solution, here are some facts you should know:

1) Declawing requires the amputation (ouch!) of the last joint of the cat's “toes.” It is painful and complications can occur.

2) Declawing is primarly an American thing.  In other countries, people, including vets, consider the practice inhumane.

3) Declawing removes your cat's first line of defense. If your cat should find itself outdoors and in trouble, without claws, it can't even climb a tree much less protect itself against another animal.

Don't punish the behavior if your cat scratches where it shouldn't. Punishment won't work and will just be stressful for you both. So, what are your options when it comes to keeping Fluffy from shredding your new sofa?

1) Provide your cat with an appropriate scratching surface. A sisal / carpet post, the back of a carpet remnant or a cardboard scratch box are the best bets. Make sure posts are sturdy and tall enough for your cat to stretch all the way up. Other items should be fixed to stay in place for maximum effectiveness.

2) Encourage your cat to use these items by rubbing dried catnip into it or feed and play with your cat by the post. Reward your cat when they scratch in an appropriate area.  

3) Cats like to scratch when they wake, so place a post near where they sleep.  

4) The younger you start training your cat to scratch appropriately, the better. Don't worry if you adopt an older cat, though. You'll likely just need to point him or her in right direction. 

If posts and other items don't work, consider Soft Paws®. These are lightweight vinyl caps that fit over your cat's claws and last 4 – 6 weeks. Note that these are for indoor cats only! If your cat still persists in scratching your furniture, try lightly squirting her with a spray bottle. Double stick tape is also a great deterrent as cats dislike the texture. Trimming your cat's nails also helps. This can be tricky and you don't want to cut too deep, so if in doubt, have your vet perform this service for you.  Some sprays like Feliway®, which you can find in pet stores, may also help keep cats from scratching in th wrong areas.  Be patient and give kitty a chance to get it right. No one needs to lose a toe! 

Top Ten Reasons to Spay & Neuter:

Below are excuses commonly heard when it comes to the subject of spaying or neutering pets.  These are "justifications" for not doing these procedures as presented by potential adopters or pet keepers that just don't stand up to the irresponsibility that goes with the thinking.  6 to 8 million, yes MILLION, dogs and cats enter shelters annually because of pet keepers that may mean well, but need to be informed.  Please pass this information along to anyone you know that doesn't want to spay or neuter their pet.

1. Just one litter and then we'll have Fluffy spayed. (Studies show that virtually the entire pet overpopulation stems from the "just one litter" mentality.)

2. My dog doesn't run loose, so he doesn't need to be fixed. (Murphy's Law says otherwise.)

3. We always find homes for the kittens. (And that means that an equal number of kittens at the pound will be killed.)

4. I want the children to witness the miracle of birth. (Rent a video.)

5. My dog is so cute and unique, there should be more of her. (The shelters and pounds are full of cute and unique dogs, most with only a few days to live.)

6. It's not natural. (There hasn't been anything "natural" about dogs since we began to develop breeds thousands of years ago.)

7. I just couldn't look my dog in the eye if I had him castrated. (Watch it, you're anthropomorphizing.)

8. A female dog or cat should have at least one litter for health reasons. (Medically, factually and ethically indefensible.)

9. Neutering my dog will make him fat and lazy. (Too much food and not enough exercise make a dog fat and lazy.)

10. Fixing my pet will change its personality. (The main influences on an animal's personality are the kindness and care with which it is raised.)      

Pet Travel Checklist

• Pet food and distilled water
• Sturdy carrier with good ventilation
• Food and water bowls
• Pet first aid kit (including medications)
• A leash and extra collar
• Extra towels or blankets to cover furniture
• Pet bedding
• Treats and toys
• Brush or comb
• Waste removal bags
• Pet shampoo or wipes
• Stain remover
• Vaccine records and a photo of your pet
• Your vet's number
• For cats:  disposable litter pans, litter and a scratcher
• For dogs: pooper scooper   

Toby and Lara take their fun in the sun very seriously. Photo courtesy Christine Delaney