The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [73]
While some outdoor cats do live long and healthy lives, they are exposed to many more dangers. Outdoor cats face increased risk of injury and illness. Many meet untimely ends under the wheels of cars or from animal attacks.
Learn more about making your feline a happy homebody by visiting the Indoor Cat Initiative Web site sponsored by Ohio State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine.
DECLAWING DISCUSSION
Declawing is an easy option for people who don’t want their furniture or their skin scratched, but this is a very unpleasant procedure for cats. To put it bluntly, it would be like someone removing the tips of your fingers. Cats without claws can’t experience the pleasure of scratching. They are vulnerable outdoors as they lose their protective weapons and can’t climb trees to escape, so any declawed cat must live strictly indoors.
Years ago, declawing seemed to be part of a package deal. When a cat came in to be neutered or spayed, the option of declawing the front paws was offered. That’s what happened to my cat Little Guy. Since I wanted an indoor cat, my veterinarian performed the procedure without much discussion. That was before I truly knew about the consequences of declawing.
In 2003, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) advised veterinarians to educate clients on alternatives to surgery and on the risks associated with any surgery. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) disapproves of routine declawing because the procedure is unnecessary and provides no benefit to the cat. Some cat fanciers contend that declawing can have a negative impact on a cat’s behavior, but this has not yet been proven by scientific research.
No one likes their furniture shredded, but no cat deserves to be relinquished to an animal shelter for doing what comes naturally and using his claws. Other options include clipping the front claws every two to four weeks, applying vinyl nail caps to your cat’s nails, and providing scratching posts and other feline-welcoming furniture to scratch and claw.
In cases where there is high risk of injury to children, elderly persons with thin skin, those with bleeding disorders, or those vulnerable to disease transmission because of compromised immune systems, then declawing may be justified in order to maintain the cat-human bond. If all the alternatives have been tried without success, it is better for a cat to be in his home than relinquished to a shelter or abandoned.
Final note: Tendonectomy surgery, which is sometimes suggested as an alternative to declawing, is not recommended by the CFA or the AVMA.
Scratching Solutions
Q I’ve accepted the fact that my cat needs to scratch. My problem is that I haven’t had much luck in picking out the right scratching post for her. I tried a small bargain-priced scratching post, but she kept knocking it over. Then I lugged home a big cat tree from a garage sale, but she sniffs it and ignores it. I don’t want to keep wasting money, but I don’t want my furniture damaged either. Why is she so picky?
A This sounds like a feline version of The Three Bears. However, your cat is behaving quite normally. The reason she rejected the first post is because it was simply too tiny to accommodate her weight or her muscle. It would be like you trying to enjoy a meal at a restaurant sitting in a booster chair made for toddlers.
The issue with the second option is “kitty cooties.” You thought you landed a deal by buying a used cat tree, but your cat quickly sniffed out the tree’s former user. Cats often don’t like to share with strangers. Your cat clearly communicated her disdain for the secondhand cat tree by avoiding it.
Before you invest in a third choice, spend some time watching your cat as she seeks out a scratching spot. Does she reach up high against the arm of the sofa or stretch out along the carpet? Use her habits to provide