Monday, December 2, 2013

Cat Claw Removal

For a long time, declawing was done on a routine basis to prevent a cat from scratching indoors. A cat can be destructive to a house if allowed to scratch anywhere. There is a new philosophy on whether this should be done. Many believe it is unnecessary. Many countries have made it illegal. There is rarely a medical reason to declaw a cat.What does a cat used its' claws for? By hooking its claws on something, it can stretch its muscles to strengthen and tone them. This can be destructive depending on what it hooks onto. Scent glands are located in the feet. By scratching, it can mark its territory. Another potential destructive habit. It will intensified its scratching if annoyed or upset. Lastly, the claws are used for defensive purposes. It should never be left outdoors.What is the procedure of removing the claws? It is not nail trimming. A cat walks on its toes. It is the surgical removal of the first joint of its toes. It is a very painful procedure and the pain can last for several days or weeks. Some veterinarians have stopped using this surgical procedure.A cat may avoid the litter box for a time because some litter can cause pain. It will resume using the litter box after the paws heal. It may also develop a false limp from the surgery. It may turn to biting or run and hide as a defense mechanism. One who always runs and hides may become withdrawn and depressed. Since it walks on its toes, the surgery may alter the way it walks. This may cause stiffness and pain and in the long run arthritis.What are the alternatives? Trimming its nails regularly will prevent destructive scratching. Providing a scratching post is also a good solution. Vinyl nail caps called soft paws will last four to six weeks as the nails grow back to their original length. Fellway is a pheromone which copies the scent of facial glands. It usually will not mark an area with urine if it has been marked with facial glands. It has also been found to curtail scratching.Scratching can be very destructive and costly but the alternatives to declawing and the potential dangers maybe a better solution. Investigate all alternatives before having the claws removed. The appropriate solution will keep it from pain and injury and provide protection for its surroundings.



Frank Loethen lives with his wife and three cats, Sunny, Sinclair and Midnite, in Georgia. My wife and I recently added a new member to the house.a long haired chihuahua from a rescue shelter. If you enjoyed this article, please visit my cat products website, [http://purrfectcatproducts.com/], your one stop site for all your cat and kitten needs. Cat food, cat toys, litter accessories and cat treats are among the many items on the site. You can also see my three cats and the chihuahua on the site.

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