Good morning. Winston kitty here today. We have been exceptionally lucky the last few weeks to have very mild weather with rain and with fog.
It stayed foggy for several days in a row! The snow was almost all gone. Well, that is done with for now.
We are back to the snow.
Mom says it looks pretty but she misses the sidewalks being clear.
Hi now from Miss Emily! I've been trying to keep out of trouble! I have a question for you...perhaps you have some suggestions? My Mom's mom has a cat, Pearl, I believe we have introduced her to you before. This is Pearl being all cuddly at Christmas.
Well, Pearl likes to scratch things...she scratches thing A LOT. So much so, in fact, that Grandma is considering getting her front claws removed. Our Mom doesn't really like that idea. Grandma said that she would get it done by lasers so it wouldn't be as bad. Since our Mom doesn't know much about that she didn't have anything to say. But any gentle ideas/suggestions are welcome.
Yes. lots of snow again. It is still winter after all! We felines have a few helpful hints for you to deal with it. We, personally, like naps. However, we have also found warm beverages
Yummm...chai latte
Embracing the snowy weather....
or maybe just getting cozy
Wishing you (in spite of my grumpy expression) a great week!
***Update***
Thanks to everyone who took the time to give our Mom some suggestions on how to broach the subject of declawing. Mom was able to touch base with our "grandma" and now she says she won't be taking Miss Pearl in for the procedure. Our Mom is relieved. Thanks again to everyone for their gentle recommendations! Mom is also relieved to know she is not the only one who feels so strongly about this subject. Purrs to everyone for a good week!
Declawing is mutilation and can cause behavioural issues down the road. It's like removing a human's fingers to the first knuckle. There are other ways of dealing with scratching: Does Pearl prefer to scratch vertically or horizontally? (Nicki is horizontal--carpet) and Derry is vertical (my couch!). Ensure she has a variety of scratchers and cat trees that are suitable for her preferences. Also, you can get those glue-on claw caps, which are another option. Keeping her nails trimmed can help with snags, though not with the scratching. Also, wide double-sided sticky tape (available in pet stores) can be put on the areas Pearl likes to scratch the most. I have some on my stairs (for Nicki) and some on my couch (for Derry). If Pearl is a horizontal scratcher (carpet), your mom can get those $2 bound pieces of leftover carpet and put them down in various places that Pearl likes to scratch. I have them everywhere for Nicki. I also have a LOT of scratchers (cardboard, carpeted, sisal) plus cat trees everywhere. Please don't let Pearl be declawed. It's a terrible thing for a cat and there are countries that ban declawing -- Canada needs to get on board with that.
ReplyDeleteAs for the rest: Lovely photos as always! Winter has returned here as well, but at least today we have glorious sunshine.
Purrs and peace to you all.
Hi Fuzzy Tales, Those all sound like good ideas. I'll mention them to Mom. I think she finds it difficult to know what to do since it was her veterinarian that suggested the procedure. I know that I don't like it but I didn't realize they had started using lasers ...poor babies. It's a nasty procedure. I'm glad Mom is deciding against it.
DeleteEar scritches to your boys!
I am sorry your mother's cat and your mother have come to this point. there is so much emotion in this conversation so please, take this in the gentlest tone you can imagine, because I can feel your frustration.
ReplyDeleteLaser declawing is no less painful than traditional declawing. They bill it that way so they can 'sell' it, but the pain management is the same and the healing time is the same and the long term effects are the same.
Even if it were less painful in the short term and the healing time was quicker, you are still facing the long term effects. A cat without it's claws are more likely to bite because they know their primary warning method is missing and they are more likely to develop arthritis because their gate is askew because they are missing their toes.
Removing the claw involves taking the entire first digit. For cats that basically walk on their toes, it is really quite hard on them.
May I kindly suggest she learn to trim claws, and if that doesn't help the situation that she look into "soft paws" gel caps that you glue on to the claw. A variety of scratching posts.. cardboard ones you lay down, tall study 4+ foot ones that won't move when the cat claws are both well accepted. Keeping them near areas the cat currently claws is vital. If relegated to back rooms the cat will not use them. Cats claw for a variety of reasons: to remove the dead sheath from their claws; to scent mark from the scent glands in their feet and to sight mark from the actual clawing; to mark territory within the house as their own - much as you would put up pictures and knickknacks; for attention from owners.
One of the reasons cats tend to go for furniture and bedding is because they are significant in their life. It is where their owners, their beloved people, hang out. They want to mix their scent with yours. The other is because sofas and beds are very very sturdy and do not move when a cat claws at them. Too many people give their cats scratching posts that barely come up to their knee, which is not sturdy, and also does not provide a good full body stretch like a nice tall couch does.
I hope your mom is open to understanding why her cat does what it does so that they can work with the cat's behavior and provide options that the cat will find appealing to use and leave her other items alone. Good luck..
Thanks-this is also really good information to have. I'm going to have to pass this information on to her. I know she loves Pearl and wouldn't deliberately do anything to hurt her. As I mentioned to Fuzzy Tails...it can be confusing since it was the vet who suggested it and you (at least I would) expect them to not suggest something harmful. Thanks again. It sounds like Mom has changed her mind. I'll have to give her some of this info the next time I speak to her on the phone. Take good care.
DeleteJust a further to on the scratching: When I first adopted Chum, then Annie, I had to show them what to do with the cat post I had purchased. I used to get up in the morning and go downstairs, get on my knees and scratch it as a cat would. I'm sure it looked odd, but they didn't know to scratch it. They quickly learned! If Pearl likes catnip, some strategically placed nip (on the cat scractchers/pads) can help. I would also clap my hands and exclaim how good Chum and Annie were whenever they scratched on something appropriate. A good and loud hiss is not out of place, either, when you want to let a cat know you're not happy with their behaviour. Sometimes it can work...sometimes not. LOL.
ReplyDeletePlease have your grandma go here: http://www.pawproject.org/declaw-surgery/. The declaw surgery removes the top bone of each finger, making the cat walk on stubs for the rest of it's life. There are lots of ways to train your kitty from scratching, try here: http://www.pawproject.org/faqs/ and look under 'why do cats claw things?' This is a serious, serious surgery, and even though many vets will tell your grandma that's 'it's okay, no problem', it's really a very big deal for Pearl!
ReplyDeleteThank you Eastside cats...I will have a look at these websites so I can try talking to her again with some facts to back me up.
DeleteTake good care and thanks again.
Please, don't declaw. Lasers or otherwise, it's a bad idea. It will make her more aggressive and neurotic too. Keep the claws trimmed very short, every week, and that will help a lot.
ReplyDeleteThere are little covers that the vet can put over the nail. Worth looking in to. Also, a real log laid on it's side can sometimes be enough for the kitty to scratch. You can rub cat-nip on it to attract the cat. It should be against the law to de-claw a cat.
ReplyDeleteA very hard subject to discuss Maggie. It is very frustrating to watch a cat destroy your furniture and carpets. I do understand what your Mom is feeling. You have received so much good advice already. I agree with "Tails from the Foster Kittens" with her advice to have tall, sturdy scratching posts. I have watched Kim's (Fuzzy Tales) boys use their tall scratching posts many times. I hope your Mom can resolve this without declawing Pearl.
ReplyDeleteWinston and a Emily look great as usual.
Have a good week.
Lovely photos. If your Mum is unhappy with the cat clawing and thinks the only solution is to declaw the cat, then maybe she should give the cat up to someone who can care for her better. Declawing a cat is (sorry) cruel. Hope this does not happen.
ReplyDeleteWe are so relieved that your Grandma has given up the idea of declawing Pearl. It is cruel. Here in Israel, it is illegal.
ReplyDeleteWe are sure, with all the ideas here, in the comments, your Grandma will be able to find some other way to deal with the problem.
don't know how I missed the declawing post but am so happy she isn't going in!!! catchatwithcarenandcody
ReplyDeletePlease beg her not to do it, even with lasers it is a painful procedure that should be banned. There are nail caps that she could have put on her at the vet- they even come in pretty colors.
ReplyDeleteWe are so relieved your grandma decided not to declaw her cat. It is a barbaric practice that can and does cause pain and behavioral issues.
ReplyDelete