Amy Shojai’s Feline Friday blog post provides not one, but two excellent video blogs on how to deal with cat scratching behavior. If this an issue in your house, please take 6 minutes to watch these great videos!
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Declawing
Good Solutions for Cat Scratching
Swheat Scoop promotes declawing–please boycott!
I heard about this a couple of days ago, but was so enraged and disgusted that I had to calm down a little before I wrote about it. In a current ad campaign and on their package labels, the wheat-based kitty litter maker, Swheat Scoop, states: “It’s so gentle, this litter is even recommended by...
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Cats tell Pet Psychic how they feel about declawing
The following article was written during the declaw ban movement in California. Other animal communicators and intuitives have reported the same thing. Pet Psychic Talks to Declawed Cats: Some Find Painful Toe Amputation Hard to Forgive Honestly, declawing is hard for me to forgive, too! I just don’t get why U.S. (and Canadian) veterinarians continue to...
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Declawing – Annotated Reference List
1. Ansah OB, Vainio O, Hellsten C, et al. Postoperative pain control in cats: clinical trials with medetomidine and butorphanol. Vet Surg 2002;31:99-103. Medetomidine and butorphanol provided equivalent pain relief up to 2 hours. 2. Atwood-Harvey D. Death or declaw: dealing with moral ambiguity in a veterinary hospital. Soc Anim. 2005;13(4):315-42. Discussed strategies used...
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Studies Pertaining to Declawing (Annotated)
Adapted from Patronek, Studies Pertaining to Onychectomy, 2001 Additional studies not cited in the original noted in color; additions and comments by Jean Hofve, DVM Study No. Cats Time Relevant Outcomes Description of Study, Sample and Major Findings Comments Benson et al., 1991 18 Post-operative plasma catecholamine levels Randomized experiment. 24 cats were randomized...
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Declawing and Science
By Jean Hofve, DVM (Updated 2/24/2011) This summary presents the main arguments against a legal ban on declawing (of cats and other animals), and the documented, scientific facts about each one–as opposed to the opinions expressed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and various other individuals and organizations. Assertion #1: A 2011 poll...
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Physical Consequences of Declawing
Declawing changes the way the cat’s paws function, and this creates stress on the joints of the paw, wrist, elbow, shoulder, and spine. The cat’s gait changes, as weight is shifted backward from the toes to the large rear pad of the paw. Research has demonstrated that, after declawing, cats shift their entire weight...
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Declawing: Another Veterinarian’s Perspective
By Special Guest: Michael W. Fox, D.Sc., Ph.D., B.Vet.Med., M.R.C.V.S. Say No! To De-clawing Cats Many veterinarians routinely de-claw young cats. It’s part of the package when they come in to be spayed/neutered. Many cats suffer as a consequence. The operation entails more than simply removing the claws, (onychectomy) under general anesthesia. It entails...
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Declawing: A Rational Look
By Jean Hofve, DVM There are few feline issues as controversial as declawing. There is a great deal of myth and misinformation out there about it. If you are considering having this surgery performed on your cat, or if a veterinarian has suggested it, please read this article first to learn more about this...
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Declawing Handout for Shelters
By Jean Hofve, DVM To help shelters and rescues educate potential adopters about declawing, Little Big Cat has prepared this free handout, which can be customized with your organization’s logo in place of the picture of the cat. You can copy and paste from this page, or we can produce and send you a...
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Declawing Cats Required to Rent?
By Jean Hofve, DVM and Judith Beggs, JD Many landlords require cats to be declawed before they will rent to a cat guardian. Sadly, because it’s already hard to find a place that allows pets, many cats fall victim to this unfair requirement. If you’re thinking about declawing your cat in order to...
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Declawing Alternatives
By Jean Hofve, DVM All reasons for non-medical declawing have non-surgical alternatives. There are many humane choices will still protect both human and feline health, as well as sofas and Persian rugs: Scratching posts, mats, corrugated cardboard, logs, softwood boards, sisal rope Training (yes, cats CAN be trained!) Regular claw-trimming Rotary sanders (Peticure, Dremel)...
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Cats and Immune-compromised People
By Jean Hofve, DVM It’s not so unusual any more for people to have serious immune system problems. People who are taking steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs such as gold salts, cyclosporine, or azothiaprine; are pregnant; who have had an organ transplant; are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy; have an immune-related disease such as HIV/AIDS;...
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Cats and Claws — Living Happily Ever After
By Jackson Galaxy and Jean Hofve, DVM Claws are a physically, socially, and emotionally vital part of every cat. Scratching, for a cat, is not only a natural act, but a necessary one as well. First, it removes the dead outer sheaths of the nails, keeping the claws sharp and ready for action. Second,...
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