Cat - Cat Declawing, Should I do it?

Save 5% on orders over $75 at Only Natural Pet Store! Use coupon code CJ75. As an owner of 6 cats (only 2 aggressive) and even more expensive furniture I know exactly how you feel. I wanted my cat declawed (onychectomy), but I heard so many awful things that turned me to so many confusing places. Through my successful experience I outlined everything here to save you the time and get straight to the answers. So lets begin, well first of all we can right off the bat say the declawing is a painful procedure and should be looked at as a last resort to control the cat's (normal) behavior to scratch. The purpose of the actual cat scratching is to remove old, worn fragments of nails. This piece will help you to eliminate the root cause of the cat's behavior to scratch furniture and/or people, and will save you time and money. money. * scratching is a natural cat behavior This is a natural cat behavior and there are many ways and methods to turn cats away from the furniture and closer to more "scratch-friendly" areas, which we will discuss later in this informative piece. To find the solution we first have to find out and personalize a plan for your specific cat (what works for one cat many not always work for another) and we will talk about this more very soon. We can also say that we would take away the cat's primary means of defense, which for some cats biting takes over being the secondary defense (rarely happens). We can also say for certain the best age to declaw a cat is between 3-5 months while it is still younger. This is because at this age the recovery period would be the shortest and it would be safest around the time they are neutered or spayed. * cat declawing is a critical decision to make Can a cat's behavior change after the declaw? Numerous scientific studies have been unable to document any behavior changes post-declaw. However a lot of research also points out a lot of this depends on the cat's treatment long before the actual declawing. We can also point out declawing does not affect the cat's walking ability or balance after the recovery, but be sure your dedicated to being able to keep your cat indoors due to the removal of it's primary defense. Although some cats can survive outside there have been numerous reports of cats being injured outdoors due to not being able to defend themselves well enough with their teeth. Let's also say that if the cat has an infection it cannot spread it around. So lets move to the more important part, how do I fix my cat's behavior of scratching at furniture and/or people. There are a vast number of alternatives of declawing. Although some are more expensive and convenient then others we will list them all here then later in detail explain which are more expensive and convenient. Also as I said before some cats work better with some alternatives. Some alternatives to really look into are scratching posts, cardboard scratchers, cat tree construction, cat-friendly end tables and furniture, soft paws, nail trimming, training cats, and simply more exercise. There are many ways to improve the chances of each of these alternatives to work. For scratching posts, cardboard scratchers, cat trees, and cat-friendly furniture, it is recommended to sprinkle catnip on these areas to make them more attractive and to add unfriendly scratching material on the furniture usually scratched. Also remember to keep these items close to the family active areas, and to feed and play beside them so the cats enjoy using them, while slowly moving them to the areas where the cat would be alone most of the time. For more solutions and information please browse around our website. http://www.declawing-cat.com/ Cat Declawing Expert Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bart_Dysput Cat - The Keys To Proper Care For Your Pet Cat Pet cats can bring joy, amusement, frustration, and unconditional love. There is certainly no denying that they brighten up your day, but do you really know how to best look after the cat in your life? Why Cats Make Good Pets and the Most Common Pet Breeds If you are looking for a pet that has its own mind, that is independent, but who is extremely loving at the same time, then a cat may be the perfect pet for you. They require fairly little maintenance compared to a dog, and they also provide plenty of love and affection - often following you around from room to room. Cats can be much more independent than dogs, but in both cases, both will return the affection you show them in spades. When it comes to the large variety of breeds, you can choose from, some are definitely more common than others are and there are certain breeds that make better pets than others do. These include: The Persian The Persian cat is by far the most popular pet cat in America. Hardly anybody can resist its laid-back temperament and its extremely affectionate personality. Out of all of the different breeds, this one seems to form the strongest loyal bonds with its owners and despite their daily grooming needs they do make the best pets for many cat lovers. The Maine Coon The Maine Coon is a large cat and it has a really affectionate nature. They are extremely gentle and they love being around people. Whilst their coats are quite long, they do not require as much grooming as a Persian cat does. Overall, they are gentle giants in the cat world and they have remained the second most popular cat in America for years now. The Exotic This breed of cat is generally considered to be a shorthaired version of the Persian and cat lovers like them due to the fact that they are easier to groom. The breed looks particularly sweet and innocent and it is definitely a favorite amongst cat lovers. So, those are the top three breeds within America and they are all extremely affectionate and loving. The main thing to keep in mind is that no matter which breed you decide upon, they all need some form of grooming and looking after. Knowing the Grooming Requirements of Your Chosen Breed All cats need some form of grooming no matter what breed you finally purchase. Obviously shorthaired cats will need less grooming than longhaired breeds so that could be a factor in your decision when purchasing your pet cat. Longhaired breeds generally need to be groomed daily, though it is always a good idea to research your individual breed. For example, the Persian needs a lot of grooming and it definitely needs doing daily, whereas the Maine Coon, who is another breed with longer hair, needs less grooming. So, research your breed and ensure that you know what you are letting yourself in for. Overall cats can make extremely good pets, you just have to do your research and ensure that you are purchasing the right breed for you. If you have small children living in the house, cats are pretty forgiving, but you should have a discussion with them about the fact that a cat is a live animal and could scratch or bite them if pushed too far.