By : Paulina Jenkins
The medical procedure for declawing your cat is called onychectomy. It is a very painful and difficult procedure that is done to remove the claws of your kitten. Medical veterinary personal states that it is equivalent to chopping off a finger on a human because it is essentially cutting off the kittens bone one each of his or her claws. It is a procedure that cannot be reversed, and the kitten suffers unbearably when he or she comes out of the anesthetic. Another aspect that many do not consider is that if the vet is inexperienced or makes a mistake during the procedure, it can lead to serious complications even death.
Cat declawing can at times create behavioral problems after the surgery. Some cats find it hard to grasp or stand firmly on their amputated feet. They feel a strong sense of loss in balance. There are cats are found to have changed personalities after the traumatic cat declawing operation. These cats feel that they have lost their means of protecting themselves and become paranoid. If the operation has gone wrong the cat could end up infected or injured beyond repair and could even die.
As a result of cat declawing cats could end up avoiding using the litter boxes and even more spraying. Cats that are declawed will mark their territories with urine instead of their claws. A cat may become deformed in its feet and if there is bone fragments the pain could linger on. The paws become very sensitive and painful when they try to walk on their feet. Such cats may end up with arthritis in their legs and always in pain. A big cat gets more affected than smaller cats by the cat declawing operation.
Many cat owners opt to have their cat declawed because of behavioral problems. They look at cat declawing as a positive solution to the cats' misbehaviors. These people do not anticipate any harm to their cats or any change to the personalities of their cats. To them cat declawing is affordable and safe procedure. Cats continue to scratch even without their claws and no harm seem to have been done to their pets emotionally or physically.
A declawed cat still shows instinctive scratching behaviour and marks its territory without destructive measure. Scratching is an inborn instinct for cats and cat declawing upsets the cat's natural urge of climbing, running, jumping, and scratching. Scratching posts are most often used to help cats sharpen their claws and keep them from scratching your furniture and drapes.
You can help your cat from damaging your furniture and possessions if you could provide alternative scratching surfaces for your pet to scratch. Get a big piece of log for the cat to scratch and sharpen its claws. Buy a few scratching posts and place them in front of the areas where the cat likes to scratch. Take your feline to the posts and show it where the scratching should be carried out. Trimming your cats nails can deter him or her from tearing apart your furniture, however this needs to be done often.
New developments have made it possible to lengthen the span between trimming. Vinyl caps can be fitted over your cats claws to keep them blunt and it avoids all the pain the cat would have to go through during a declawing. Other ways to deter your cat from clawing your furniture is to set traps around your home. if you set a trap that sprays a harmless but offensive odor, your cat will learn not to claw the furniture.
Cat declawing is an inhumane, cruel and old fashioned practice. Cat owners must be aware of the physical and psychological effects of declawing to their pets. Scratching is in the gene of a cat and the claws are used for scratching, marking territory and grasping. Cat declawing is purely done to fulfil the selfish purpose of some cat owners. Cats are our valued companions, how can we cause so much pain and sufferings to our best friends?
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
About the Author: Paulina Jenkins has information on Alternatives of Cat Declawing. See more about Cat Declawing at Cat Declawing
Is Cat Scratching Post A Must For Your Cat?
By : Paulina Jenkins
For a cat owner, a scratching post is an absolute necessity. It is likely what will stand between the cat and the total destruction of your couch, chairs, rugs and drapes. It is a natural inclination for cats to stretch and scratch, many of them also like to knead their front paws on something as well.
Many cat owners do not realise that they need to provide their pets with a scratching post so the cats can satisfy their scratching needs and to sharpen their claws. You cannot change the scratching instinct of your cat therefore it is best to provide an alternative scratching surface for your pet to scratch on. A scratching post must be an essential part of any cat care program for your feline.
Generally a cat scratching post is made up of a base, a post structure all exposed surfaces covered with a layer of woven material such as carpet for the scratching surfaces. A cat-scratching post is not always vertical; it can be horizontal on the floor. The base of the post should be big enough so the cat can stand on it and scratch and the structure will not topple.
There are all sorts of scratching post designs with a variety of colors and heights. Some posts have lures and others don't. One design is quite different with a flat or slanted scratching surface that is on a frame-like structure and has strips of corrugated cardboard situated vertically in the frame so that a side of each strip has exposure to the top of the post's surface.
With frequent scratching by the cats, the cardboard strips have to be replaced regularly. The continual scratching tears the cardboard strips into shreds in no time at all. The most common scratching post design is the one with a base and a vertical post scratching surface. These upright styles of scratching posts are well liked by many cats because they resemble tree trunks. Tough or woven materials such as the rope or carpet are often used to cover the areas that the cats would scratch.
It is not difficult to make your own cat scratching post. Find a piece of wood that is about 2 ft long and 6 inches in diameter. Cover this with a woven material such as the carpet and secure it to the wall with screws. Another option is to hang a piece of 17 inches long carpet down from the ceiling to a level where your cat can reach and scratch. A cat tree with a sturdy base always makes a great scratching post that the cat loves as it is more like a tree.
The best type of material to use for a scratching post is any durable fabric with a pile, like carpet. The post itself can be made of solid wood or plastic. The under side of the base is usually sisal or vinyl with nylon buttons to keep the scratching post from sliding around on a hard surfaced floor such as hardwood or tile. Sisal is also a good option for wrapping the scratching post as cats enjoy the coarseness of the fibrous rope and it is very durable. It is great for conditioning the cat's claws.
With so many different sizes and styles available on the market it is not a problem to select a cat scratching post to suit your cat's preferences and needs. Try placing the scratching post close to a window or a draft-free corner and you will find your cat will stop scratching your furniture. If your cat had already begun scratching your furniture, then you can place a cat scratching post in front of the furniture and then your pet will most likely scratch on the post and not your possessions.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
About the Author: Paulina Jenkins has a website that is dedicated to all cat owners with informations on cat breeds, cat supplies and products. Why cat scratching post is a necessity if you own a cat? Do you know what is the purpose of a cat scratching post?
For a cat owner, a scratching post is an absolute necessity. It is likely what will stand between the cat and the total destruction of your couch, chairs, rugs and drapes. It is a natural inclination for cats to stretch and scratch, many of them also like to knead their front paws on something as well.
Many cat owners do not realise that they need to provide their pets with a scratching post so the cats can satisfy their scratching needs and to sharpen their claws. You cannot change the scratching instinct of your cat therefore it is best to provide an alternative scratching surface for your pet to scratch on. A scratching post must be an essential part of any cat care program for your feline.
Generally a cat scratching post is made up of a base, a post structure all exposed surfaces covered with a layer of woven material such as carpet for the scratching surfaces. A cat-scratching post is not always vertical; it can be horizontal on the floor. The base of the post should be big enough so the cat can stand on it and scratch and the structure will not topple.
There are all sorts of scratching post designs with a variety of colors and heights. Some posts have lures and others don't. One design is quite different with a flat or slanted scratching surface that is on a frame-like structure and has strips of corrugated cardboard situated vertically in the frame so that a side of each strip has exposure to the top of the post's surface.
With frequent scratching by the cats, the cardboard strips have to be replaced regularly. The continual scratching tears the cardboard strips into shreds in no time at all. The most common scratching post design is the one with a base and a vertical post scratching surface. These upright styles of scratching posts are well liked by many cats because they resemble tree trunks. Tough or woven materials such as the rope or carpet are often used to cover the areas that the cats would scratch.
It is not difficult to make your own cat scratching post. Find a piece of wood that is about 2 ft long and 6 inches in diameter. Cover this with a woven material such as the carpet and secure it to the wall with screws. Another option is to hang a piece of 17 inches long carpet down from the ceiling to a level where your cat can reach and scratch. A cat tree with a sturdy base always makes a great scratching post that the cat loves as it is more like a tree.
The best type of material to use for a scratching post is any durable fabric with a pile, like carpet. The post itself can be made of solid wood or plastic. The under side of the base is usually sisal or vinyl with nylon buttons to keep the scratching post from sliding around on a hard surfaced floor such as hardwood or tile. Sisal is also a good option for wrapping the scratching post as cats enjoy the coarseness of the fibrous rope and it is very durable. It is great for conditioning the cat's claws.
With so many different sizes and styles available on the market it is not a problem to select a cat scratching post to suit your cat's preferences and needs. Try placing the scratching post close to a window or a draft-free corner and you will find your cat will stop scratching your furniture. If your cat had already begun scratching your furniture, then you can place a cat scratching post in front of the furniture and then your pet will most likely scratch on the post and not your possessions.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
About the Author: Paulina Jenkins has a website that is dedicated to all cat owners with informations on cat breeds, cat supplies and products. Why cat scratching post is a necessity if you own a cat? Do you know what is the purpose of a cat scratching post?
Cleaning Cat Urine Made Easy
By: Paulina Jenkins
All cat owners have to face the task of cleaning cat urine off carpets and furniture. In cat urine there are five different bacteria. Two of them are found in the cat's marking scent and the others are in the urine, spray and uric acid. Cat urine odor is difficult to remove as it is protein based. The odor of cat urine is too strong and you just cannot cover it up. Effective cleaning has to involved destroying the bacteria, removing the uric acid crystals and salts.
Cleaning cat urine is a complex problem with not quick, easy solutions and fixes. What make cleaning cat urine difficult are the three components it is made up of: Urea, the sticky part; Urochrome, the pigment component; and Uric Acid, which is what, makes it smell bad. Their urine is very concentrated and strong smelling because cats drink very little water. The strength of color and staining properties in cat urine will frequently depend on the gender, age and condition of the cat and whether he is taking any kind of medication. The hardest part of cleaning cat urine is finding all the spots, particularly the old ones.
So that you are not having to clean cat urine all of the time, you can stop the problem by finding out what the cause is in the first place. Cats not using their litter boxes to urinate can be the result of various reasons. Marking territory is one of the reasons and so is feeling threatened or stressed. Urinary tract infection can be suspected when a cat urinates everywhere.
When a cat feels that its territory is under threat, it will mark by urinating to let other cats know that this is his zone. Cleaning cat urine is not an easy job, it is best to put a stop to it before it ever starts. If you use the right products cleaning cat urine doesn't have to be a huge job. There are three types of products to use: chemical, enzymatic and bacterial.
Baking soda is good to remove surface odors, try to sprinkle baking soda over the area. Suck up the baking soda when dried with a vacuum cleaner. Detergents that contain peroxide help to deactivate the cat urine odor. Spray that onto the affected areas and mixing with some Listerine can help cover up the cat urine odor.
If your cat has a favorite spot first use tin foil to cover this area. Then apply some mothballs or Citronella smell to the area to repel your cat from coming back. There are special formulas that destroy the bacteria and the odor causing crystals in cat urine. Once the affected area is clean, apply a good quality pet odor neutralizer. The most effective cat urine removal product is those of enzyme based.
To successfully eliminate cat urine stains and odor from carpet and upholstery you have to use a. high quality cat urine remover. If you use cleaning products that contain ammonia, it will only attract the cat back to the same spots because ammonia smells just like cat urine. You can eliminate cat urine odors completely by using a blacklight and premium cat urine cleaner together.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
About the Author: Paulina Jenkins is a great cat lover that is keen to share and exchange information on Cleaning Cat Urine. She understands that many cat owners like to find a solution to Cleaning Cat Urine
All cat owners have to face the task of cleaning cat urine off carpets and furniture. In cat urine there are five different bacteria. Two of them are found in the cat's marking scent and the others are in the urine, spray and uric acid. Cat urine odor is difficult to remove as it is protein based. The odor of cat urine is too strong and you just cannot cover it up. Effective cleaning has to involved destroying the bacteria, removing the uric acid crystals and salts.
Cleaning cat urine is a complex problem with not quick, easy solutions and fixes. What make cleaning cat urine difficult are the three components it is made up of: Urea, the sticky part; Urochrome, the pigment component; and Uric Acid, which is what, makes it smell bad. Their urine is very concentrated and strong smelling because cats drink very little water. The strength of color and staining properties in cat urine will frequently depend on the gender, age and condition of the cat and whether he is taking any kind of medication. The hardest part of cleaning cat urine is finding all the spots, particularly the old ones.
So that you are not having to clean cat urine all of the time, you can stop the problem by finding out what the cause is in the first place. Cats not using their litter boxes to urinate can be the result of various reasons. Marking territory is one of the reasons and so is feeling threatened or stressed. Urinary tract infection can be suspected when a cat urinates everywhere.
When a cat feels that its territory is under threat, it will mark by urinating to let other cats know that this is his zone. Cleaning cat urine is not an easy job, it is best to put a stop to it before it ever starts. If you use the right products cleaning cat urine doesn't have to be a huge job. There are three types of products to use: chemical, enzymatic and bacterial.
Baking soda is good to remove surface odors, try to sprinkle baking soda over the area. Suck up the baking soda when dried with a vacuum cleaner. Detergents that contain peroxide help to deactivate the cat urine odor. Spray that onto the affected areas and mixing with some Listerine can help cover up the cat urine odor.
If your cat has a favorite spot first use tin foil to cover this area. Then apply some mothballs or Citronella smell to the area to repel your cat from coming back. There are special formulas that destroy the bacteria and the odor causing crystals in cat urine. Once the affected area is clean, apply a good quality pet odor neutralizer. The most effective cat urine removal product is those of enzyme based.
To successfully eliminate cat urine stains and odor from carpet and upholstery you have to use a. high quality cat urine remover. If you use cleaning products that contain ammonia, it will only attract the cat back to the same spots because ammonia smells just like cat urine. You can eliminate cat urine odors completely by using a blacklight and premium cat urine cleaner together.
Article Source: http://www.articlerampage.com}
About the Author: Paulina Jenkins is a great cat lover that is keen to share and exchange information on Cleaning Cat Urine. She understands that many cat owners like to find a solution to Cleaning Cat Urine