7 reasons why declawing is considered cruel by many animal welfare activists

Declawing is considered inhumane and is banned in England and most European countries.
Click here for a list of countries.

Scratching is a completely normal and healthy behavior for a cat.
Reasons cats scratch:
• To slough off the husks of dead claws
• To mark their territory (with scent glands on their paws)
• To stretch their bodies



"Your cats claw is not a toenail. It is actually closely adhered to the bone. So closely adhered that to remove the claw, the last bone of your the cat's claw has to be removed. Declawing is actually an amputation of the last joint of your cats "toes". When you envision that, it becomes clear why declawing is not a humane act. It is a painful surgery, with a painful recovery period." Source: http://www.declawing.com/ Veterinarian, Dr. Christianne Schelling


Reasons for not declawing:

1. Without claws, it is impossible for any cat to scratch itself efficiently.

2. If the cat accidentally gets out of doors, it is defenseless.

3. In addition to destroying the animal's ability to groom, climb, defend itself against rivals, and protect itself from enemies, the operation of declawing also eliminates the cat's ability to hunt. This may not be important for a well-fed family pet, but if ever such a cat were to find itself lost or homeless, it would rapidly die of starvation.

4. Changes in behavior can occur. A declawed cat frequently resorts to biting when confronted with even minor threats. Biting becomes an overcompensation for the insecurity of having no claws.

5. Balance is affected by the inability to grasp with their claws.

6. Chronic physical ailments such as cystitis or skin disorders can be manifestations of a declawed cat's frustration and stress.

7. Declawing is radical surgery that involves amputating the first joint of a cat's toes. It's permanent, expensive, and irreversible, and may have unwanted affect on your cat's behavior.

There are many different types of scratching posts made of different materials. You might want to try a few different types to see which your kitty prefers.

You will never find a veterinarian who offers low cost or free declawing procedures. Why? It is not necessary to the health of your cat and many veterinarians disagree with the procedure and do not perform the surgery.

If people stopped and thought about what this surgery really did--I don't think as many people would do it. The human equivalent would be to crush and break the first knuckle of your fingers. Then, surgically removing the tips of your fingers and sewing you back up. Have a happy life trying to scratch yourself, open cans, doors, turn the page in a book, etc. Your life would be completely different and not a happy one.

A final note:
I would never declaw a cat for a few reasons.

I know what having a cat means. It means that I have a job to do as a pet parent. I have to teach my cat where to scratch from day one. They will scratch-it is a natural, innate need. It is as natural as us cracking our knuckles or stretching out our hands. They like to stretch and scratch at the same time so they choose your couch or chair because it won't topple over on them.

I clip my cats claws and provide them with different types of scratching posts and areas to scratch.

Declawing is done strictly to provide convenience for people.

Sarah Palin's confusing view on polar bears.

I was reading an article on something related to animals, but not specifically polar bears. Something about feral cats not being responsible for the decline of birds. Which, by the way, humans are responsible for the decline of birds due to urban sprawl, pollution and global warming.

So, I was reading an article and found my way to another article written by Sarah Palin from January 5, 2008. I don't know how she came upon these opinions of hers. It seems to me that the polar bears are in definite danger and she just wants to keep her pocketbook full of money from the oil industry. She wants to drill in the Artic Refuge, where polar bears live. Isn't it common knowledge that the polar bears are in trouble?

Below is a confusing quote from her OpEd in the New York Times.

They are worthy of our utmost efforts to protect them and their Arctic habitat. But adding polar bears to the nation’s list of endangered species, as some are now proposing, should not be part of those efforts.

Another quote from Palin:

The Center for Biological Diversity, an environmental group, has argued that global warming and the reduction of polar ice severely threatens the bears’ habitat and their existence. In fact, there is insufficient evidence that polar bears are in danger of becoming extinct within the foreseeable future — the trigger for protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Read more from Sarah Palin

Here is a quote from the U.S. Geological Survey that seems to contradict what Sarah Palin claims is "insufficient evidence".

“There were some years when some bears may have had to swim as far as 100 miles,” Steven C. Amstrup, the senior polar bear scientist with the United States Geological Survey in Anchorage [Alaska, where Sarah Palin lives], wrote in an e-mail message. “Now the ice is much farther offshore, more consistently and for longer. So the possibility of long distances between land and sea ice is much greater.”

Read more about the polar bears

A study in Canada that contradicts her theory of "insufficient evidence":

In Canada’s Hudson Bay, a long-term study confirms polar bears are losing weight and bearing fewer cubs as global warming melts away their icy habitat. Click here to read the study.

Yet, another study that contradicts her statement, done in her own state!

The Alaska Conservation Solutions (Palin's home state) found that annual temperatures have increased 3–5 °F and winter temperatures have soared 7–10 °F. During the last four decades, Alaska has heated more than anywhere in the country.

So, I ask, how in the world can she say there is "insufficient evidence"? She lives in Alaska! She must be aware of these temperature changes but is not willing to admit to them.

I think she is choosing monetary gain over the lives of polar bears and other arctic life. We definitely don't want her in office.

What do you think?

Our pollution is now reaching to our cats and dogs!

In the first study of its kind, Environmental Working Group found that American pets are polluted with even higher levels of many of the same synthetic industrial chemicals that researchers have recently found in people, including newborns.

The results show that America’s pets are serving as involuntary sentinels of the widespread chemical contamination that scientists increasingly link to a growing array of health problems across a wide range of animals—wild, domesticated and human.

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Toilet training for your cat!

I just came across this site while reading some news. I am entertained at the thought of teaching my cats to use the toilet but I probably won't do it. I don't mind cleaning their boxes; it doesn't stink because I clean it twice a day. Also, I can become aware of any health problems by cleaning the litter box everyday. Although it would be nice to not have that extra chore, it would be more of a chore to have a health problem and not catch it in time.

If you have a cat, changing the litter box comes with the territory. A regular litter box, not a mechanical one, is what to use. Mechanical ones can scare or even injure the cat if begins to clean while the cat is still in it. It is also an ineffective cleaner. It may get the feces, but it simply cannot get the urine. So, your cat has a urine filled box all the time. Also, because of the motor and storage for the waste, the cat has a very small area to use and most cats don't like small boxes.

If you'd still like to check this out, follow the link below.

http://www.citikitty.com/

Two teens plead guilty to microwaving cat

Two Camrose teens who pleaded guilty to killing a neighbour's cat by putting it in a microwave were sentenced to 100 hours of community service Thursday.

Justice Shauna Miller ruled the two teenagers will be put on one year probation for their role in the gruesome case. They are also banned from owning a pet for two years and must pay $500 in restitution to the family.

They have also been placed on a curfew for one year and aren't allowed to play violent video games.

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Want to get your name on TV?

There is a new public service announcement on TV. Dogs Deserve Better is working with SaysMe.TV to get the word out about getting dogs off the chains. For $10-15 you can get your name on TV-unfortunately, there is a $100 minimum. You could get 10 commercials aired with your name in your area, or any other area you would like.

Check out the link below for more information.

http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/adrianzmedpsa.html