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CAT SCRATCHING Part 3 The Facts About Declawing

Sasha Vaz — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:03:55 +0000

The definition of declawing is to remove not only the claw but also the last connecting bone (distal phalanx) in the cat’s toe. In reality, this consists of 10 separate amputations of the each distal phalanx. It is a painful procedure during the surgery, followed by the recovery period with swelling in the toes.

Complications may arise from declawing a cat and include the following:

Regrowth of a deformed claw.
Loss of balance and agility due to not having the claws to stabilize it’s equilibrium.
Lameness due to wound infection or footpad laceration.
Hemorrhaging when the bandages are removed.
Slow and painful healing process due to bone chips that have shattered and were not completely removed during the surgery.
Chronic back and joint pain due to weakening of the muscles.

It is not uncommon for a cat to have a change in it’s personality after getting declawed, especially in older cats. Behavioral problems that have resulted from declawing include increased aggressiveness, inappropriate biting and voiding outside the litter box to mark it’s territory as it can no longer scratch to leave a mark. In extreme cases, these problem become such a burden that the cat is abandoned. It may die of starvation on the street as it can’t catch any prey or end up in an overcrowded shelter and ultimately be euthanized. Claws are a cat’s primary defense, without them it is left vulnerable and unable to defend itself. This may present a problem if the cat is an outdoor cat, there is another cat in the home that is not declawed or there are other animals in the home, such as dogs.

In the United States declawing has been a popular practice. This attributes to most cats in the United States being domesticated and strictly indoors. However there are numerous European countries that consider declawing illegal or extremely inhumane and only to be preformed under extreme circumstances. These include the following countries : England. Scotland, Wales, Italy, France, Germany,Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand.

Declawing should be used as last resort after all other interventions have been tried. Alternatives to declawing include providing the cat with an object to scratch such as a post or using Soft Paws, which are vinyl nail caps that cover the existing claws. A consultation with an animal behaviorist may be an effective way to develop a behavioral plan on how to curb destructive scratching.

One of the many services that California Paws offers is consultation for behavior problems with cats. Please email us at www.californiapaws.biz. If you or some one you know lives in San Francisco, California Paws also offers cat sitting and in-home boarding. When your furry friend comes to stay with us, we have an array of fun toys and a cat tower to scratch to it’s hearts content. Please email us at californiapaws@yahoo.com if you have any questions.

CAT SCRATCHING Part 2 Solutions to avoid destructive cat scratching.

Sasha Vaz — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:57:48 +0000

As it is part of a cat’s natural instinct to scratch, it is unlikely that this will ever change. However, you do have control of what your cat does scratch and the impact that the scratching will have on you and your property, including your favorite leather recliner or your new curtains that your feline friend has been eyeing.

The key to avoiding destructive scratching is to provide your cat with an alternate object to focus their scratching on. Scratching posts and cat towers are popular objects to use www.catsplay.com/scratch_poles.php3 . It is recommend that the new object be placed in close proximity to the old object that you are trying to stop your kitty from scratching. It is important that the old object be made as unappealing for your cat to scratch as possible. You may consider placing double sided tape, aluminum foil or sand paper in the are where your cat likes to scratch. When you see your cat getting ready to scratch the old object, move him next to the new object, such as the scratch post and direct your cat to scratch it. In order to extinguish the old behavior, the intervention must be done on a consistent basis. In the initial stages of teaching the new behavior, you can give your cat a treat after each time he successfully scratches the new object. This is a guaranteed way to accelerate the learning curve. Do not remove the double sided tape from the old object until your cat has mastered scratching the new object on a consistent basis.

Trimming your cat’s claws is helpful for curbing scratching in unwanted places. When a cat’s claws are short and trim all the time, it minimizes the amount of damage that your cat could cause to you or your furniture. Also, it is just not as pleasurable for the cat. Finally, your cat’s claws are less likely to get snagged on the carpet, on your wool sweater or in your skin if they are short.

An innovative product available today is Soft Paws www.softpaws.com/about.html. It is a set of vinyl nail clips that are glued on your cat’s existing nails. It does not in any way hamper your cat from scratching. However, it does avoid any damage from the scratching as the nails are protected and covered by Soft Paws.

If this is a problem that your cat has, please try the above interventions. We would be interested in how this works for you, and invite you to email us at californiapaws@yahoo.com. Should you require cat sitting or in-home boarding in San Francisco please visit www.californiapaws.biz for more information.

CAT SCRATCHING Part 1 Why cats scratch?

Sasha Vaz — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 18:48:31 +0000

There are cat owners all over the world that have long harbored feelings of frustration wondering why their furry friend proceeds to scratch up all their possessions from the curtains to the furniture. Some may take it personally and even feel guilty thinking that kitty is not happy with them or not getting enough attention.

While in fact, cats do tend to have a temperamental nature, there are several logical reasons which explain the scratching. It is part of their natural instinct to scratch as a way to mark their territory. When a cat scratches, not only does it leave a visible mark, but it’s paws also emit a unique scent. If your cat spends a lot of time on your comfortable leather sofa, he may be inclined to scratch it as a way of taking ownership for it. A cats claws serve as one of their best and most important defenses for protections. This is essential for outdoor cats as they may encounter other cats or big dogs outside of the home.

Scratching is an excellent way for a cat to exercise and groom itself. The act of scratching allows the cat to remove the dead outer layer of it’s claws. It also exercises the front quarter muscles of the leg and facilitates stretching.

Cats often show affection and pleasure by kneading. This may be on your lap, on something soft or on uneven surfaces such as wicker baskets. When a cat kneads with it’s claws out, may do this for the simple reason that it feels good and is relaxing.

Once you understand your cat’s need to scratch, it is then possible to channel his scratching to a specific designated object such a scratching post. This is a great compromise and everyone is happy. You can keep your furniture in pristine condition and your cat can scratch his post to his heart’s content.

California Paws offers cat behavior consultations and would be happy to answer any questions you may have on cat behavior. Please email questions to californiapaws@yahoo.com. If you live in San Francisco and need a professional cat sitter or cat boarding, consider California Paws, the trusted name in cat care. We welcome you to visit our website at www.californiapaws.biz.

Home Boarding Is The Best Boarding Choice For Your Cat

Sasha Vaz — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:44:36 +0000

I am sure that we can all agree that in your absence, your primary concern is that your cat gets the best possible care. Whether you chose to have an in-home cat sitter or to board will depend on several factors. These include how your cat reacts to your being gone, if you have more than one pet, if there are any medical concerns and how easily you cat responds to being in different surroundings. Some cats are highly independent and perfectly content with a daily visit from the cat sitter. Others, however, crave human interaction and get lonely without consistent contact throughout the day. In order to ascertain this, observe your cat’s behavior when you return from a trip. If he shows noticeable behavior changes upon your return, you may want to consider boarding your cat.

Popular boarding services are available in a cattery, veterinary office or a home with multiple cat condos. Most boarding services care for several cats at one time. The ideal boarding choice is in a home setting with you cat as the only pet being cared for. California Paws offers such an option, caring exclusively for one cat at a time in a comfortable home setting. Your cat will have the run of the house and has the freedom to roam at leisure. To assist in minimizing any changes for your cat, it is recommended to provide a detailed description of its daily routine. This is easier to replicate if your cat is the only one being cared for. Cats are creatures of habit and derive much comfort from familiarity.

Cats are by nature a very sensitive to smell; for this reason it is ideal that there be no other pets there. When cats pick up odors of other cats or smells that are unfamiliar, it can make them uncomfortable and agitated. Animal behaviorist, Sasha Vaz, suggests bringing a few of your cat’s toys, bed and even liter box when you board the cat with a sitter. In a boarding service where there are numerous cats, there tends to be many odors. From a behavioral standpoint, this can be rather unsettling and confusing for a cat. The cat’s food tends to be kept in close proximity to the litter box when a cat is kept in a cat condo. However, in a home setting, both the food and litter box are usually in separate rooms at all times. Finally, there is less chance that you cat can pick up any type of airborne illness if he is not exposed to other pets who may be ill.

California Paws, San Francisco’s experts in cat care offer and excellent cat boarding option. Please email californiapaws@yahoo.com, we would be glad to hear from you and answer any questions you may have.

The Psychology Of A Cat

Sasha Vaz — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:51:53 +0000

Cats are mysterious animals, each with a distinct personality and idiosyncrasies all of their own. While cats may be affectionate, they tend to maintain a high degree of independence in when and how they relate to others; whether they chose to seek attention or to remain solitary.

These furry felines use body language almost exclusively to communicate. A cat’s whiskers convey their attitude. When they are angry or in a defensive stance, the whiskers lie flat against the face, where else, they point forward when a cat is feeling friendly and

inquisitive.

A cat’s temperament can vary with their specific breed and level of socialization. A cat that was not socialized as a kitten may present as guarded, isolative and exhibit aggressive behaviors towards other cats and strangers. Such behaviors can be addressed using behavior modification plans. California Paws offers consultation services for behavioral problems you may be having with your kitty.

Purring is universally associated with a cat expressing contentment and happiness. However, it can also signify distress, anxiety or severe illness. As you learn to understand your cat, you will notice that it’s “meow” has numerous pitches, each one carrying a different meaning altogether. Some may be commands, others requests or complaints.

The tail also signifies how a cat is feeling. When it’s held high, this is a sign of happiness, a half-raised tail shows less pleasure and unhappiness is indicated when a tail is held low. When the tips of the tail twitches, a cat is usually angry or in hunting mode, while larger twitching means displeasure.

As a general rule, cats sleep more that most animals in order to conserve energy. Cats can sleep up to 20 hours in a 24 hour period. The daily duration of sleep varies, usually 12-16 hours but averages 13-14 daily.

A cat’s sense of smell is 14 times stronger than that of a human, allowing them to smell things you may not even be aware of. It also explains why your cat may run around the house at night prowling.

If you have a cat that is especially active at night, it is recommended to play with your cat for about 2 hours before your bedtime. It is crucial that play occurs at the same time daily. This assists in re-setting your cat’s circadian rhythm. As cats are by nature hunters, all play should include the six elements of hunting. These are Stalk, Run, Pounce, Catch, Kill and Eat. A snack will suffice and alert the cat that the cycle of play is complete. It then can shift focus into grooming and sleeping and this means a good night sleep for you!

California Paws offers expert cat care for you. Whether it is a visit in your home or in-home boarding you have the guarantee that an experienced cat professional will provide the best and most comprehensive care possible.

Whose Watching My Cat?

Sasha Vaz — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:25:14 +0000

As with any concerned parent, the question of who will be entrusted to care for you furry friend while you are away deserves serious thought. Hiring a professional cat sitter has several benefits. First, all reputable cat care services are licensed, bonded and insured; providing you with the piece of mind that your pet and house are in good and reliable hands. Second, skilled cat sitters are experienced in reading animals, not only their overt language but also their subtle body language. This is a great asset when it comes to identifying health problems and managing crisis situations. Finally, in your absence a cat sitter can maintain the routine that your cat is accustomed to including daily play and attention.

Two popular options available are cat sitting in your home or in-home boarding. Which option you chose will depend on your comfort level and the specific needs of your cat. For example: If your cat is self sufficient, independent, healthy and would not adjust will to new surroundings; cat sitting in your home would be recommended. On the other hand, if you are going to be gone for more than a week, if your cat craves attention or has medical concerns that need to be monitored; boarding in a home setting would be a better option to chose.

The following are criteria to consider when choosing a cat sitter.

How long they have been in the business?
Are they licensed, bonded and insured?
Do they have references?
What would their routine for each visit include?
How will emergencies be handled?
Do they have a website for you to get additional information?

California Paws offers a comprehensive array of cat care services in San Francisco. Our website has a wealth of information to share www.californiapaws.biz During the initial consultation meeting with you and your pet, we also review our cat care contract and discuss how every aspect of your cat’s care is to be handled in your absence. We pride ourselves in keeping our loyal clients connected with their pet while traveling. This is done through updates by email, text or picture messages sent daily as requested. Our goal is to keep your cat healthy, happy and well cared for until your return. If you or someone you know resides in San Francisco, we hope your will consider our service and we would love to hear from you.