Pets MEGA Cats VS Dogs - POLL!

[addictivepersona]

[declawing] even if your cat is an indoor cat leaves them susceptible if they did happen to get out side, not only because they can not defend themselves but they cant climb.

Bullshit. If a cat is scared enough, as long as it has back claws, it can climb up a telephone pull. Saw it happen. Had real fun gettin' that cat down. 8(

On that note, if you do decide to get your cat declawed, only get the front taken out.

 

[stardust.hero]

I love this thread it is awesome. I have always been a dog owner, never owned cats due to an allergic mother as a child and now a semi allergic boyfriend. (He is allergic to some cats but not others.) So I might have the pleasure of owning a kitty in the future if I can sway him and we can find a cat that doesn't irritate his allergies.

Having never owned a cat I think these tips were really helpful to me.

Thanks guise

 

[matt2012]

Bullshit. If a cat is scared enough, as long as it has back claws, it can climb up a telephone pull. Saw it happen. Had real fun gettin' that cat down. 8(

On that note, if you do decide to get your cat declawed, only get the front taken out.

I hear you man...people think that getting a cat declawed it such a terrible thing but it really is not at all. sure it is painfull for the cat but most heal in a few days to a week. they can walk and play just fine even the first day after coming home. I have seem the procedure myself and it is minimally invasive and the cats are back to pretty much normal in a few days at the most.

back claws are used mostly for traction and climbing the front claws are for killing prey and they keep them sharp sharp for that prupose. all my cats are declawed in the front for their own safety. Having multiple cats, they do get in squables from time to time and will swat eachother in the face. my wife has seen more than her fair share of damaged eyes that had to be removed because of a scratch.

the real danger of an outside cat is first, cars, and second, other cats. feline luchemia and filine HIV are spread through bites and clawings and they are devistating dieases.

 

[J.Wallace]

I had a cat when I was younger. He was abused as a kitten, so he was very afraid of people. I must admit, I often did treat him like shit when I was younger and naive about such things. Besides given him good food, and a good place to live, be sure to psychologically treat the animal with love. This is something I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned yet. Don't try to scare him, or hit him. Treat them with respect, and as humans would treat each other.

 

[L2R]

Do not declaw

 

[Fawkes]

^ agreed! please do not declaw. (though i assumed the OP might live in a nation where declawing is outlawed; if the OP isn't, DON'T DO IT; it's inhumane.) to the person calling it "minimally invasive", would you not think it invasive if your digits were all severed at the first knuckle?

declawed cats have been shown to exhibit psychological issues/behavioral problems and physical ailments like arthritis earlier than their clawed counterparts. they use their claws to do things like mark their territory (territory is VERY important to a cat - if they aren't marking it by scratching, they'll find other means), exercise and stretch.

regarding the toys with string - addictive and Cyc explained it well. i have really long hair and, if eaten, even that can pose a danger to kitty's insides.

and to chime in on some of the discussion concerning discipline - i find redirection is best. if kitty is told "no" to one thing, make sure to be able to say "yes" to another. for instance, if kitty is scratching your chair, calmly pick him up and put him on his cat tree or scratch post.

EDIT: i also saw it mentioned that kittens are nocturnal and i don't believe that's indeed the case. cats see best in low-light, so they are most active at dawn and dusk.

also, it was mentioned that FIV+ cats and cats with feline leukemia are "doomed to a short life" and i don't believe that is necessarily the case either. certainly have your furbaby tested, but if he comes back positive for either, when managed, many cats can live full lives with these illnesses.


EDIT #2: where's n3o!?

 

[atri]

start bathing them young and regularly. it will get them used to the act and might make it easier.

 

[ebola?]

I hear you man...people think that getting a cat declawed it such a terrible thing but it really is not at all. sure it is painfull for the cat but most heal in a few days to a week.

I find your lack of empathy disturbing. Are you some sort of ironic pet-owner?

This is something I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned yet. Don't try to scare him, or hit him.

I'm guessing that this is nigh common sensical.

ebola

 

[L2R]

^ agreed! please do not declaw. (though i assumed the OP might live in a nation where declawing is outlawed; if the OP isn't, DON'T DO IT; it's inhumane.) to the person calling it "minimally invasive", would you not think it invasive if your digits were all severed at the first knuckle?

declawed cats have been shown to exhibit psychological issues/behavioral problems and physical ailments like arthritis earlier than their clawed counterparts. they use their claws to do things like mark their territory (territory is VERY important to a cat - if they aren't marking it by scratching, they'll find other means), exercise and stretch.

all absolutely true. a cat needs de-stressing, that is what a scratching post is for. think of it like cracking your knuckles and having a massage while squeezing a stress ball.

also, it was mentioned that FIV+ cats and cats with feline leukemia are "doomed to a short life" and i don't believe that is necessarily the case either. certainly have your furbaby tested, but if he comes back positive for either, when managed, many cats can live full lives with these illnesses.

yeah, FIV kitties can live very fulfilling lives. i know first hand.

EDIT #2: where's n3o!?

coming, i specifically contacted her about this thread this morning. she'll fly in soon and smash all this horrible cat mutilation advice with her hulk like animal love and knowledge.

 

[ebola?]

Can we get a quorum on elective amputations for cats as a "don't"?

ebola

 

[Max Power]

Can we get a quorum on elective amputations for cats as a "don't"?

Absolutely. As soon as I look up the word quorum.

 

[NeighborhoodThreat]

Do not declaw

This This This This This This

Declawing is inhumane and downright wrong. Cats are, in the end, wild animals and they need to be able to defend themselves. Cats are, as neko said, very independent beings and will not respond to the same "training" style that dogs respond to. In fact, they will probably just push back and get their revenge later. Don't like the idea of a cat scratching up your furniture? Read the advice on the first page and invest in a decent scratching post. Train the cat to use the post (its really really easy to do) and...problem solved. Your cat will thank you anyway, as scratching posts feel much better and more natural for the cat anyway.

It makes me sick when I hear about people declawing cats.

 

[Mazey]

None of our 14 cat are declawed and each one knows it's own name and will come to you if called .

 

[addictivepersona]

Man, I never realized declawing was such a big and controversial subject! I figured it was akin to spaying/neutering--That you just do it for everybody's sake. Interesting.

Anywho, I would just like to make it known that in post #28, I was not supporting declawing (nor am I going against it)--I was simply stating that cats can climb with just their back claws, and that if anyone reading this does decide to go against the majority and get their cat declawed, please only get the front taken out. :)

 

[Ninae]

Give them fish + rice instead of catfood. Also avoid yearly vaccines, the kitten vaccines last for life. Makes them much more healthy and less likely you'll have to euthanise them for cancer at 6 years old.

 

[Kenickie]

Please, please, PLEASE do not get your cat declawed. It is brutal and painful, akin to truncating the finger at the joint near the tip.

ebola

agreed. i think all of the advice in this thread is totally sound re: litterbox, choking hazards, spay/neuter, but PLEASE don't get your cat declawed.

all of my cats have been indoor/outdoor cats. i always made sure and had the chip and constant up-to-date information on it for when i have had to pick him up from kitty jail. but you have to know the neighborhood you live in and how realistic that is. living out in the country, it really didn't matter what he did during the day, i just made sure to have him inside at night (foxes coyotes owls), and he always came back. i wouldn't let my cat be indoor/outdoor here in my house now until we had a fenced yard. but as soon as our yard was fenced, i'd let a cat out. i've had cats who were really into being outdoor cats, and i've had cats who wanted nothing to do with the outside. as a kitten i'd mos def keep them inside all the time until they got bigger, and then if you want them to be indoor/outdoor cats, start going outside with them and hanging out in the yard and then bringing them inside with you.

also, constant talking to the cat. have to constantly talk talk talk and use their name over and over and over and over. i once knew someone who walked their cats with a harness. 8) we don't talk anymore.

 

[JubJub Bird]

start bathing them young and regularly. it will get them used to the act and might make it easier.

Who bathes a cat?

I love cats but I can't have one due to my domestic situation. I request that those in the thread with cats post pictures of their kitties.

 

[n3ophy7e]

I love this thread it is awesome.

I hear you man...people think that getting a cat declawed it such a terrible thing but it really is not at all.

Declawing cats is completely 100% UNNECESSARY. It is exactly the same as cosmetic ear-cropping and tail-docking.
Do not surgically declaw your cat. Clip its nails with some regular nail clippers instead.

EDIT #2: where's n3o!?

Oh hai!!
Honestly, there isn't much that I can think of that hasn't already been said in this thread. I'm sure I'll think of something to add though

I would however like to reiterate that you should NEVER physically discipline cats...they just do not understand it, therefore it's just abusive and doesn't serve any practical purpose. Water spray bottles work quite well for when they're being persistently naughty, but for just regular every-day minor annoyances like jumping up on the kitchen bench and stuff, feel free to hiss at them. It is very effective if you can make your hiss sound exactly like a cat's hiss :D

The other major points I would emphasise are to neuter your cat at a young age (about 5-7 months old, preferably no later), as there is absolutely NO reason to not get your cat desexed. And definitely get them microchipped so they can be returned to you if they get lost.

Who bathes a cat?

You'd be surprised

 

[L2R]

we have bathed our cats consistently over the last six that we have had the pleasure of their company (you don't OWN a pet). so, pretty much all of my family cats have been bathed occasionally. with our current long furs, we should actually do it more often. nail clipping and brushing's a must too.

n3o, please share your credentials.


did someone say pictures?

scarlett's the persion and hector is the himalayan

the weather's getting cold again, so out comes the long pants, so hector started with his form of affection again this morning (he's gentle)

old photo

just one last thing, i am not concerned about the feelings of any bler's when i say declawing is a horrible thing to do. look, if you did it in the past, there is no use feeling overly guilty now. you simply made a misinformed decision, okay?

 

[LuGoJ]

Our cat sits there every time we have a meal at that table, waiting patiently for a tasty morsel with his paws placed on the surface.

They are funny creatures.