The Myth of Declawing (Onychectomy)

What Exactly is Declawing?

One thing it's certainly not is a manicure for cats. A recent poll showed that 60% of Americans are in favour of this barbaric surgery. But are we surprised? It's still legal in the U.S to crop ears and dock tails on dogs. A cats claw is part of the last bone (distal phalanx) in the cats foot. It is not a nail like a humans nail. There are a lot of vets that mislead people into thinking that this procedure is a small step up from clipping your cats nails. But AMPUTATION is not a small procedure! In order to declaw without any future re-growth, they have to take out, the claw, the bone, nerve, joint capsule, collateral ligaments, and the extensor and flexor tendons. That is exactly what declawing is. A complete removal of the distal phalanx at the joint. 10 X AMPUTATION. Would you want to lose the tops of your fingers up to the first joint..... ten times ? No - neither would I. In these countries it is illegal unless there are extreme circumstances where it is required. England Scotland Wales Italy France Germany Bosnia Austria Switzerland Norway Sweden Netherlands Northern Ireland Ireland Denmark Finland Slovenia Portugal Belgium Brazil Australia New Zealand Yugoslavia Malta Israel

Why Do Cats Scratch?

It's their natural instinct to scratch, it sharpens their claws for them to catch their prey and removes old nails. It is also a way to mark their territory as they secrete sweat from the glands in their feet. If they're an outdoor cat, then trees and wooden fences will do, but if you own an indoor cat then your furniture will be the next best thing. A good way to get your little tiger into the idea of using a scratching post is to put the new item in the area that your cat scratches at most. It may mean moving your sofa and furniture over, so that your cat can get used to the idea of a post instead of your favourite chair, but it'll only be until your kitty has gotten familiar to the new addition to the furniture. Then you can probably move it to another area of your home. The more they scratch, the more they will mark their scent and eventually they will get used to using the post for their scratching needs. Also adding toys and a little bit of catnip to the material on the scratch post may entice your feline to use this rather than your furniture. Of course kitty may return to his old scratching haunts, so it may be wise to invest in some get off spray for furniture. Never tell your cat off, they need to scratch to maintain their nails, strengthen and stretch their muscles and limbs. They'll carry on doing it anyway :D

What to Look For in a Scratching Post.

A strong and sturdy base -Height should be the height of your cat when stretching, plus a few more inches.

A platform at the top for your cat to survey his kingdom.

Cat toy and activities to engage and stimulate your cats mental abilities.

Sisal textile material (not rope) is the preferred kitty post material as it is durable enough for him to scratch at again and again.

And remember, DON'T throw away his stand if it looks battered, he'll have just got it the way he likes it and certainly wont thank you for it.

Whatever shape, size or breed we have everything in our pet store to satisfy even the most demanding, four legged diva in your household. We understand how important it is to not only have the latest cat toy, or the trendiest dog collar, but also to make sure the boring bits are covered.
That's why we have a variety of flea, worming and fur treatments.