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News & ArtsWednesday, November 18, 2009
Animals / At Large Cat-Scratch Fever
Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Wed, Nov 18, 2009 at 9:00 AM
Los Angeles joins neighboring cities in banning cat declawing.
- g e o ff r e y / Stranger flickr
- "I'll cut you!"
Thanks, Leslie Dean.
1
Last night my friend's cat slept on me and scratched itself all night. I am however glad that no inhumane practices were performed to impede its cat-scratchery.
3
Many people who declaw their cats do not realize that the surgical procedure involved the physical amputation of the "fingers" of their cat. It is physically painful and can be psychological damaging as well. Many declawed cats find it painful to use a litter box and grow accustomed to urinating and defecating directly on the floor. The Purrfect Pals Rec Room (where I volunteer) is home to close to 20 wonderful, happy declawed cats who all no longer use the litter box and therefore will never be adopted. Litter box aversion is the NUMBER ONE reason for cats to be surrendered to a shelter or abandoned and this is just one reason some cats will not use their litter box. Declawing may not seem serious to most people but it has far-reaching effects. If only vets educated their customers instead of promoting declawing as part of their "kitten package", I think many people would choose to leave their pet's claws intact.
4
Awwwh, so true @3. It's so inhumane to have a cat declawed. I adopted a declawed cat recently (first time I've ever had a cat w/o claws) and it's so sad to watch him play and fake-scratch sometimes, because it's obvious that he's a total cripple without claws. That is why I keep him safe and happy inside my apartment at all times. Happily, he doesn't seem to mind the shitty litter.
5
It's also inhumane as fuck to let your cats outside, where they kill literally billions of songbirds every year. But you cat-owning freaks do it anyways. I think the claws should be removed at the armpits.
6
I'd be fine with that provided the Chinese can come up with a way to serve them deep fried and alive.
7
God, the songbird-killing canard again. Look, everything kills everything. But I guess I'll imprison my outdoor-loving animal friend for life so that some disease-infested bird can crap more on Fnarf's car roof.
8
@ 5, I've always kept my cats indoors. But there's nothing wrong with outdoor cats doing what they do, at least 'round these parts. It's not like Australia.
Still, if you feel so strongly, take heart in the growing urban coyote population. That'll level the playing field.
Still, if you feel so strongly, take heart in the growing urban coyote population. That'll level the playing field.
9
Well, if the cats are killing birds by the billions, it's probably a good thing. There's no shortage of 'em right now, and without the cats we'd probably be up to our asses in them.
10
Fnarf, those songbird and cat stats are total bullshit. How convenient to scapegoat another species for all the fucked up suburban sprawl with their inhospitable monospecies lawn habitats; loss of woodlands and hedgerows; pesticides and chemicals ad finitum; etc. etc..... there's what's happening to your beloved shitting disease-spreading avian friends. My own yard in NE SEA is dense with woods, hedges, and has like 6 billion cats surrounded by about 12 billion chirping birds of every size and variety, so many I can't sleep during daylight hours. It's ain't the cats, it's about the humans fucking up birdy habitats.
Fuck your felinophobia.
Fuck your felinophobia.
11
And one more thing before I get back to work: the most vicious attack I've ever witnessed on birds in my own yard was committed by a squirrel. I mean, it totally savaged a nest of chicks. Even the cats were looking on in stunned horror. So, do we need to bring all the squirrels inside, too?
12
First of all, I'm dying to see what LawrimoreHottie69 (forgive the misspelling) has to say about all this!
Second, I keep my cat indoors all the time, not because of birdies, but because indoor cats tend to live several years longer than outdoor cats, and I want my pussy cat for as long as possible! I keep her claws trimmed and have never had a problem with her scratching furniture, etc. When I see her get interested in a certain chair, rug, etc., I just put tinfoil down on it or give her a water bottle squirt and she learns quickly that her scratching posts are the safe place to do her thing.
Declawing seems so sad...I don't necessarily fault the pet owner because it is presented by some vets as a harmless procedure. But it is not. Not at all. Poor kitties.
Second, I keep my cat indoors all the time, not because of birdies, but because indoor cats tend to live several years longer than outdoor cats, and I want my pussy cat for as long as possible! I keep her claws trimmed and have never had a problem with her scratching furniture, etc. When I see her get interested in a certain chair, rug, etc., I just put tinfoil down on it or give her a water bottle squirt and she learns quickly that her scratching posts are the safe place to do her thing.
Declawing seems so sad...I don't necessarily fault the pet owner because it is presented by some vets as a harmless procedure. But it is not. Not at all. Poor kitties.
13
Although the actual numbers are debatable, fnarf is right. The number of songbirds killed each year in the states is anywhere from hundreds of millions to over a billion. It is also true that as humans we are destroying their habitat at an alarming rate, not to mention the cellphone towers and the millions of birds they kill each year. However, keeping your cat indoors is something you have control over and honestly is safer for your cat as well. Cats that remain indoors typically live longer healthier lives while outdoor cats are much more prone to disease, parasites, cars, and coyotes etc.
a couple links to studies of domestic predation on birds.
http://birdchaser.blogspot.com/2008/03/c…
http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/poli…
a couple links to studies of domestic predation on birds.
http://birdchaser.blogspot.com/2008/03/c…
http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/poli…
14
My family has had cats since before I was born. iirc all were with claws and we had only a few problems with them scratching on furniture. We just used whatever perfume was around and sprayed the area around the furniture. That kept the cats from scratching the furniture.
They could go indoors and outdoors freely through a cat window. And on occasion we would find either a small bird or field mouse somewhere in the house. It was always an adventure in the making.
They could go indoors and outdoors freely through a cat window. And on occasion we would find either a small bird or field mouse somewhere in the house. It was always an adventure in the making.
15
I think it's hilarious that I'm about 10 years older than Fnarf, and yet he's twice as crotchety as I am.
16
Haven't tried them on my kitties, but I've heard that nail caps are a good alternative to declawing.
http://www.softpaws.com/
No blue or purple for me, though, thanks. I embarrass my cats enough as it is.
http://www.softpaws.com/
No blue or purple for me, though, thanks. I embarrass my cats enough as it is.
17
My cat wears Soft Paws--little vinyl caps that go over their claws--on her back caws because she had a skin problem that causes her to scratch herself too much. They also work to keep them from scratching furniture and things if you can't train them to stop and clipping their nails doesn't help (you still have to clip them with Soft Paws).
19
Gyr, just because some misguided bird advocacy groups keep flouting the same two cherry-picked, flawed studies while ignoring decades of other research doesn't make the statistic about millions of songbirds true. Birds are not even significant to cats' diets-- feral or domestic. They've coexisted for 1000s of years in domestic and wild habitats, yet the depletion of songbirds didn't get started in earnest till you get to the myriad environmental degradations caused by man in the past century and a half. Moreover you find that in areas where there is significant predation on birds by cats, guess what? The bird population actually INCREASES. Funny how that works quite often, between predators and prey.... Stop blaming cats for your own species' shitty stewardship of the planet.
Lots more here, for starters. http://www.feralcat.com/acafcmc.html
Lots more here, for starters. http://www.feralcat.com/acafcmc.html
20
Gyr, just because some misguided bird advocacy groups keep flouting the same two cherry-picked, flawed studies while ignoring decades of other research doesn't make the statistic about millions of songbirds true. Birds are not even significant to cats' diets-- feral or domestic. They've coexisted for 1000s of years in domestic and wild habitats, yet the depletion of songbirds didn't get started in earnest till you get to the myriad environmental degradations caused by man in the past century and a half. Moreover you find that in areas where there is significant predation on birds by cats, guess what? The bird population actually INCREASES. Funny how that works quite often, between predators and prey.... Stop blaming cats for your own species' shitty stewardship of the planet.
Lots more here, for starters. http://www.feralcat.com/acafcmc.html
Cheers.
Lots more here, for starters. http://www.feralcat.com/acafcmc.html
Cheers.
21
I declawed my cat as a last resort earlier this year. She was 4 or so. The clawing of the furniture wasn't much of an issue, it was the clawing of me. Ordinarily she is a sweet, shy girl. But the moment she sees another cat outside the house, she turns into a hissing, spitting ball of territorial madness that cannot be controlled. She lashes out at anyone who comes near, and doesn't even seem to recognize me. What's worse is the change comes on her instantly, without warning.
In January she was sitting on the back of the sofa, and she saw a cat out the window. I pinned her to the sofa in order to keep her from dashing out the door after it, and she turned in my hands and plunged her claws into my wrist. I got an infection and had to go on antibiotics. That was the last straw.
She is an indoor only cat, and her around-the-house activities are not hampered by her lack of weaponry. We intend to have kids in the next year or two, and I don't fancy having to watch a toddler to make sure my cat doesn't freak out and blind it.
My point is, yes, declawing is something that should be avoided. But outlawing it is too extreme. It can be necessary in certain situations - especially when the only other option is surrendering it to a shelter.
In January she was sitting on the back of the sofa, and she saw a cat out the window. I pinned her to the sofa in order to keep her from dashing out the door after it, and she turned in my hands and plunged her claws into my wrist. I got an infection and had to go on antibiotics. That was the last straw.
She is an indoor only cat, and her around-the-house activities are not hampered by her lack of weaponry. We intend to have kids in the next year or two, and I don't fancy having to watch a toddler to make sure my cat doesn't freak out and blind it.
My point is, yes, declawing is something that should be avoided. But outlawing it is too extreme. It can be necessary in certain situations - especially when the only other option is surrendering it to a shelter.
22
@21 There are other options though. You can put the aforementioned Soft Claws on her and that would solve your problem. Some cats require more care, and if you're not prepared to give them that extra care, then it's best to find someone who can. Giving them to a shelter isn't your only option if you can't care for them; you can personally find someone else to take care of them, or even see about giving them to a local animal rescue place that won't euthanize. I think banning declawing is absolutely appropriate. Declawing is never necessary.
23
Damn. I saw "banning cat" and I started to get excited.
Fucking public health hazards, every last damn one of them. I don't want Toxoplasmosis. Outdoor cats are a scourge. I was hoping that was what this was banning.
Fucking public health hazards, every last damn one of them. I don't want Toxoplasmosis. Outdoor cats are a scourge. I was hoping that was what this was banning.
24
My cat's an indoor cat, but we decided not to declaw her because A) it's inhumane, and B) in the event she somehow manages to get outside, she can defend herself or climb up a tree to safety.
@23: Suck it up, dogs are just as much health hazards, and so are people. Everything is a frikkin' health hazard, even sugar.
@23: Suck it up, dogs are just as much health hazards, and so are people. Everything is a frikkin' health hazard, even sugar.
25
@22 And by "find someone who can" do you mean gas the goddamn thing?
We have cats (and dogs) coming out of our asses and the only way we can control the population is to euthanize them at pretty high rates. We're much better off having owners who are willing to care for a cat so long as it is declawed, than no owners at all.
We have cats (and dogs) coming out of our asses and the only way we can control the population is to euthanize them at pretty high rates. We're much better off having owners who are willing to care for a cat so long as it is declawed, than no owners at all.
26
FYI, Soft Claws fall off (or have to be replaced) about once a month. No, the vet won't superglue 'em on.
27
@25 Uh, no, I didn't mean that. I thought I was specific in what I said: Personally finding another human being who wants to take care of a cat (friends, family, or someone looking online), or giving them to an animal rescue place (like Animal Talk) that won't euthanize. In any case, neither should be necessary since there are other, more humane, alternatives to declawing.
29
There are songbirds in the Northwest? I think I've possibly seen two since moving here in 1991, unless crows and seagulls count.
I've seen far more avian-on-mammal savagery outside my office window than I have ever seen perpetrated on mythical Northwestern songbirds by actual cats. In the last two years right outside here, I've seen an owl fly by with rabbit in its talons, a hawk tearing a rabbit to shreds and a crow that hopped up next to a baby bunny in front of its mother to casually stave in its brains before turning its still-warm corpse inside out. I guess I saw a raccoon helping itself to a tasty nest full of blue heron chicks (?) in a tree next to our parking lot, but I don't think a raccoon counts as a cat.
I've seen far more avian-on-mammal savagery outside my office window than I have ever seen perpetrated on mythical Northwestern songbirds by actual cats. In the last two years right outside here, I've seen an owl fly by with rabbit in its talons, a hawk tearing a rabbit to shreds and a crow that hopped up next to a baby bunny in front of its mother to casually stave in its brains before turning its still-warm corpse inside out. I guess I saw a raccoon helping itself to a tasty nest full of blue heron chicks (?) in a tree next to our parking lot, but I don't think a raccoon counts as a cat.
31
I love that some of you boobs think kitties are natural or exist -- have ever existed -- in the wild. Domestic cats were bred that way, to kill varmints indiscriminately, before recorded history. They're not interested in EATING the birds, just catching and killing them, preferably with a substantial gap between the two.
Cats are evil. Drowning in a pillowcase is too good for 'em.
Cats are evil. Drowning in a pillowcase is too good for 'em.
32
Actually the worst thing cats do with their claws is shred the spines of LPs. That's a capital offense.
33
Cute, cudduwy, sweet, fuzzy wittle
KILLING MACHINES!
I wuv you kitty!
@31, Drowning blah blah. Thank Bastet they kill varmints! They keep Seattle's rat population under control, you ungrateful fnarf.
But also, they do eat birds and mice, I've seen them do so. They'll do that if they don't get fed by their owners, or if they're feral.
Speaking of feral cats, did you know that 80% of their diet is BUGS? Yep. Beetles in particular. Easy to catch, nutritious, plentiful.
Speaking of cat food:
Ever wonder why we don't have Mouse, or Bird, or Beetle-flavored cat food? WTF is up with "Chicken" or "Beef". Cats don't eat cows and chickens.
That shit is seriously fucked up.
KILLING MACHINES!
I wuv you kitty!
@31, Drowning blah blah. Thank Bastet they kill varmints! They keep Seattle's rat population under control, you ungrateful fnarf.
But also, they do eat birds and mice, I've seen them do so. They'll do that if they don't get fed by their owners, or if they're feral.
Speaking of feral cats, did you know that 80% of their diet is BUGS? Yep. Beetles in particular. Easy to catch, nutritious, plentiful.
Speaking of cat food:
Ever wonder why we don't have Mouse, or Bird, or Beetle-flavored cat food? WTF is up with "Chicken" or "Beef". Cats don't eat cows and chickens.
That shit is seriously fucked up.
34
I love my cats, Pete and Sam, and I like birds, too. It is, as always, the owner's responsibility. I solved the problem by building my guys a "Catio" - a place where they can go outside but not roam free. They love to watch the birds, and the birds are perfectly safe. And lots of scratching posts alleviate any need to scratch furniture or other things.
35
hey Fnarf,
FUCK YOU
got any children? nieces or nephews?
let's drown 'em in a pillowcase, just because, you know, I don't like children and the world should be he way I want it.
again
F
U
C
K
Y
O
U
FUCK YOU
got any children? nieces or nephews?
let's drown 'em in a pillowcase, just because, you know, I don't like children and the world should be he way I want it.
again
F
U
C
K
Y
O
U
36
Fnarf, cats certainly did exist as wild animals at one point in time. And thanks to DNA analysis, we even have a pretty good idea what they looked like. Guess what? They looked an awful lot loke your average, run-of-the-mill, mongrel tabby cat.
They probably ate birds, mice (and bugs) in the wild. And yes, cats will eat what they catch if they're hungry.
They probably ate birds, mice (and bugs) in the wild. And yes, cats will eat what they catch if they're hungry.
37
Fnarf, you've been pwned on this topic. How do I know? When you're challenged about something youknow, you answer said challenges; when you don't, you change tacks, sometimes with other shaky "facts," sometimes with just plain attitude. (Congrats on doing both here).
Stick to what you know. Word to the wise.
BTW if I meet you when I come to Seattle I'll shake your hand and buy you a drink, but I'm also going to kick you in the nuts because God put me on earth to teach cat haters a lesson. So be prepared.
Stick to what you know. Word to the wise.
BTW if I meet you when I come to Seattle I'll shake your hand and buy you a drink, but I'm also going to kick you in the nuts because God put me on earth to teach cat haters a lesson. So be prepared.
38
@37, ohhhhh Fnarf isn't in Seattle? Now the songbird concern makes a bit more sense.
Wait, people who aren't in Seattle read Slog? Why?
Wait, people who aren't in Seattle read Slog? Why?
39
No, Fnarf is in Seattle, somewhere on Phinney Ridge. I'm the one not in Seattle, but I'm coming up in January.
40
@39, hmmm, I just figured you originally came from Denver, in the same way that everyone in Seattle originated someplace else about a decade or two ago. Doesn't Denver have its own alternative newsweekly blog thing?
41
Not like Slog. But a) I did live in Seattle for a long time, and b) Slog covers a lot more than Seattle which probably is why a lot of other non-Seattleites are here. Heck, this thread is about L.A.
42
@29 I once saw a blue jay (or maybe it was a Stellar's jay) kill and eat a mouse. It was awesome, in a horrific and gruesome way.
45
@29/42: I once saw a crow holding a dead rat in its crowy claw while it STOOD ON A GRAVESTONE up at Lake View Cemetery. I am completely serious. Also some curly-type entrails of the rat were hanging out of it. SCREAM.
46
Jesus, that sounds like a scene from Apocalypse Now or something. All you needed was Marlon Brando saying "The Horror . . . The Horror."
48
When the cat I grew up with got to be an elderly lady cat, she started getting infections around her claws. We tried several courses of antibiotics, but the infections always came back. It was so sad to see her sitting holding one paw off the ground because it hurt her to put weight on it. She hated having abscesses drained by the vet. Finally we had her de-clawed, and that was the end of the toe infections. She lived another couple years without pain or infections.
I loved my cat and it's irritating to see people make blanket statements (and laws) about de-clawing.
I loved my cat and it's irritating to see people make blanket statements (and laws) about de-clawing.
49
I'm ashamed to say it, Fnarf, but my cat is a bird killing machine. I let her out every morning, and I'd say 3 evenings out of 5 there's a "gift" in the form of a bird head and a pile of feathers on my back porch.
If her treatment of moths is any indication, I'm guessing it's not a quick death for the bird. I don't know where the rest of the bird goes. There's always just the head. I've been assuming she's eaten the rest.
I'd keep her inside, but she turns into a wailing banshee if she doesn't get out at least every other day. This outweighs any guilt about these slow little brown birds.
If her treatment of moths is any indication, I'm guessing it's not a quick death for the bird. I don't know where the rest of the bird goes. There's always just the head. I've been assuming she's eaten the rest.
I'd keep her inside, but she turns into a wailing banshee if she doesn't get out at least every other day. This outweighs any guilt about these slow little brown birds.
50
Please note: if you are making the "de-clawing cats is inhumane" argument, and you eat meat bought at a supermarket, that clanging you hear is the sound of your cognitive dissonance.
51
geez most of ya'll are so mean about the kitties! declawing is a nasty thing and no one should have to go through it. just keep kitty's claws trimmed and everything will be okay. be nice to the animals that depend on you and maybe even love you.
52
@48,
Your situation was much different than someone who has their cat declawed to keep their furniture looking nice. Just like removing someone's testicles because he has testicular cancer is different than doing so to keep his voice high.
Potential cat patrons should reflect which they would love more, the cat or their furniture. If you think the sofa's well-being is more important than the cat's, then don't live with a cat.
And Fnarf, I would estimate that the number of songbirds killed by domestic cats is miniscule compared to the number displaced by human destruction of habitat and competition from crows. Have you ever watched a domesticated cat try to catch a bird? There's a lot of chasing and not a lot of catching.
Your situation was much different than someone who has their cat declawed to keep their furniture looking nice. Just like removing someone's testicles because he has testicular cancer is different than doing so to keep his voice high.
Potential cat patrons should reflect which they would love more, the cat or their furniture. If you think the sofa's well-being is more important than the cat's, then don't live with a cat.
And Fnarf, I would estimate that the number of songbirds killed by domestic cats is miniscule compared to the number displaced by human destruction of habitat and competition from crows. Have you ever watched a domesticated cat try to catch a bird? There's a lot of chasing and not a lot of catching.
53
@22 Tried Soft Claws, actually. Many times. As I said, declawing her was a last resort. Poor critter would sit and spend hours chewing on her feet trying to get the damn things off. She ended up swallowing more than a few, and there were certain claws where they just wouldn't stay put. And really, with a cat that goes insane when confronted with another cat - even across the street, under a parked car and through a window, how easy is it going to be to find a new home for her? I'd just be pushing the problem on to someone else. It means I won't get scratched, not that the cat won't be scratching. She still gets huffy when she sees a cat out the window, but as long as I steer clear of her mouth, I'm in no danger.
You say "never necessary" but that's a blanket statement that doesn't take into account the fact that circumstances (and cats) vary widely. I agree that it's ridiculous to declaw your cat out of laziness or unwillingness to train. But honestly this whole thing reminds me of the abortion debate. One side says it's morally wrong, and never medically necessary - the other says it's often necessary and rights and access should not be restricted. No one's happy about abortion as a first resort (in lieu of contraception, adoption, etc), but in order to protect the rights of those who need it, agonize over the decision, and have no other options, it needs to be kept legal and accessible.
You say "never necessary" but that's a blanket statement that doesn't take into account the fact that circumstances (and cats) vary widely. I agree that it's ridiculous to declaw your cat out of laziness or unwillingness to train. But honestly this whole thing reminds me of the abortion debate. One side says it's morally wrong, and never medically necessary - the other says it's often necessary and rights and access should not be restricted. No one's happy about abortion as a first resort (in lieu of contraception, adoption, etc), but in order to protect the rights of those who need it, agonize over the decision, and have no other options, it needs to be kept legal and accessible.
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