Seniors should consider alternatives before declawing their cat

Senior Lookout , Anne Springer
Gloucester Daily Times

Animal lovers generally have pets all their lives. But sometimes as people age, their ability to care for the needs of an active pet, such as a dog, may change.

Frequently in the older population, there is a gradual shift toward cat ownership. That comes at a time in life when many people are empty-nesters and the plush, take-a-beating furniture of their child-rearing days has possibly been replaced by something a bit more elegant.

So, they are faced with a decision: To declaw the cat or leave its claws alone.

To help with the decision, here are some fast facts about cats. Unlike many other mammals that walk on their pads, cats actually walk on their toes.

Cats' claws are not like human fingernails. Rather, they are adhered to bone, thus the surgical procedure to remove them is more like an amputation than a trim or an extraction. The first bone of the cat's toe must be removed.

The procedure is done under general anesthesia and may require up to three days of hospitalization for some animals. During recuperation, despite the fact that you will be instructed to limit your cat's activity, the cat must use its feet to walk and to use the litter basket, no matter how painful.

Animals can sometimes feel intense pain without alerting their owners that there is anything wrong. That stoicism is part of their natural instinct to avoid attracting the attention of predators.

Declawing is also a permanent procedure that completely removes your cat's natural defense against an attacker should the cat accidentally find his way outdoors.

If the thought of causing pain to your cat is onerous, several countries agree. Declawing is actually outlawed in several European countries, including England, Italy, France and Germany. Many veterinarians agree that it is the least appropriate solution to the problem of destructive scratching.

The Web site http://www.catscratching.com describes some humane alternatives to declawing, such as providing the cat with a sisal scratching post.

Although more expensive than carpeted posts, sisal posts are often considered the most attractive to cats (http://www.purrfectpost.com ). Attaching Soft Paws plastic nail caps (http://www.softpaws.com ) is another alternative.

Cats scratch to mark their territory and to keep their frontal anatomy in good working order, so scratching is a natural process that is useful to them and probably provides a pleasurable sensation as well.

Some experts suggest placing the scratching post where the cat has scratched in the past to satisfy their territorial instinct. At the same time, making the original scratching site less pleasant will help convince the cat that the new post is more desirable than the overstuffed chair it shredded a week ago.

Many cats hate the smell of citrus, so you can make a potpourri out of rinds or buy an appropriate spray product to use as a deterrent. You can also make the designated scratching post more attractive to Kitty by rubbing catnip on it or rewarding your cat with a treat for using it.

For more information on cats and their claws, visit http://www.declawing.com . Pawsitive Connections, a program of SeniorCare, Inc., the area agency on aging that has been serving elders for 35 years, can answer pet-related questions and connect older pet owners to local resources. To contact Pawsitive Connections, call 978-281-1750, Ext. 313.

Anne Springer is the public relations director of SeniorCare, Inc., which provides and coordinates services to elders, enabling them to live independently at home and remain part of their community. It serves elders in Beverly, Essex, Gloucester, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham, and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation

Published: June 06, 2007 12:00 am
http://www.gloucestertimes.com/pulife/local_story_157093922?page=1

***Article by Anne Springer, Director, SeniorCare, Inc. "Pawsitive Connections" Program. SeniorCare, Inc. is an Area Agency on Aging. Reprint used by permission.***
***Picture of Mr.T courtesy of Silver Bells Rescue. Mr. T gets his claws clipped regularly so they don't snag the beautiful rugs or furniture.***