That is true, but I don't understand why an old person can't have a cat with claws. Dealing mostly with feral cats, I have never been bitten or scratched - what's the danger, I am 70 yrs old. And as I said, bites are a natural defense for declawed cats!
-----Original Message----- From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of MaiMaiPG Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 6:40 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] FW: Keep Cats Indoors Those may be very reasonable options for a lot of people. However, I suspect you overestimate the resources available to everyone. Not everyone can drive; not everyone has someone who can/will attempt to trim a cat's nails; not everyone can afford a trip to the vet's every 2-4 weeks; and not every cat can be rehomed. Mass transit is not available everywhere. I agree that it should be a last resort. However, I am not willing to condemn everyone who declaws. On Mar 23, 2011, at 5:25 PM, Natalie wrote: > A vet, a vet tech, or a friend could do it - surely a better option > than > putting a cat through such torture, not to mention complete > personality > change to being withdrawn, morose, or an unpredictable biter! Cat > bites are > more dangerous than scratches any time! > > -----Original Message----- > From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org > [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of MaiMaiPG > Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 6:14 PM > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] FW: Keep Cats Indoors > > That is a good option....if the owner is able to trim nails and put > SoftPaws on. A lot of elderly people don't have the physical > dexterity or skills to trim nails. In fact, I have watched young > people who could not master the task. > On Mar 23, 2011, at 5:05 PM, Natalie wrote: > >> A good solution for a problem as you mentioned, is trimming claws >> and using >> "SoftPaws" - declawing an older cat can be even worse than for a >> kitten at >> times...the pain after surgery is supposed to be absolutely >> excruciating - >> cats either climb the walls in the recover cage or sit in the corner, >> completely catatonic (according to Dr.Nicholas Dodman). >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org >> [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of MaiMaiPG >> Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 5:49 PM >> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] FW: Keep Cats Indoors >> >> I can see some times where it is either declaw the cat or end its >> life.....for the safety of an elderly owner for example. That being >> said, Copper and Thomas have their claws and, with a little planning >> re furniture, there has been no problem. Dixie and Ebony kept theirs >> too. Ebony caused some problems but, if I had known then what I >> know >> now, I could have limited them. It takes a little work and patience, >> planning and thinking. I would encourage anyone who wanted a >> declawed >> cat to try and get one that has already been declawed. >> On Mar 23, 2011, at 4:28 PM, Natalie wrote: >> >>> That's horrible, and many people do not realize what it entails and >>> how many >>> cats lose their lives - they think it's a manicure...but many vets >>> are to >>> blame. Several people told me that after adopting from us, they >>> went to >>> their own vet, and after telling them that the cats will be kept >>> indoors >>> only, the vets said "Oh, you have an option to declaw!" Banfield >>> Health. >>> The group at Petsmart, offers a big special for "kitten health" - >>> all the >>> vaccines, exams, and declawing for a very good price! I wrote to >>> them about >>> declawing; they wrote back with the most ridiculous comments. If >>> anyone >>> would like to see their reply, I'll send it privately. Last year, I >>> was >>> informed that they will no longer cut ears and tails on dogs, >>> because it's >>> purely cosmetic...I wrote to them, asking their policy on declawing >>> since >>> they have made that big leap on no longer mutilating dogs, they >>> might have >>> reconsidered doing it to cats...no reply from them. >>> O always ask people what they would prefer, a few things scratched >>> up or >>> urine-soaked carpets and furniture.....Besides, not all cats grow up >>> to be >>> scratchers...and providing good posts and trimming their nails works >>> well. >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org >>> [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Edna >>> Taylor >>> Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 1:44 PM >>> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] FW: Keep Cats Indoors >>> >>> >>> Natalie, I am with you about the declawing. Someone I know adopted >>> two >>> kittens from me and one died on the table during a declaw surgery. >>> Yes, I >>> HAD told her before hand "NO declawing" but people don't listen and >>> they >>> always know best, yadda yadda :( Then they wonder why Buster is >>> peeing on >>> the bed and the floor because his paws hurt so badly from the >>> surgery. SIGH >>> :( >>> >>>> Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:55:49 -0400 >>>> From: at...@optonline.net >>>> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>> Subject: [Felvtalk] FW: Keep Cats Indoors >>>> >>>> Edna, that's exactly what I tell people about letting their cats >>>> out just >>>> because they want to. I ask them if they would allow their 3-yr old >>>> to >>> play >>>> in the middle of the street just because he/she wanted to? When I >>>> hear >>> "but >>>> the cat gets out", I tell them that they control the door, period! >>>> Our >>>> adoption contract stipulates "strictly indoors" - but, there's no >>>> real way >>>> of enforcing it except to spot check wherever the cats live and >>>> hope that >>>> adopters understand the reasons for it. I have removed several >>>> adopted >>> cats >>>> over the past 18 years. A friend, who also has a cat rescue group, >>>> doesn't >>>> allow declawing (we don't either), came to her vet, and noticed one >>>> of her >>>> adopters picking up her cat after spaying....she looked into the >>>> carrier >>> and >>>> noticed the poor kittens front paws bandaged.....she gave her an >>>> earful, >>> but >>>> what was she to do, take the cat back and have this person declaw >>>> yet >>>> another one? Since then, we made it perfectly clear to that >>>> veterinary >>>> hospital that no cat that was adopted from us can be declawed, and >>>> should >>> a >>>> customer ask for it, we must be notified immediately! Thank God >>>> that my >>>> other veterinarian would never declaw! >>>> >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org >>>> [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Edna >>>> Taylor >>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 11:40 AM >>>> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Keep Cats Indoors >>>> >>>> >>>> Just because your kid likes to eat McDonald's every day or binge >>>> drink or >>> do >>>> drugs because it makes them happy is NOT a reason to allow it. The >>>> same >>>> reasoning goes for cats, just because they LIKE it doesn't mean >>>> it's good >>>> for them. My cats may be "prisoners" in my house but I sleep well >>>> at >>> night >>>> knowing they are loved and safe and from what I can tell, they are >>>> pretty >>>> freakin happy. I have picked up enough broken and battered bodies >>>> off the >>>> roadways to know that NONE of my cats or fosters will EVER be >>>> allowed >>>> outside unless it is in a safe enclosure or on a leash. >>>> >>>> There was a young "individual" (can't call him a man because real >>>> men do >>> not >>>> torture animals) in Dallas that took his neighbor's inside/outside >>>> cat and >>>> over a course of several hours beat and tortured the cat and video >>>> taped >>> the >>>> entire thing. THAT is what happens to outdoor cats. While some >>>> may be >>>> lucky enough to escape being tortured, hit by cars, eaten by >>>> coyotes or >>>> hawks or owls, most do not escape this fate. >>>> >>>> Sorry but I 100% DISAGREE with "cats are wild animals and need to >>>> live >>>> outside" point of view. >>>> >>>> Just my 2 cents. >>>> >>>> Edna >>>> >>>>> Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:13:09 -0400 >>>>> From: at...@optonline.net >>>>> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>>> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Keep Cats Indoors >>>>> >>>>> As an adopter, my views on this are very strict and well-defined - >>>>> I am >>>>> responsible for placing cats in the safest possible homes, and I >>>>> would >>> do >>>> no >>>>> less. I need to be able to sleep at night, knowing that the cats >>>>> that I >>>>> rescued and invested so much time, energy, and emotion will be >>>>> safe and >>>>> happy for a long time. >>>>> Yes, I agree, there still are a few safe area left, but not many >>>>> and >>> none >>>>> are 100% safe, ever. It is true that times used to be safer for >>>>> cats to >>> be >>>>> outdoors - ours always had been, especially when I was growing up, >>>>> until >>>> one >>>>> of our kittens was killed by a car....Unfortunately, it takes many >>> people >>>> to >>>>> understand this only after a tragedy occurs. When an adopter tells >>>>> me >>> that >>>>> their cat ALWAYS sat on the front porch, and never left....and >>>>> they >>> intend >>>>> to do the same with a new adopted cat, I say NO! Their old cat may >>>>> have >>>>> indeed done that, but it doesn't mean that a new cat will do it: >>>>> It >>> takes >>>>> ONLY ONE TIME - chasing a squirrel or bird across the street, and >>>>> WHAM! >>>>> Cats can be perfectly happy indoors with tall cat trees by a >>>>> window, a >>>>> window perch, the right kind of toys to keep them interested and >>>>> active. >>>>> More and more people construct outdoor enclosures; simple ones to >>>>> really >>>>> elaborate ones, even just a little window screened porch. I don't >>> believe >>>>> that cats need to hunt; if they are homeless and hungry, yes, but >>> there's >>>> no >>>>> need for a well-fed cat to kill small wildlife, not for food, but >>>>> for >>> fun >>>>> and the reflex of chasing something (could be a toy). >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org >>>>> [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Lorrie >>>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 7:56 AM >>>>> To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>>> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] Keep Cats Indoors >>>>> >>>>> This is a hot topic, but I agree humans and loss of habitat >>>>> are the main threat to birds. >>>>> >>>>> As for keeping cats inside. I've had cats all my life and they >>>>> have always been indoor/outdoor cats. All of them have lived to >>>>> 16 to 17 years of age unless they've had some genetic problem like >>>>> heart disease. My cats were all rescues and they lived outside >>>>> before I had them, and they are totally miserable inside. >>>>> >>>>> It's really only the last couple decades that cats have been >>>>> living >>>>> indoors, but the invention of cat litter and urban sprawl have >>>>> made >>>>> us think all cats have the perfect life indoors, when in reality, >>>>> cats are happier if they can live outdoors. They are programmed to >>>>> hunt small animals....which is the best nutrition for them. They >>>>> need >>>>> to climb trees, stalk at night with their night vision, and be >>>>> free. >>>>> Cats were not made for sitting in a window sill, and a prison is a >>>>> prison no matter how many cat toys and kitty kondos we buy for >>>>> them. >>>>> >>>>> It's true that some outdoor cats have a shorter life expectancy, >>>>> but >>>>> this mostly depends on where they live. If they live in a safe >>>>> area >>>>> with little or no traffic then I feel they should be allowed to be >>>>> outside. There are some cats who will never willingly settle for >>>>> the >>>>> indoor life. We live in the middle of the woods on a dead end road >>>>> with no traffic and our cats are allowed to go outside. I rarely >>>>> see >>>>> them catch a bird, but they catch many mice & moles. I feel sad to >>>>> see anything killed, but cats and dogs are predators and this is >>>>> what >>>>> they were designed to do. >>>>> >>>>> Lorrie >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Sorry but that information is outdated or biased. The number one >>>>>> killer of birds is humans due to habitat loss or construction for >>> same. >>>>> >>>>>>> Humans: The Number One Threat to Birds >>>>>>> http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=325 >>>>>>> >>>>>>> SomeWhere Sam >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>>> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>>> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>>> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Felvtalk mailing list >>>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>>> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Felvtalk mailing list >>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Felvtalk mailing list >>> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >>> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >>> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Felvtalk mailing list >> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Felvtalk mailing list >> Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org >> http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/ >> felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org