Opinion of Fellow Cat Owners

[Kevin and 10]

I am a firm believer in Feliway - we have 2 diffusers in the house and they do work. And once again, I agree with Christeen about handling the over night.

I've used this stuff for my cat scratching the furniture. It works.

[Mags 112]

Just an update. We went to the local shelter on Saturday to have a look and when we got home my wife got a call from her parents. Her British cat was at the vets ill. She died on Sunday (14 years old). Her parents live in a thatched cottage in a small village outside of Stratford upon Avon and the cat had slowly been expanding her territory catching mice and rabbits mostly. Apparently she had eaten multiple mice that had rat poison in their systems from a farm somewhere. Normally she realizes I guess because she vomits the mouse up right away. This time I guess she digested them and it did her liver in.

At any rate, getting a second cat right now isn't really the best timing so I imagine we'll wait 6 months or so now.

Aww, I'm sorry.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

Very sorry to hear about the kitty

If you guys do decide to get a second kitty, this book comes highly recommended to me by a friend who got married and had to combine 2 very independent and difficult kitties (one a former feral, one old, hard of hearing and near blind) into a single household:

http://www.amazon.com/Cat-Vs-Keeping-Peace...2099&sr=8-1

[Ban Hammer 13,620]

Just an update. We went to the local shelter on Saturday to have a look and when we got home my wife got a call from her parents. Her British cat was at the vets ill. She died on Sunday (14 years old). Her parents live in a thatched cottage in a small village outside of Stratford upon Avon and the cat had slowly been expanding her territory catching mice and rabbits mostly. Apparently she had eaten multiple mice that had rat poison in their systems from a farm somewhere. Normally she realizes I guess because she vomits the mouse up right away. This time I guess she digested them and it did her liver in.

At any rate, getting a second cat right now isn't really the best timing so I imagine we'll wait 6 months or so now.

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

Well, de-clawing is a barbaric, cruel, selfish and inhumane procedure (it's like cutting off your finger at the first knuckle and is actually illegal in the majority of other countires). I beg the OP to NOT do this to their cat.

I can't believe someone would do that to their cats. Over here you would not find a doctor who does that. It's considered animal torture and it's illegal. Also the procedure where they trim dogs tails and ears is illegal over here.

Edited October 26, 2009 by Ms. Squirrel

[anya-D 8]

Well, de-clawing is a barbaric, cruel, selfish and inhumane procedure (it's like cutting off your finger at the first knuckle and is actually illegal in the majority of other countires). I beg the OP to NOT do this to their cat.

I can't believe someone would do that to their cats. Over here you would not find a doctor who does that. It's considered animal torture and it's illegal. Also the procedure where they trim dogs tails and ears is illegal over here.

And you could just trim their nails.

[Nik+Heather 121]

My female tortie STILL doesn't get along with the nice, friendly male kitten I brought home to keep her company.

It's been 3 years.

If he gets within 5 feet of her she growls. If he gets closer, she hisses. If she's on the bed snuggling and purring happily away, and he comes up, she runs away. Every now and again they have a full on yowling (loudly!) tussle. However, they WILL share a windowsill if it's the only window open. Go figure.

Nowadays I foster for the Humane Society here in Phoenix - and that's the only way I'll get another pet. The foster program is for under age, injured or sick cats (& dogs, but I do cats) - they don't have enough space to keep them while they grow/get better, so volunteers keep them at home and then bring them back when they are ready to be adopted. Check into that. So many animals are very different in the shelter compared to at home, and fostering (even if you don't keep them) is so helpful, it's a win-win for everyone. You get a longer period of getting to know your potential new cat, and you can see how they interact with the one you already have.

[Not Available 0]

Well, de-clawing is a barbaric, cruel, selfish and inhumane procedure (it's like cutting off your finger at the first knuckle and is actually illegal in the majority of other countires). I beg the OP to NOT do this to their cat.

I can't believe someone would do that to their cats. Over here you would not find a doctor who does that. It's considered animal torture and it's illegal. Also the procedure where they trim dogs tails and ears is illegal over here.

Yup, guess I'm horrible.

This cruel, barbaric person is so done with VJ. Bye.

[Ban Hammer 13,620]

Well, de-clawing is a barbaric, cruel, selfish and inhumane procedure (it's like cutting off your finger at the first knuckle and is actually illegal in the majority of other countires). I beg the OP to NOT do this to their cat.

I can't believe someone would do that to their cats. Over here you would not find a doctor who does that. It's considered animal torture and it's illegal. Also the procedure where they trim dogs tails and ears is illegal over here.

Yup, guess I'm horrible.

This cruel, barbaric person is so done with VJ. Bye.

well #######, there goes one of the nicest people on vj.

[UmmSqueakster 54]

If there's one thing I've learned hanging out on cat forums, it's that declawing is an issue people get really passionate about. Those fights make VJ OT look tame.

Our apartment required that any potential cat be declawed. Try as I might to argue with my landlord about it, they wouldn't budge. So we adopted an older kitty who was already declawed.

I don't think most americans are aware of what declawing actually is (an amputation of part of the cat's toes), or how the rest of the world views it. It's sold to us here as a routine surgery, get a spay or neuter, we'll throw in the declaw half priced! Hopefully, if more people learn what it actually is and how it can potentially be very harmful for our cats, there will be less of a demand and perhaps one day we can outlaw it here too.

[Not Available 0]

I don't think most americans are aware of what declawing actually is (an amputation of part of the cat's toes), or how the rest of the world views it. It's sold to us here as a routine surgery, get a spay or neuter, we'll throw in the declaw half priced! Hopefully, if more people learn what it actually is and how it can potentially be very harmful for our cats, there will be less of a demand and perhaps one day we can outlaw it here too.

And maybe if people took this approach I would understand!

I grew up with my family declawing our cats all the time and didn't realize there was something wrong with it.

Perhaps next time you decide to write snippy comments, a, "I don't think that is wise, did you know this what they do?" Comment would suffice. But I guess that's just too much to ask on here.

Alright, now I'm done. Have a nice life.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Smile!

[Mags 112]

Well, de-clawing is a barbaric, cruel, selfish and inhumane procedure (it's like cutting off your finger at the first knuckle and is actually illegal in the majority of other countires). I beg the OP to NOT do this to their cat.

I can't believe someone would do that to their cats. Over here you would not find a doctor who does that. It's considered animal torture and it's illegal. Also the procedure where they trim dogs tails and ears is illegal over here.

Yup, guess I'm horrible.

This cruel, barbaric person is so done with VJ. Bye.

I'm sorry if you're offended. However, I'm not going to change my views on this terrible procedure to save your feelings. Just because you grew up with this being done does not mean that you have to do this to other animals.

Education is the key. How can anyone NOT realise that this is a cruel practice?

If you want a cat, please realise that they WILL scratch and claw. It's part of their nature. If you don't like it, then don't get a cat.

Rather than flounce off, feeling all got at, learn something from this, read up on the procedure and what it really entails and then agree to never have it done to another feline that you own.

And I never called YOU cruel or barbaric - just the procedure.

If there's one thing I've learned hanging out on cat forums, it's that declawing is an issue people get really passionate about. Those fights make VJ OT look tame.

Our apartment required that any potential cat be declawed. Try as I might to argue with my landlord about it, they wouldn't budge. So we adopted an older kitty who was already declawed.

I don't think most americans are aware of what declawing actually is (an amputation of part of the cat's toes), or how the rest of the world views it. It's sold to us here as a routine surgery, get a spay or neuter, we'll throw in the declaw half priced! Hopefully, if more people learn what it actually is and how it can potentially be very harmful for our cats, there will be less of a demand and perhaps one day we can outlaw it here too.

Hear hear! An excellent post.

Ignorance is NEVER an excuse. Education is the key. Also, we need more veterinarians who are willing to stop doing the procedure and help promote the knowledge that this is a cruel practice.

Edited October 27, 2009 by Persephone

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I'm personally against declawing, not only because its like having half of a finger cut off but also because it diminishes the cats ability to defend itself.