4 Alternatives To Declawing Your Cat by James Laurie

Your cat scratching the furniture, carpet and other places around the house can cause considerable damage and some people think the answer is declawing the cat. Declawing can cause damage to your cat's paws and possible behavioral problems. I would like to provide you with four safe alternatives to declawing your cat.

Trimming Claws- Trimming your cat's claws is something that should be done periodically anyway. You should start to trim at an early age to get your cat used to doing it. They will never like having it done. But they will learn to tolerate the trimming, while vocally protesting the indignity of it all. Never use scissors to cut claws because that will shatter the claw and be very painful for your cat. Talk to your veterinarian about how to properly trim your cat's nails and choosing what type of trimmers would be the best to use.

Scratching Post- Choosing a sturdy, heavy, tall post is the one of the best alternatives to declawing your cat. It must be tall enough so they can stretch out and get a good grip on it and it has to be sturdy and heavy enough so that it won't move. If it moves or falls over they will stop using the post. The post should be made of a good gripping material like carpet or rope. I personally have had better luck with carpet than with rope. Place the post near or, if you can, on the area being scratched. As an extra bonus to help entice your cat into using the post, sprinkle it with a little bit of catnip on the top and base. Your cat will love you for it.

Use Double Sided Tape- Using a double sided tape is another great alternative. Taping the areas that are being scratched gives the area an unpleasant feeling. Cats don't like sticky feeling or having the hair on the paws pulled and they will avoid the area. Using double sided tape and a scratching post can be a very effective combination to a scratching problem.

Cat Claw Covers- Claw covers are fairly new and I have not personally tried them yet. The word that I've heard is, they work great. However, like declawing, you must keep them in the house, because the claws are covered and, it reduces the ability to defend and escape. Before applying them you will need to trip your cat's claws. The covers are filled with nontoxic glue using a syringe and slid over the nail. They should last between 4 to 6 weeks before falling off due to natural growth of the claws. Keep an eye on your cats paws to see when one falls off. You can then replace it quickly. The first few times applying claw covers you may need some help doing it, as your cat will wiggle around, and it is possible to get glue on their paws and glue their toes together. An added bonus to using cat claw covers is the fact that they also come in assorted colors, creating a great effect.

As always, before doing anything new with your cat, always consult your veterinarian.

About the Author

I have been working with cats for over 30 years, by volunteering at private cat rescue shelters, with feral cats and having a number of cats at home. If you are having litter box issues with your cats I would like to help point you in the right direction. Visit my website http://www.catpeesonbed.com/

Common Behaviors Of Cats And Their Meanings

How well do you understand your cat? Even if it were only days or decades, perhaps you have observed a cat's actions. The acts of your pet are different from other animals. Some people think it perplexing when they see their pet behaving in a strange way. You may have a dilemma in raising your pet if you fail to read your cat's action. It may be difficult to find out what your cat means when it acts differently but there are methods to uncover your kitty's mystery.

You probably have become aware of your cat pushing an object (e.g., cabinet, stool, table leg) or a person. Then it strokes its head against the individual or thing. You will most probably notice this action done on individuals with allergies to cats or to those who have other animals. The cat does this because it wants to mark the person or object as its possession by putting a hint of its spit on that person or thing. This kind of cat behavior can be irritating for others. In the cat's point of view, however, the individual or object stands as someone or something odd; thus, it exhibits this action to establish it as part of its property.

For the cat, it serves it well to perform this pushing and rubbing act. In this world, however, there are some with pet peeves and those allergic to cats. They will try to get rid of the saliva because it upsets them. If they are successful, they will rid themselves with the cat's scent. The feline will, however, repeat the same process if it cannot smell the scent that it left on the guest. This will really pose as a predicament for the individual with allergies or with pet peeves. As a cat owner, you have to explicate to the inconvenienced person why it does this behavior - that it is just a welcome greeting for the cat. What you should do is to talk to the guest and request him to permit your cat to do this behavior. Once the cat does its business, it will leave your guest alone eventually.

Hunting is almost a must for cats. Do not be shocked if your cat is peeking out the window, creating strange sounds and doing bizarre movements. It just has its hunting instinct acting out. If your cat sees a cat or some movement, it will readily be on its paws. Again, do not be shocked because it is normal for cats.

There are individuals who think it baffling why cats pounce at things. Pouncing is one of a cat's favorite activities. Pouncing is part of play for them. Do not stop your cat from doing this behavior unless you want to get some troubles. You and your cat may wind up with trouble breaking a lot of stuff in the house. If you like to manage how your cat plays, buy a toy that it can pounce on. A yarn or a string may even be adequate enough for it to play with. Your cat will surely enjoy your company as it runs after the yarn or string.

If you have detailed understanding of how your cat behaves, you will have lesser problems because you will be dealing with it the correct way. Go beyond feeding and providing litter to your cat. Know your cat a little more by knowing its behavior.

About the Author

Kitty Bee is the owner of two lovable cats.

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What Constitutes Bad Cat Behavior?

It is interesting that you can hear one person talk about the bad cat behavior that they are dealing with while someone else assumes this is perfectly normal behavior because they deal with it every day. Although some behaviors may be up for debate whether they are really bad or not, there are some things that cats do that can make anyone's ears turn a little red.

Please do NOT Lift the Leg!

You know you are doomed when you see that leg go up! Cat spraying is one of the worst behaviors to have to deal with. Urine stains found on walls and furniture at about nose-level are signs that your cat is marking his territory, frustrated, stressed or letting others know his status in the home.

If your cat sprays, figure out the reason and address it immediately or else it will turn into a serious problem. Once it's done a few times, it turns into a behavioral trait which is harder to change. Scrub, scrub, scrub and neutralize!

Scratching

Little Lovebug doesn't seem to quite fit her name when you come home to shredded curtains, furniture and window screens now does it? Cats need to scratch so if you are not providing something to use, they will find something themselves; plain and simple. You may be interested to learn that just like a dog; you can trim or file your cat's claws if you are very careful. Ask your vet to show you how or take your cat for a manicure. Maybe she needs a little pampering! Of course, a new scratching post won't hurt either!

Put that Tongue Away!

While a little lick here and there may seem sweet and innocent, some cats will start licking a lot. Not only can their rough tongue irritate your skin, it can damage wood surfaces. Also, it should be noted that cats that lick more than normal are more prone to bite when irritated as well.

If there is a spot on the wood arm of your chair or the coffee table that your cat consistently revisits to lick, spray a little lemon juice on it and it won't seem so appealing anymore; just the mere smell will often keep them away.

Stealth Attack

There is a huge difference between pouncing because the cat wants to play and you have a toy compared to the cat that stalks your feet, jumps at your ankles as you walk by and might even bite or scratch. While you may think that this is normal behavior because cats have a strong prey instinct, it's not! This is actually most commonly seen in single-cat homes, especially those that are left alone a lot. Yes, cats are independent but they still want companionship. If you are gone all day, come home and leave to go to dinner, run errands, etc., and don't spend time with your cat, consider getting a second one. Really, how much room do they take up anyway?

Biting

No amount of cat biting is cute! Cats bite hard, even when they are just giving you a warning nibble and these types of bites are prone to infection. Cats will bite for many different reasons; frustration, redirected aggression, pain or illnesses are all common causes. Sometimes, they bite because they just don't want to be petted anymore! Watch for subtle signals like twitching ears or tail or a stiff body and you can avoid feeling the pain of this bad cat behavior.

About the Author

Sonia Manning provides interesting information and helpful tips about cats and their behaviors. For more help on problem cat behaviors, go to http://www.catbehaviorsolutions.com/cats-problem-behavior.html.

Visit her website at http://www.catbehaviorsolutions.com for more topics, and solutions for problem cat behaviors. You can also receive free an 8-day Email Mini-Course on "Secrets About Your Cat's Behavior: Why He Does the Things He Does!"