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Dog lover turned kitten mother, LOTS of questions..
Hi all! Yes, I have converted. I still love my great dane, but the newest
love of my life (Hailey the supposed maine coon) has me stressed. In all 21 of my years, I've never owned a feline, so perhaps having rescued a 4 week old kitten that insists that I'm her mommie from which she can nurse. While I'm crazy that she has fallen in love with me, I'm terrified that I'm going to do something wrong and kill her. So I'm going to start out slowly and ask a LOT of questions! 1. I've learned that milk causes diarreah (I can't spell), but are there special nutrients that are in a cat mother's milk that she is missing in her kitten chow? 2. Longhair beauty that she is, we're having a.emm...pooping problem. Yeah, it sticks. I've trimmed the hair down around the "area" but it still gets stuck. I've been using baby wipes after she's gone (god, thank you for baby wipes) and they work well...takes away the smell and gets ride of the doodie....but is there any way to keep from having to wipe her? 3. Declawing...Yeah, I'm sure you are all going to hate me for it, but it's getting done. She's an indoor cat and I'm afraid that she's going to scratch the babies. What age do vets usually recommend the procedure? 4. Spaying..what age? I have more questions, but I'll let ya'll get to these!! Everyone's expertise would help! Thanks, Momma-Kittenhead |
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In response - Yes, I've looked at the alternatives. Soft Paws (they even
come in cute colors!!), training, sprays, the other procedure that starts with a T that I can't spell (tendenoniton or something), laser surgery, nail clipping, living with it.....so I asked a breeder in the area, because I didn't want to do something that would hurt her....she told me this... "if Hailey is an inside cat, she doesn't need to protect herself (she's an only child). If declawing was so inhumane, no vet would declaw any animal." It took a lot of convincing, and my vet even let me watch a procedure...so we're going to go through with it. I realize that it's a VERY controversial topic, but I appreciate your advice! I'll keep ya posted! Momma-Kittenhead "Karen Chuplis" wrote in message ... in article k.net, Nicole Johnson at wrote on 7/6/03 6:44 PM: Hi all! Yes, I have converted. I still love my great dane, but the newest love of my life (Hailey the supposed maine coon) has me stressed. In all 21 of my years, I've never owned a feline, so perhaps having rescued a 4 week old kitten that insists that I'm her mommie from which she can nurse. While I'm crazy that she has fallen in love with me, I'm terrified that I'm going to do something wrong and kill her. So I'm going to start out slowly and ask a LOT of questions! 1. I've learned that milk causes diarreah (I can't spell), but are there special nutrients that are in a cat mother's milk that she is missing in her kitten chow? KMR "Kitten Milk Replacement". Available from vet and pet stores. 2. Longhair beauty that she is, we're having a.emm...pooping problem. Yeah, it sticks. I've trimmed the hair down around the "area" but it still gets stuck. I've been using baby wipes after she's gone (god, thank you for baby wipes) and they work well...takes away the smell and gets ride of the doodie....but is there any way to keep from having to wipe her? She'll grow out of it, although, you might consider keeping a poop shoot shaved as she gets older. But, once she figures things out and learns to groom herself, you'll be fine except for the occassional dingle. 3. Declawing...Yeah, I'm sure you are all going to hate me for it, but it's getting done. She's an indoor cat and I'm afraid that she's going to scratch the babies. What age do vets usually recommend the procedure? Are you prepared for what could happen? Early arthritis, urinating, biting? Millions of babies are raised everyday with cats with claws and survive just fine. I did. Your fear is totally unjustified and so is the procedure. Consider, if you must, or if a problem (highly doubtful) would crop up, Soft Paws. Getting her used to claw trimming now would make her very easy to keep trimmed. There is NO need to declaw. That's all there is to that. Have you even considered these options??? 4. Spaying..what age? Most people do it between 4 and 6 months. I have more questions, but I'll let ya'll get to these!! Everyone's expertise would help! Thanks, Momma-Kittenhead Really consider your options (THERE **ARE** OPTIONS) to declawing. It is terribly inhumane. I'd suggest you rehome her before doing it. It's terribly selfish of you when claws won't be a problem if you just trim regularly. Karen |
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In article nk.net,
"Nicole" wrote: In response - Yes, I've looked at the alternatives. Soft Paws (they even come in cute colors!!), training, sprays, the other procedure that starts with a T that I can't spell (tendenoniton or something), laser surgery, nail clipping, living with it.....so I asked a breeder in the area, because I didn't want to do something that would hurt her....she told me this... "if Hailey is an inside cat, she doesn't need to protect herself (she's an only child). If declawing was so inhumane, no vet would declaw any animal." It's illegal in many countries. Animal cruelty. It took a lot of convincing, and my vet even let me watch a procedure...so we're going to go through with it. I realize that it's a VERY controversial topic, but I appreciate your advice! I'll keep ya posted! Momma-Kittenhead Oh, please don't. I don't want to hear about how you're mutilating your poor kitten. Don't you understand that you're cutting off its toes? That it's likely it'll have trouble balancing? It'll be in pain, possibly for the rest of its life? How anyone could do that to a creature they claim to love is beyond me, but then human parents main and mutilate their children. We have laws to take their children away from them. I'm just sorry no-one can take that poor kitten away from you before you do this to it. Priscilla -- Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum. (thanks be to topfive.com) |
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Yes, I'm aware that it is illegal in several countries....as a matter of
fact, I bet I could name you several of the countries (such as those on Great britian, Spain, portgual, brazil, Italy for sure, england, australia). You know, I bet there are other people on here who aren't against declawing, but I think I'm probably one of the only ones with the balls enough to say "yeah, I've weighed the alternatives and have decided to declaw". When I got Hailey I wasn't doing a jig to the thought of declawing her. I didn't look at her and smile at the thought of taking off the nails. But I feel confident in the trained PROFESSIONAL vets., I feel confident enough in research and the experience of others that I'm doing the right thing. With that said, I am basically saying, if you don't want to answer my questions or hear about my kitty, then don't read my posts. Instead of writing posts intended only to show your "passion" about declawation and to stir up trouble, perhaps you could channel that energy into something less upsetting like, grooming your cat or responding to someone else's post who is anti-declawing. Thanks to those who responded and gave me their advice! "Priscilla Ballou" wrote in message ... In article nk.net, "Nicole" wrote: In response - Yes, I've looked at the alternatives. Soft Paws (they even come in cute colors!!), training, sprays, the other procedure that starts with a T that I can't spell (tendenoniton or something), laser surgery, nail clipping, living with it.....so I asked a breeder in the area, because I didn't want to do something that would hurt her....she told me this... "if Hailey is an inside cat, she doesn't need to protect herself (she's an only child). If declawing was so inhumane, no vet would declaw any animal." It's illegal in many countries. Animal cruelty. It took a lot of convincing, and my vet even let me watch a procedure...so we're going to go through with it. I realize that it's a VERY controversial topic, but I appreciate your advice! I'll keep ya posted! Momma-Kittenhead Oh, please don't. I don't want to hear about how you're mutilating your poor kitten. Don't you understand that you're cutting off its toes? That it's likely it'll have trouble balancing? It'll be in pain, possibly for the rest of its life? How anyone could do that to a creature they claim to love is beyond me, but then human parents main and mutilate their children. We have laws to take their children away from them. I'm just sorry no-one can take that poor kitten away from you before you do this to it. Priscilla -- Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum. (thanks be to topfive.com) |
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In nk.net, "Nicole"
wrote: | I think I'm probably one of the only ones with the balls enough to say | "yeah, I've weighed the alternatives and have decided to declaw". Do you have the balls to say: "Declawing is the amputation of the toe bones that cats walk on. The bone has to come off because the claw grows out of it. The result is an unnatural posture as the cat turns its wrists to distribute the pressure of walking over the other bones in its paws. The procedure is reliably painful enough that declaw post-ops are routinely used to study the effectiveness of painkilling medications and pain treatment protocols. I will ignore the evidence that declawing can make a biter or couch wetter out of my cat. There is no medical or health benefit to the cat whatsoever but still I will have this done, and I am very glad that I live somewhere where neither the prevailing laws nor the professional ethics of veterinarians stand in the way of my desire to mutilate an innocent kitten." Well, do you have the balls? |
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In nk.net, "Nicole"
wrote: | I think I'm probably one of the only ones with the balls enough to say | "yeah, I've weighed the alternatives and have decided to declaw". Do you have the balls to say: "Declawing is the amputation of the toe bones that cats walk on. The bone has to come off because the claw grows out of it. The result is an unnatural posture as the cat turns its wrists to distribute the pressure of walking over the other bones in its paws. The procedure is reliably painful enough that declaw post-ops are routinely used to study the effectiveness of painkilling medications and pain treatment protocols. I will ignore the evidence that declawing can make a biter or couch wetter out of my cat. There is no medical or health benefit to the cat whatsoever but still I will have this done, and I am very glad that I live somewhere where neither the prevailing laws nor the professional ethics of veterinarians stand in the way of my desire to mutilate an innocent kitten." Well, do you have the balls? |
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Yes, I'm aware that it is illegal in several countries....as a matter of
fact, I bet I could name you several of the countries (such as those on Great britian, Spain, portgual, brazil, Italy for sure, england, australia). You know, I bet there are other people on here who aren't against declawing, but I think I'm probably one of the only ones with the balls enough to say "yeah, I've weighed the alternatives and have decided to declaw". When I got Hailey I wasn't doing a jig to the thought of declawing her. I didn't look at her and smile at the thought of taking off the nails. But I feel confident in the trained PROFESSIONAL vets., I feel confident enough in research and the experience of others that I'm doing the right thing. With that said, I am basically saying, if you don't want to answer my questions or hear about my kitty, then don't read my posts. Instead of writing posts intended only to show your "passion" about declawation and to stir up trouble, perhaps you could channel that energy into something less upsetting like, grooming your cat or responding to someone else's post who is anti-declawing. Thanks to those who responded and gave me their advice! "Priscilla Ballou" wrote in message ... In article nk.net, "Nicole" wrote: In response - Yes, I've looked at the alternatives. Soft Paws (they even come in cute colors!!), training, sprays, the other procedure that starts with a T that I can't spell (tendenoniton or something), laser surgery, nail clipping, living with it.....so I asked a breeder in the area, because I didn't want to do something that would hurt her....she told me this... "if Hailey is an inside cat, she doesn't need to protect herself (she's an only child). If declawing was so inhumane, no vet would declaw any animal." It's illegal in many countries. Animal cruelty. It took a lot of convincing, and my vet even let me watch a procedure...so we're going to go through with it. I realize that it's a VERY controversial topic, but I appreciate your advice! I'll keep ya posted! Momma-Kittenhead Oh, please don't. I don't want to hear about how you're mutilating your poor kitten. Don't you understand that you're cutting off its toes? That it's likely it'll have trouble balancing? It'll be in pain, possibly for the rest of its life? How anyone could do that to a creature they claim to love is beyond me, but then human parents main and mutilate their children. We have laws to take their children away from them. I'm just sorry no-one can take that poor kitten away from you before you do this to it. Priscilla -- Minutus cantorum, minutus balorum, minutus carborata descendum pantorum. (thanks be to topfive.com) |
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