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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!ihnp4!houxm!houxf!wbux5!akl
From: akl@wbux5.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: Cat Clawing
Message-ID: <177@wbux5.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Mar-84 21:20:39 EST
Article-I.D.: wbux5.177
Posted: Mon Mar 26 21:20:39 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 28-Mar-84 01:18:16 EST
References: <697@ihuxv.UUCP>
Organization: Central Services Organization, West Long Branch, NJ
Lines: 32

(munch! munch!)

This article contained several useful suggestions on
how to teach a cat to use a scratching post. I have in
fact used similar techniques in the past with my other
cats and had good results. However, as I said before,
my cat is DEAF. He can not hear me praise or scold him.
I tried to get him to use a scratching post for at least
several months before I took him to the vet to be declawed.
Believe me, it was not an easy decision.

As to scratching posts, I've been told by several vets that
some cats simply don't "catch on" to this idea. They may
use it occasionally, but if they have a favorite spot, they
will usually return to it again and again. Fine if it's an old
couch in the basement rec room, but what if it isn't? I think
I read somewhere that a cat is actually marking the item being
scratched with some sort of scent that is in his feet, and
I guess it's pretty difficult to remove it.

I love my cat dearly, like I have all my cats. (I've owned a total
of over 30 in the past 15 years). I don't think having a cat declawed
is a sign that you shouldn't own the pet to begin with.

-- 


	From the musical keyboard of:

	Anita K. Laux   wbux5!akl
	Bell Communications Research
	West Long Branch, NJ 07764