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From: molter@eosp1.UUCP (Larry Molter)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: RE: Please neuter, don't declaw
Message-ID: <747@eosp1.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 27-Mar-84 09:30:35 EST
Article-I.D.: eosp1.747
Posted: Tue Mar 27 09:30:35 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 28-Mar-84 01:22:45 EST
Organization: Exxon Office Systems, Princeton, NJ
Lines: 54


I agree wholeheartedly on all accounts. I had our female
spayed as soon as she was old enough: I didn't want a litter
of kittens, nor did I want a howling queen. And, contrary
to popular opinion, spaying does no psychological harm to the 
kitten: They don't miss having the sex drive.

Our male was castrated when he was seven months old (the minimum
age required by the vet). Before the operation, he was cool
to humans, roamed more than we would have liked, and was developing
*very* pungent urine. Now, two months later, he has become much more
affectionate (he seems to be a different cat sometimes), and stays
close to home.

What irks me about cat population control are the people that
complain about the costs of the operations. I find no basis
for that argument. The spay cost us $35 and that included a stay
overnight at the vet. The castration was performed during
clinic hours and cost about $25. At these prices, I considered
it a bargain.

Now, on to the issue of declawing.

Both of our cats are not declawed, spend a lot of the time
in the house, and have done minimal damage to the furnishings.
Some scratches are to be expected. A cat owner has to be understanding
of the cat's need to pull and scratch.

We've had good luck with a scratching post, at least as far as
our female cat goes - she runs to it whenever she has the urge.
The male is a different story: He'll pull the rug DIRECTLY IN FRONT
OF THE POST! Well, it's a crappy rug anyway.

It's selfish people that have their cats declawed. They don't want
to have to deal with the pulls and scratch marks. Well, there are
pet repellants that DO work. We use it with good results.

Talk about selfishness, let me relate a story (short) involving
a co-worker and her new kitten -

It seems that her new arrival is a devil. It claws up everything
but it especially likes the grills of her NEW speakers. So...
it is decided that it's claws have to be removed. But not just
the front ones - the REAR claws have to go to! And you know why?
Because "when we play, I get all scratched up.". Do you believe
it? Doesn't this person realize (and she doesn't - I've asked)
that the poor cat needs its rear claws for scratching itself
(you know, if it has an itch?). As a result of this issue,
I am not on good terms with this alleged "cat lover".


	Larry