Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mit-eddie.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!harpo!ihnp4!mit-eddie!zzz From: zzz@mit-eddie.UUCP (Mike Konopik) Newsgroups: net.pets Subject: Re: Cat Clawing Message-ID: <1576@mit-eddie.UUCP> Date: Sun, 8-Apr-84 10:20:12 EST Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.1576 Posted: Sun Apr 8 10:20:12 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 11-Apr-84 01:21:23 EST References: <697@ihuxv.UUCP> Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA Lines: 36 I hate to fuel this (now old) conversation, but I have to add one thing here. We've had cats since I was too young to remember, and of the 7 cats we've had, we were able to train 4 to scratch on this bizarre log we had. The fifth we gave away before we had a chance, and after we moved, naturally losing the magic log, we lost. We tried 4 (count 'em, 4) different scratching posts over a 3 year period and used just about every documented means to try to train the two cats we have now to use the post. But NOOO! They just LOVE the corner of the couch. After 3 frustrating years, my folks decided to re-cover the furniture (quite costly) and have the cats' front claws removed. We wouldn't have even considered it if the cats weren't total indoor creatures (no flames about this -- they don't like it outside...). You gotta realize that there are some cases where there are few alternatives. One comment to the person that removes back claws because they don't like being scratched: I find the concept similar to wanting to have a pet's eyeballs because they don't like the pet watching them. An additional note about the now de-front-clawed cats we have now: I haven't ever noticed them inconvenienced about lacking these claws (save the times they can't get a grip on the string we play with them with). In fact, one of them still hops up on the arm of the couch several times a day and "scratches" it with the empty front paws. BTW, every cat we've had was obtained from the local SPCA, which requires new owners to neuter the pet soon after getting it. Not only is it more humane, but going through a week or so of a female in heat is MURDER! So unless you are a breeder, there's really few reasons for not neutering. 'Nuff said here. -- -Mike genrad!mit-eddie!zzz (UUCP) ZZZ%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC (ARPA)