0108Singapore
veterinary tips for first time cat owners "The cat has stumpy feet. Extracts
from "The
Glamorous Vets, Singapore"- Sponsored by Asiahomes Internet,
$13.50/40 words/90 days, affordable internet advertisements for Owners & Realtors,
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The cat will have stumpy feet after declawing.
"I found these two adorable blue-eyed kittens without the mother at the Woodlands
kopi-tiam (coffee shop) when I walk home to my flat. I am worried that they will scratch
my living sets when I am working." said Ms Penny Chia, a well groomed slim lady
living independently.
 "My best friend
warns me that I should not declaw a cat as the feet becomes stumpy after declawing by the
vet," Penny asked and demonstrated by clenching her fists, as a boxer will do so
prior to punching the opponent. "The pad of the foot, is it cut off too, during
declawing?"
"Most likely, the operated areas had become badly infected and the whole feet had
finally shrivelled and shrunk into a stubby end," I explained.
"Will the foot pad be cut off?" Penny's impression was that claws and foot pad
all go at one time during declawing. "I am not going to let these two
kittens out of the apartment so they will not be defenceless after declawing."
A well informed young lady but very worried that the kittens will vandalise her new
leather sofa set.
"Do you know that the Housing & Development Board (HDB) does not permit cats to
be kept in the HDB apartments?" I asked. "You will have breached your lease
agreement if you keep cats," I elaborated. "The consequences may be
eviction and you will be homeless."
"Never heard of the regulation. Dogs are allowed in HDB apartments. Why not
cats?"
"Good question." I have no answer. "Maybe, it is because that
cats do wander along the corridors and upset neighbours? Why don't you hand over the stray
kittens to the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)?"
"But I hear that the kittens will be put to sleep at the SPCA within 3 days if they
don't get adopted?"
"There are too many stray kittens and no homes and 26,000 cats are said to be put to
sleep by the SPCA and the veterinary authority yearly. Probably, the SPCA can give
you more kittens."
Local domestic cats are commonly seen at kopi-tiams. These two kittens had big blue
eyes. One had black diamond spots in their body and stripes around their limbs.
Stripes round the limbs of Singapore strays are common but not the big spots of a
leopard.
"This one certainly looked like the wild civet cat in the jungles of Malaysia and it
does have some aggressive behaviour too" said I as the kitten attempted to claw me
while being examined.
"Have you seen civet cats before? I remember one case vividly. It had leopard spots
all over the body and was very aggressive as a kitten."
"I have seen civet kittens," Penny said.
"Really? Where do you see them? They are very rare!"
"Oh, I saw them in the photographs!"
Going back to the issue of declawing, Penny explained: "I will not let my cats
out of the apartment. They may not need declawing as they will be able to defend
themselves. However, I have not decided to adopt them." Penny continued:
"What are the alternatives to declawing?" asked Penny.
"Put out a scratching post. It must be stable as the cat does not like shaky types.
It must be tall enough for the cat to reach up when he scratches. Do not replace
worn out posts immediately as the cat has its scent and may not use the brand new one.
Put the scratching post right where the cat starts to scratch. Once it uses
it, move it a few centimetres at a time to a more remote location."
"The kittens will have damaged my furniture by that time!" Penny exclaimed. She
was living alone and therefore nobody will be able to keep an eye on them.
"The cat deposit its scent while scratching. That is its way of marking its
territory. You can remove the cat's scent with an odour neutralizer sold in pet
shops, to prevent the cat scratching the furniture or cushions. The cat dislike
citrus odour. Hiding dried orange or lemon peels under cushions or rub wood with lemon
scented oil or spray." The was another option I offered the young lady who was
kind to stray kittens.
"Doc, these two options are of no use as the damage will have been done to my
furniture! Is it cruel to declaw cats?".
"Cat lovers think it is cruel. Declawing is used so that the cat can live
harmoniously with people. If it is either declawing or euthanasia, the cat has only
two choices, " I explained.
"If there is no infection, the feet will not become stumpy. What usually
happens is that the Owner wants the cat home immediately, to save costs of
hospitalisation," I explained. Stray cats being adopted are usually not given
the best of veterinary care in all countries.
I continued: "The bandage covering the paws after declawing may be ripped off by the
cat. The wounds in the paws get contaminated by the surrounding or licking by the cat and
become septic. The Owner usually will not check on the paws once the cat is home and
the infection bacteria destroys all tissues."
"How long will the cat need to be warded after declawing?"
"Generally three days although I personally prefer 10 days as it takes time for the
wounds to close. They are not stitched up."
"When should the kitten be declawed?" Penny wanted to know.
"The younger the better, but there is the risk of death from anaesthesia as less than
two-month old may not be able to take anaesthesia. If they are declawed at six weeks old,
the wounds are very small compared to those of a six-month old. Much depends on the
Owner's willingness to take the risk."
Penny left without making any decision, after consultation. She represented a new
generation of more animal caring Singaporeans. Lots of reference books and
information at the click of a mouse via the Internet. It was a pleasure to meet such
a well informed Owner.
 The costs
of surgery and hospitalization still play a very important part, although the average
income level of Singaporeans have increased in the past decade.
There are lasers used to declaw cats in the United States of America. There will be
few Owners keen to pay for the higher costs of surgery, so few if any vets will declaw
cats with lasers.
"The foot becomes a
stump" stories are part of the BE KIND TO PETS COMMUNITY PROJECT, supported by
Asiahomes Internet.
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