Watch this clip and then read this article…
The CatAWhack Crew Purrforms "Free Your Mind - Free Felines!"
We’ve laid the scratch down! I bet you didn’t know that The CatAWhack Crew is also musically feline inclined. We took En Vogue’s “Free Your Mind”, released in 1992, and gave it our own new special scratchin’ interpretation. Play the YouTube video while singing our lyrics.
“Purrrejudice, scratched a song about it
Like to hear it? Here it go
Free Felines!
I have claws loaded, all four paws
It doesn’t mean that I’ll do harm to ya, no no
I like a scratchin’, like scratchin’ posts
That doesn’t mean that I’m out scratchin’ folks no no no
Oh my forgive me for scratchin’ here, no
You should have placed a scratchin’ surface right there yea yea
I might scratch another chaise or carpet
It doesn’t mean that I won’t scratch other options
Why oh why must it be this way
Before you declaw me you gotta
Learn how to see me, I said
These claws are mine and don’t take them from me
Be feline kind, don’t be so hasty
Free your mind and the rest will follow
Be feline kind, don’t be so shallow
So I’m a kitteh scratch things and dash
That really doesn’t mean that my behavior’s bad, oh
So why amputate me and change my life
Because you don’t think the price is high for me
I can’t scratch without being shamed, no
You changed my life before I learned what to do, ow
Oh now attitude, why even bother
I can’t change your mind, and now I’m permanently altered
Why oh why must it be this way?
Before you dismiss me you gotta
Learn how to see me, I said
These toes are mine and don’t take them from me
Be feline kind, don’t be so hasty
Free your mind and the rest will follow
Be feline kind, don’t be so shallow
Free Felines!
Why oh why must it be this way?
Before you dismiss me you gotta
Learn how to see me, I said
These claws are mine and don’t take them from me
Be feline kind, don’t be so hasty
Free your mind and the rest will follow
Be feline kind, don’t be so shallow
Free your mind!”
Have other lyrics about cat claw retention? Land that scratch on our Facebook or Twitter Page. You can also leave a scratch below this post.
Scratch On Felines…Scratch On!
It’s important to us that we provide you with information that will help you make the best decisions in the care of your feline family members. That’s why we’re happy to provide an article by L. Kathleen Hickman, a former Veterinary Technician, who offers an inside look at declawing, what you can do to support your cat, and why it’s critical for their care and well-being.
I’ll admit I have strong feelings about feline declawing. Many people do, whether for or against; it’s an issue that’s becoming more and more controversial among many members of the cat-owning public. Others remain on the fence, unsure who and what to believe in regard to this procedure (which is also known as onychectomy or phalangectomy). If you are a person who happens to be contemplating declawing your cat and you research the subject online, it can sometimes seem as if you have landed on a battlefield, with the veterinary community telling you that most cats recover just fine from a declaw, and a growing number of animal welfare activists seeming to say that every declawed cat is condemned to a life of suffering. In my experience of working in the veterinary field for 7 years (including 2 years as a technician assisting with surgery and patient aftercare at a state-of-the-art, feline-exclusive hospital), the truth of the matter, as with most controversial issues, probably falls somewhere in between, but the risk of a life lived in chronic pain from this procedure is real and significant (see ”Physical Consequences of Declawing” by Dr. Jean Hofve at http://www.littlebigcat.com/health/physical-consequences-of-declawing/ ), and is only one of the potential negative effects of a surgery which is, in my opinion, never justified.
Many people have the misperception that cats will sleep anywhere so why invest in a bed that they’ll ignore or never use. There could be many reasons that they’re avoiding that bed you bought or made.
Consider this…You searched for that purrfect cat bed for your feline family member. Finally, you spot it online…It’s cute, cushiony, and colorful. It’s sure to be a hit with your cat. You can’t wait for it to arrive special delivery and witness the utter delight and approval of your cat.
You discover the package on the porch as you arrive home from work. You hurriedly bring it inside, unwrap it and drop it under the nose of your cat. You wait expectantly for your cat to jump in, knead the fabric, produce those approving purr sounds, and curl up for that first snooze. However, your cat sniffs the bed a few times, circles it, and then shows more interest in the box.
You breathe a heavy sigh as you try to push away the regret of spending that often $40.00 to $110.00 investment in a “cute” cat bed that simply becomes a conversation piece with guests. Your cat prefers your bed, that flower pot on the porch, that nook in the bookcase, or that sunny spot in front of the window. So what’s going on?
Your cat’s sleep location and bedding decision is determined by a highly adaptive and acute sense system – sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell.
Before we begin, we want to emphasize how important it is to not only to understand cats from a species standpoint, but also from their unique individual perspective and experience. Their sleep preferences are as wide and diverse as ours. Observation will provide the information that you need to determine your feline’s needs.
Some reasons your cat may be avoiding the cat bed that you bought:
The holidays provide great opportunities to gift furry, finned, feathered, or furless family members demonstrating our appreciation for their significance and presence in our lives. Although we know the most important gifts are those that don’t come in gift boxes, it feels great to surprise that someone special with something that will make their tail wag, their eyes light up, and get their purr motors runnin’.
We want our offering to produce excitement, inspire play, and add to their environmental enrichment, while ensuring their health, well-being and safety. We’re becoming more thoughtful and conscientious about the gifts that we provide the ones that we cherish.
Cattress Mattress and Purrfectplay offer products that are:
- Made in the USA
- Composed of Organic Natural Fibers like Cotton, Wool, and Hemp
- Free of Synthetic or Reprocessed Plastics
- Free of dyes and toxins
- Durable
- Sustainable and Fair Trade
If you don’t buy from us, here are some great suggestions provided by our friends at Purrfectplay.com for finding those earth friendly and furkid safe toys that you can feel good about.
1. Check the label – WHERE was it made? Toys made in other countries like China
have been found to contain heavy metals and toxic chemicals.
2. Stay aware of any recalls and visit pet-related news sites to learn breaking news on toxic pet toys and pet products.
3. Check the label – WHAT is the toy made of? Avoid all synthetics/plastics.
Try to buy certified organic or natural fiber toys.
4. Check the label again for company information. Companies who are concerned about our environment will say what they are doing to help. Support the good guys!
5. Smell and touch the toy. Pet toys should not have a strong chemical smell and shouldn’t feel weird.
6. Avoid heavily dyed toys. Fabric dyes often contain heavy metals and strong chemicals.
7. Avoid toys that have been treated with fire retardants or stain guard.
8. Is the toy inexpensive? If so, the workers may have worked in sweat shop conditions. Sweat shop conditions are rarely earth-friendly.
We hope the following suggestions help you find that purrfect gift while keeping you and yours healthy and happy during the holiday season and throughout the new year!
Wishing you a Happy Holiday, a Meowy Christmas and a Waggy New Year!
Pamela Wheelock
Purrfectplay
Bret Glass
Cattress Mattress
Many people declaw their cats without really knowing what it is. Use this veterinarian questionnaire to be informed! The questions are essential and the answers may change your mind…
Do the CatAWhack Scratch!
We Say Knick Knack CatAWhack
Give That Cat a Throne
We say Knick Knack CatAWhack
Scratchin’ Up Your Home
We Say Knick Knack CatAWhack
Leave the Claws Alone
We Say Knick Knack CatAWhack…
Get a CatAWhack!
Your Cat Needs a Purrsonalized Space
It’s No Wonder He’s Scratchin’ Up In Your Place
Get A CatAWhack, Hey What Do You Say?
Cats Have Claws, They Were Built That Way!
Your Cat is Just Tryin’ to Mark Out Some Room
Run Around Your Mattress Like ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM
The Boundaries You Mark with Scratch Surfaces They Prefer
Will Keep Claws Off of Your Furniture!
Hey Ho, Paws Up, Let’s Go!
Hey Ho, Claws Out, Scratch Low!
Scratch, Scratch…Let the Cat Scratch
Scratch, Scratch…Let the Cat Scratch
Scratch, Scratch…Let the Cat Scratch
Scratch a CatAWhack!
Don’t Give Your Cat A Whack for Scratching… ABSOLUTELY NOT!… Give a CatAWhack for Scratching!
We use the term “Cat Scratch Reconditioning” to explain the process of redirecting natural, healthy cat scratch practice from “claws off” scratch surfaces to “claws on” designated scratch surfaces within a shared home environment with the use of pawsitive reward and reinforcement through repetition.
So what is the basis of Cat Scratch Reconditioning?
Let’s start by clarifying what IT ISN’T:
Cat Scratch Reconditioning IS NOT about imposing your will on another being; it is not about demanding that another being change to suit your needs or make you more comfortable at the expense of their own comfort; it is not about a hierarchal relationship in which you are the top cat roosting on a perch of superiority; it is not about ‘training’ a being to purrform on demand; it is not about another relenting to your control in order to avoid a negative consequence; it is not about ‘breaking another beings spirit’ in order to make them subservient; it is not about becoming the Top Cat, Leader of the Pride, King Kindle, Clowder Commander, Lord Litter or Princess Pounce; it is not a game of power and intimidation; it is not meant to be a tug of war to determine whether human or feline is ‘in control’.
What IT IS:
Cat Scratch Reconditioning IS about greeting your cat on a platform of equanimity; it’s about having an understanding of your feline family member and the species-specific needs associated with health, well-being, and thriving; it’s about having an appreciation for their purrescence, their contribution, and their unique expression; it’s about working WITH your cat in creating a mutually beneficial home environment that addresses the species-specific needs associated with you both; it’s about providing inspurration, incentives, and rewards that are linked to coordination and behavior; it’s about developing pawsitive associations between you, behavior, outcomes, and them; it’s about supporting the natural inclinations of your cat, their pawticular purreferences, and their unique purrsonalities; it’s about embracing the reality that cats scratch as a natural, healthy form of communication, hygiene, exercise, and play; it’s about taking that knowledge and providing strategically placed scratch outlets throughout the home that provide them with an opportunity for expression; it’s about providing them with consistent assistance in identifying and utilizing the scratch surfaces that were designed and designated with them in mind; it’s about integrating natural cat scratching behavior into the home environment in the interest of claw retention and interior preservation; it’s about creating, discovering and utilizing resources, products and information that support claw retention initiatives; it’s about mapping out purrsonal space, setting boundaries, and assisting each home inhabitant in establishing their ‘place’ within the family structure; it’s about the purrfect collaboration where human and feline actually SEE each other and establish a form of interaction, interdependence, and coexistence that benefits both.