Archive for the 'proclaw-declaw debate' Category
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!
"Yo! Put yourself in my paws would ya?!"
Imagine the following scenario:
You’ve volunteered for a social experiment hosted by a nearby college or university. You agree to be isolated in a contained space for a 4 to 8 week period. The space is equipped with basic necessities such as a bathroom and a compact refrigerator with snacks and beverages as well as a few nonessential elements like a few windows overlooking campus and a couple of pieces of furniture such as a bed, desk, bean bag chair, a knotted rope hanging in the middle of the room, a light, plants, and a rubber bouncing ball. You are not provided with any communication outlets: No cell phone; No laptop; No paper; No pens or pencils; No television; No radio; No magazines; No books. However, a Research Assistant (known as RA from here on out) will check on you briefly first thing in the morning and provide you with breakfast; noon to provide you with lunch; late afternoon/early evening to provide you with supper; and around 10:00 pm before lights out leaving you to your own devices for the duration of the night.
At first, you find your accommodations to be an oasis from the accelerated pace of your life, the potential hazards and threats associated with the outside world, and the ever present noise and distractions constantly calling for your attention. The first few days are bliss. It’s nice and quiet except for the occasional sound of the air condition blowing through the duct work. The first day you snooze off and on; enjoy the warm delicious meals that are provided on schedule; and enjoy an occasional look out the window at the activity below. By day three, you’re feeling rested, refreshed and revitalized. You decide to release that pent up energy in the great room by swinging from the rope attached to the vaulted ceiling in the middle of the room. You climb up and down the rope, you swing from side to side, you challenge yourself by swinging high enough to touch an imperfection on the ceiling. You’re occupied for a few hours. Day four, you begin to incorporate the rubber bouncing ball into your day. You begin by bouncing the ball up and down, then against the wall, then challenge yourself by creating games like ‘how fast can I bounce this ball’; ‘bouncing the ball and catching under your chin or behind your neck’; or ‘throwing the ball at a target’. By day five, you’ve pulled the mattress into the large room and positioned it so you can fling yourself from the rope and onto the soft cushion. By day seven, boredom is setting in and you notice that you long for human interaction, communication, and companionship. You place your finger tips on the elevated window seal, pull yourself up and attempt to catch the attention of those passing below to no avail, they cannot see or hear you. Although you find yourself looking forward to the visits from the RA, they are brief, hurried, and you often feel like you’re being talked AT instead of talked TO. You can’t understand what the RA is saying. It’s a language you can’t understand. You attempt to make a connection by noticing and responding to body movements, postures, facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures.
The American Veterinary Medical Association {AVMA} is holding a 4 day convention from July 16th-19th in St. Louis, Missouri with declawing being one of the topics of discussion.
Below is the current policy regarding the declawing of cats. The CatAWhack Crew aligns with the points indicated in GREEN and provides additional commentary within the policy indicated by italicized text: