Fuzzbucket Flyer Fuzzbucket Farm Cat Rescue & Sanctuary Volume 2, Issue 2 • April 2015 Why Spay or Neuter Your Cat he problem of cat overpopulation is a Despite some owners’ fears, spaying and global one and requires a solution on a neutering will not alter their cat's basic Tglobal scale. But like every journey that personality – except many males will be less begins with a single step, this particular journey aggressive and more docile. Their playfulness, must begin with every cat owner in every general activity levels, excitement, and community, town and city in the country. vocalization will remain the same. Although Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) is the neutered males and spayed females may gain surgical removal of a female cat's ovaries and weight due to decreased roaming and other uterus, while neutering (castration) sexual behavior outdoors, keeping is the removal of a male cat's them active indoors and managing testicles. To minimize discomfort their weight through diet will keep and pain, both procedures are this potential problem under performed under general anesthesia. control. Most cats are back to their “normal” Spaying and neutering selves within a few days, the surgery cats before the age of six months is site usually heals within two weeks, growing in popularity and the and any skin stitches are removed by your vet at benefits to their health and well-being are well a follow up appointment. For documented. Females can be spayed around 5 trap/neuter/release cats, their stitches are months of age and males around 4 months as absorbable and therefore they do not need a long as both testicles are present. Spayed females follow-up vet visit. Before any activity, male are less likely to develop breast cancer and won’t cats need at least 4-5 days of downtime (no be at risk for either ovarian or uterine cancer. jumping), and females need at least 10-12 days of Neutered males won’t develop testicular cancer, downtime so sutures do not rupture. and without the need to roam, their risk of being Did you know that in injured or infected by other cats seven years, an unspayed female is drastically reduced. And and unneutered male cat (and Time spent with males neutered prior to puberty their offspring, if none are spayed (six months) won’t develop the or neutered) can result in the cats is never large head and thick skin of births of a staggering 781,250 wasted intact males. Early spaying and kittens? neutering may also prevent And the inevitable -- Sigmund Freud problem behaviors before they outcome? Hundreds of thousands occur and may either eliminate of cats being euthanized each year through no or reduce certain behaviors in older cats. fault of their own. Why? Because they are the Imagine if every conscientious cat tragic, but avoidable, result of over breeding and owner in every community, town and city in the overpopulation. Why? Because there are too few country took responsibility for spaying and shelters to house them and too few homes to neutering their family pets. Imagine what we, as either foster or adopt them. Why? Because there part of the global community, could accomplish are still too many cat owners unwilling to spay then. and neuter their family pets. Both intact male and female cats may Article written by Nomi Berger. Nomi is the best selling author try to escape their homes in order to roam of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of outside. Neutering your male will eliminate roaming, urine spraying, and fighting with poetry and hundreds of articles. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, neighborhood cats. Spaying your female will Canada with her adopted Maltese, Mini, and now devotes all eliminate the estrus or “heat" behavior of of her time volunteering her writing skills to animal rescue yowling that attracts and invites mounting by organizations throughout Canada and the USA. roaming males. Subscription or volunteer info: Email [email protected] wte.rescuegroups.org Fuzzbucket Flyer The Downside of Declawing Cats ♦ ARTICLE BY NOMI BERGER ♦ ike many cat owners, you may be fed Because a declawed cat must wear bandages on Lup with finding scratch marks on its paws until the incisions heal, exercise must everything from your floors and furniture to be limited for at least one month and cat litter your curtains and comforters, cushions and replaced with shredded newspaper to keep clothes. And skin. litter granules from embedding themselves in But before you consider resolving the the healing tissue. Your vet may prescribe problem by choosing declawing as your only medications to help with the pain, and you solution, be advised that declawing your cat is must monitor your cat carefully for swollen NOT a matter of solely removing its claws. paws, bleeding and a reluctance to walk, as Nor is it as simple a procedure as a manicure, well as any changes in appetite and behavior. or in this case, a pedicure. While some cats exhibit no changes in In fact, it is a serious SURGICAL personality after being declawed, others may procedure that requires a general anaesthetic. become anxious, shy, or show an increase in Commonly referred to as onychectomy, aggression. Feeling defenseless without their implying that only the claw is removed, the claws may cause them to bite if they feel more appropriate term should be cornered. And the pain associated with the phalangectomy, which refers to the excision of procedure may result in urinating and the toe bone itself. defecating outside the litter box. Why? Because a Because scratching cat’s claw, unlike a toenail, I believe cats to be is as innate to cats as adheres so closely to the bone purring, most experts that to remove the claws on a spirits come to earth. recommend other single foot is to remove the alternatives to the trauma last bone of all five toes. In A cat, I am sure, and dangers of declawing. other words: amputation. Not could walk on a Keep your cat’s nails only is the operation itself carefully trimmed and direct extremely painful, but so is cloud without its scratching behavior to the protracted period of inexpensive cardboard recovery. If “recovery” is coming through. scratchers, scratching posts even the proper word. And -- Jules Verne or emery scratching pads the older and/or heavier the that dull its claws or use cat is, the worse the discomfort and longer the remote aversion devices such as Scat Mats. recovery time. But if all else fails, the newest and A cat's body is uniquely designed, most popular alternative to declawing is the allowing it to move with agility and grace, and application of vinyl nail caps, available through its claws are an integral part of that design. your veterinarian or pet store. Non-toxic glue Amputating so vital a part of their anatomy binds the caps to the claws, and the caps are drastically alters the conformation of their feet, replaced when your cat sheds its claw sheaths and since cats walk on their toes, this surgery (usually every four to six weeks). actually changes the way their bodies work. While declawing remains popular in Because of this, their back and leg muscles may the United States, an ever-increasing number weaken over time, potentially leading to of countries throughout the world consider it chronic back and joint pain. Other both “inhumane” and a “form of mutilation” complications from the procedure may include (except in the most extreme cases or for postoperative hemorrhage, nerve damage, and medical reasons) and have banned the displaced bone chips that prevent proper procedure. healing. In fact, a global online campaign has Post-operative care can be complicated declared March 29 as Declaw Awareness Day. and difficult, both for you and your cat. Missed an issue? Want more copies to send to friends and family? Send an email to Wishful Thinking Endeavors: [email protected] wte.rescuegroups.org Fuzzbucket Flyer Adoptable Cat of the Quarter Diva is a doll! She and her two sisters came to us late one night when they were only two weeks old. The people who called us were desperate. A cleaning lady had found them in the sofa of an abandoned home and had put them in a bucket and left them by a stop sign. The neighbors found them when they were walking their dog and started calling around for help. Two of the kittens were doing alright, but one of them was failing due to a terrible wormy belly. We took them in, cleaned them up, fed them and loved them and they have become gems! Diva was given her name because she always had to have the bottle just right during feeding times...if the milk was a little too cool or too warm, she'd fuss....if the bottle wasn't placed at the exact angle, she'd fuss...if you didn't hold her so both front feet could grasp the bottle and both back feet and bottom were nestled in the palm of the other hand, she'd fuss. Fast forward to now, Diva still likes her attention and has grown to be a lover. She enjoys playing with your hair and she'll let you know which shampoo and conditioner she likes the best! Diva will be a wonderful, silly, loving and devoted companion! She plays alright with other cats but would probably do better in her own home or with only one other cat. Color: Fawn Tabby Current Age: 3 years 4 months (best estimate!) Housetrained: Yes Volunteer Spotlight: Mike & Kay Davis Here is a pair of incredible donors and volunteers! Mike found us when he needed help for a feral cat and her three kittens that his mom had been taking care of.