Declawing..
 
You know guys, I have learned a lot about declawing.  I guess it all
started when I inquired about adding a genet to my family.  I would never
de-claw my ferrets just because it never bothered me when I hold them or
play with them.  If I should worry about sharp things, it would be their
teeth but they have grown enough and learned not to bite hard with me.  As
for carpet digging, they don't bother with the type of carpet I have but
they have done some digging when they are at my parents with their thick
plush carpet.  If it is at the doorway where they do it, please contact
Kathy Goodhart of Goodheart's Little Buddies.  She sells these wonderful
mats that is shaped to fit on the floor between the doorway frame.  You
just have to measure the length and get the right size and the price is
very good.  Phone number is 602-465-9887 (it is always advertised in her
posts).
 
Now for the declaw debate.  You must understand that ferrets are different
from cats.  And declawing affects them differently.  Yes to those who say
that declawing is removal of the first bones (like chopping off at the
first joint of your fingers).  We cring at the thought because we use our
tips of our fingers all the time.  Ferrets use their first bones to stand
on.  If you remove those, they will be standing in a non-natural way and
this will affect them.  It is different from cats because the first part
the cats "fingers" is a small bone that sole purpose is to retract the
claws and to bring out the claws.  They do NOT use it to stand on or walk
with.  The ferrets (and some other non-retractable claw animals) DO.
 
I am not saying that it is okay to declaw cats.  My cat that I have all my
life never had been declawed because he has to defend himself when he
goes outside.  He never has used the claws on me (maybe he did when he was
kitten, but that was 15 years ago).  He is still living at my parents.
Other cats may need to be declawed if it is extensive in damaging things.
The owner will have a peace of mind and the cat will not get punished
constantly.  It is only if the cat is an indoor cat and the owner is
commented to care for it.
 
My point here is that de-clawing DOES affect the ferret and cause it to
walk and do things in a unnatural way and is very different from cats.
 
John
[Posted in FML issue 2461]