Here is
a list of pet websites for information, tips, toys and overall care
Tampa Bay Veterinary Emergency Service
218 East Bears Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613
(813) 265-4043
A
list of Veterinarians and other recourses
http://www.tampabayhrs.org
Online pet medication
http://www.1800petmeds.com/
Basic doggie care
http://www.purinaone.com/dogcare.asp
Kitty care
http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/tips.htm
Nice stuff for kitties
http://www.catinthebed.com/index.htm
Very cute site for kitties
http://www.privatehand.com/infinite/
Some cute furniture for kitties and doggies
http://www.catsplay.com/
More cute stuff for doggies
http://www.glamourdog.com/index.html
Doggie toys
http://www.dogtoys.com/
Great forum for chinchillas and Hedgehogs
http://www.chins-n-quills.com/forums/
Exotic pet care
http://www.petvets.com/petcare/exotics.html
Great site for exotic supplies
http://www.exoticnutrition.com/
Quick note on declawing
Scratching
Furniture/Declawing
First,
please note that declawing your cat so he won't scratch your furniture is cruel and inhumane. It is the equivalent of cutting
off your finger up to the first knuckle. There can be serious physical and psychological effects.
Instead,
you should train your cat to use a scratching post. Other alternatives include a quick, painless trimming of his claws (which
you can do at home using special clippers) or covering the claws with soft sheaths (which you can purchase relatively inexpensively).
Scratching is one of your
cat's most ingrained instincts. Keep a scratching post near where the cat usually sleeps or, if he has already picked out
a corner of your sofa, keep it next to that chosen spot. You may need to train your cat to use his scratching post. Do
not pick him up and put his paws on the scratching post (that will only make him want to avoid it). Make the scratching
post appealing to him: rub catnip on it or mist it with catnip spray; drape a heavy string (a long leather shoelace works
great) over it and wiggle it to catch his interest; put treats on the very top.
Important: Invest
in a scratching post that is 24" or 30" tall, with a sturdy base - your
cat may be using the arm of the sofa because he can stretch higher
than his scratching post will allow. I recently found THE best scratching post for our cats!
It's made out of rough sisal (NOT the rope, a weave!). It's tall (29 inches), doesn't fall over, doesn't wobble, and
doesn't slide across the floor. And, of course, the best part: all the cats love it. It's called the TopCat Sisal Scratching Post.
A
few cats don't like scratching on a vertical post, but will scratch willingly on a flat scratching pad. If your cat prefers
a flat surface, you can either buy one of the cardboard scratching boxes (typically available from mail order or pet stores),
or buy a scrap of plywood and a carpet remnant, large enough to fold around onto the back of the plywood. Cut the corners
on an angle, fold the carpet remnant over the wood, and tack the carpet on using carpet tacks or heavy-duty staples.
Sometimes
changing to a scratching post that is covered with sisal rope or a different texture will kindle his interest in the post,
as well.
An
additional idea, one that worked well when there were more vacant rooms in the house, is to follow the instructions above
for a flat-surface scratching pad, then mount it on the wall at a convenient height for the cat, in a hallway or in the laundry
room.
Other
solutions: If he's scratching wood furniture, rub strong-smelling furniture polish into it. For sofa and chair sides, cover
the edges of the sofa with heavy plastic (available at your local fabric store - typically used to cover footstools or protect
tablecloths - you can buy twist-pins while you're there to hold the place neatly in place) or aluminum foil (use velcro or
double-stick tape to hold in place). Or spray a cloth thoroughly with one of the sprays formulated for keeping a cat off the
furniture, and pin it to the sofa, chair, or your speakers (don't spray directly onto the furniture). Or, put strips of self-adhesive
velcro (loop side out) on the favored scratching spots. If all else fails, every time you see him actively clawing the furniture,
spray him lightly from a bottle of water (do this only when he is actually scratching, not when he is approaching or
leaving the furniture).