The Cats of Claw Hill
by Leah
(England)
The Cats of Claw Hill is a drama about some cats from Claw Hill in Scotland. It seems to be narrated in the same style as desperate housewives in Wysteria Lane focusing on cat gossip, families, affairs etc.
I enjoyed it as it's humorous but also very informative.
My ears pricked up when I heard the narrator talking about one of the cats scratching a gatepost. More interestingly the narrator went on to explain that it is vital for cats to do this; it's natural behaviour. Scratching removes the claw husks and also stretches the cats muscles which is essential for the cats well being.
So I imagine this programme has been thoroughly researched? So then its fact that scratching is natural behaviour. Its also fact that scratching a post stretches a cats muscles. Well the point I'm trying to make is that all pro-declawers especially vets are technically calling the producers of this programme liars. After all how many times have we heard that cats don't need their claws? How many times have we heard that scratching is bad behaviour as opposed to essential and natural behaviour?
I also recently signed a petition to bring to justice the animal abusers who 'took care' of the animals in a research lab in America. They took care of them all right; allegedly slamming them around cages, throwing bleach over them, and in the case of cats 'twisting and pulling at their claws trying to rip them from SENSITIVE PADS'. Seems the authorities felt that closing the laboratory down was punishment enough however PETA thought otherwise and wants the perpetrators bought to justice. I think so too.
These are just 2 high profile instances where it has been highlighted that a cats paws are sensitive and that they DO need their claws. How long therefore do de-claw vets think they can not only get away with torturing cats but also calling us liars and also insulting our intelligence? Not only us but high profile anti-declaw vets, documentary makers and animal campaigners? While we're on the subject of PETA does anyone know if they've ever campaigned any American politicians? or challenged the AVMA? No me neither that's why I've just emailed them to ask. I'll post their response when I receive it. After all declawing cats in my book is most certainly not ethical.
The point I'm trying to get across here is how many times do we have to hear these denials and ultimately all the usual excuses? especially when the truth is very much out there? What does it take for this horror to stop?
Leah