The Burmese Cat: Dental Hygiene And The Declawing Debate
Your Burmese cat's teeth are as important as your own and it is important that they are taken care of. Cats who suffer from periodontal disease will have difficulty eating and may lose their teeth if they are not properly cared for. Yes, the idea of brushing your cat's teeth may seem crazy, but it is an important grooming habit you may to want consider.
Oral disease in your Burmese could appear by the time they are three years old. You will be able to see the plaque that builds up on their teeth as it will appear as a brown film starting commonly at the gum line. While there are plenty of cat treats that will help clean your Burmese's teeth, it is best not to rely just on them to ensure that the teeth get clean. You can purchase special toothpaste and a 'toothbrush' - a small rubber sheath that fits over your finger with nubs all over - to brush their teeth with. Let them taste the toothpaste and when they are kittens carefully 'brush' their teeth. You should do this a few times a week if not everyday and they will quickly get used to it. You can also feed them food that has plaque and tartar control ingredients in it if they will eat it.
The declawing debate has been raging on for years, and if you are comfortable with the idea of removing the front claws from you Burmese cat, then that is your choice. There have been plenty examples of cats who have been declawed who have gone on to live active lives while still remaining outside. Cats can protect themselves without their front claws. If you've ever been playfully slapped by your cat, you will know that they pack a punch.
Declawing, contrary to popular argument, does not disfigure your cat. Basically the vet will remove the ligaments and tendons around the first joint of each 'finger', take out the claw, and then return the ligaments and tendons to their proper place. If you've ever been around a declawed cat and noticed that they still 'kneed' with their paws, then you have witnessed how returning the ligaments and tendons to their proper place still allows your cat to have the proper range of motion in their paws.
If you would prefer not to declaw your Burmese cat, there are alternatives available to you. Make sure they have a cardboard, carpet, wood, or sisal scratching post for them to claw on. Rub some catnip on it every so often if they respond to it to keep them coming back to it and not to your furniture. Cats love to stretch in the morning, so keep an additional cat post by their favorite place to sleep. Finally, trim your cat's nails every week or place non-toxic nail caps over the claws.
