Don’t want to declaw your kitty? Look into these safe options!
As a cat owner, you know that scratching is a normal, instinctive cat behavior. Cats need to scratch on surfaces to remove excess claw material, express emotions, mark their territory, and maintain their nail shape. There might be reasons to declaw your kitty, but you can keep yourself and your cat safe with options that both of you prefer.
Behavioral Training
This method is more effective for kittens than adult cats, and it involves redirecting a misbehaving cat to a toy or scratching post. Remember, scratching is normal for cats. They don’t know right from wrong. So, you don’t want to discourage your cat from practicing it.
Instead, encourage good behavior with a cat treat. Make the areas you don’t want your kitty to scratch undesirable. Items that are unpleasant for cats to scratch are double-sided tape, aluminum foil, or spray deterrents.
Frequent Nail Trimming
Trimming your cat’s nails short is another option but will not deter a cat from using them. If something about their nails is bothering them, it means they are seeking to sharpen or grind down their nails and choose to use your furniture and other surfaces as an emery board.
To avoid this, learn how to clip your pet’s nails with a good pair of cat nail trimmers. A veterinarian or a cat groomer can assist you if you are uncomfortable doing this.
Nail Caps for Soft Claws
If behavioral training does not seem to be working, consider getting your cat vinyl nail caps to help lessen the damage. These cat nail caps are applied over your kitty’s claws using surgical glue and include different colors such as clear, glitter, and glow in the dark. The set of caps sheds naturally as your cat’s claws grow (4-6 weeks). Since most owners do not want to declaw their kitty, they opt for this routine solution to nail care.
Toys/Scratching Post
Another alternative to not declaw your cat is making sure the equipment you buy has your pet’s approval. Examples of toys or objects include soft stuffed animals, cardboard boxes, catnip-filled soft toys, plastic rolling balls (with or without bells inside), and much more. Keep a variety of toys accessible for your cat to enjoy daily.
Lastly, cats are natural predators and explorers. When cats are not engaged in an environment full of outlets for their playful energy, they may experience stress, and scratching can become destructive. The last thing you want to do is to declaw your kitty!
We Would Love the Opportunity to Care for Your Furry Friends!
Alexander Animal Hospital is a full-service animal hospital located in Severna Park, Maryland, serving the Severna Park, Pasadena, and Arnold Areas. Our goal is educating clients on the needs of their pets and understanding the importance of individualized veterinary care in order to strengthen the human-animal bond between owners and their pets.
We understand you have a choice when deciding on the care for your pets, and we strive to provide you with unparalleled services including wellness exams, vaccines, lost pet microchip ID, dental care, surgical services, digital radiography, and in-hospital laboratory services and diagnostics. Other highlights of Alexander Animal Hospital are the separate cat and dog waiting and exam rooms, as well as after-hours on-call emergency services.
Please take a look around our website and then give us a call at 410-777-8678 to set up an appointment.
We’re social! Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for all the latest updates!