Cats and Claws 

Cats need to scratch; it's part of their natural instinctive behavior. Scratching helps to keep cats in shape and allows them to stretch and tone their muscles. If all cats lived outdoors all of the time they would exercise their scratching instinct on tree trunks, fallen logs, and other sturdy objects. However, most of us want to keep our cats safe and warm inside our homes.

 

Indoor cats sometimes scratch things we don't want them to scratch, like our sofas, beds, or other furniture. This can be upsetting to humans, since scratching can cause damage. Some people decide to declaw their cats, taking them to a veterinarian to have the first joint on each toe removed, eliminating the cat's claws altogether. This does stop cats from scratching, but if you care about your cat you will not declaw.

 

 

The Truth about Declawing 

 

• The surgery is extreme. removing not just the claw but also the first joint of the toe. It's the equivalent of taking off about an inch from the ends of all your fingers. It is painful and traumatic for the cat. While some cats do manage to adjust after this surgery, others will experience pain for years. It may cause the cat to have difficulty running fast, climbing, or jumping.
   

• Scratching is both exercise and entertainment for your cat. Depriving your cat of the ability to scratch is a lot like telling a kid he can't ever play hide and seek or baseball again. Your cat will not be able to stretch and tone her muscles in the same way as before. She may feel bored and unhappy.
   

• Scratching is a natural and instinctive behavior in cats. A declawed cat cannot understand what has happened to her and she will still attempt to scratch. She will feel frustrated when she cannot scratch or when her injured toes cause her pain. Your cat may act out her frustration in other ways, becoming destructive or crying out constantly. Your cat may also become more defensive and resort to biting when stressed because she knows she cannot defend herself with her paws.
   

• It just isn't necessary to declaw your cat. There are plenty of other simpler, kinder ways to stop her from destroying furniture. Cat lovers who choose not to declaw their cats can still save their furniture. It may take a little effort, but it is well worth it to have a happy cat and happy human. See Other Side If you feel you must have a declawed cat, consider adopting a cat that is already declawed. Millions of cats are dropped off in animal shelters every year. They desperately need good homes. Previous owners have declawed many of these cats. So instead of subjecting another cat to such a terrible procedure, help out a needy cat who has already been through the surgery.
   

 

How to Manage Scratching Behaviour

 

• Provide at least one good scratching post for your cat. An ideal scratching post should allow your cat to stretch out her entire body length. For most cats the post should be 2 and 1/2 feet tall or long. This will allow her to fully exercise her "scratching muscles." If the scratching post is too short she will look for something else to scratch, like the sofa.
   

• You may wish to try placing several scratching posts in various parts of your home. If your cat gets the urge to scratch, but has to go a long way to reach her scratching post, she might decide to give something else a try. Put the scratching posts where your cat can find them easily and has enough space to really stretch out.
   

• Try a variety of scratching posts. Most cats like posts covered with thick carpet, which is soft but also provides resistance as they drag their claws downward. Some cats also like rope-covered posts, or less expensive cardboard scratching mats, or even untreated wood. 
   

• Make the scratching post appealing to cats. Put catnip on it and be sure to praise your cat when you see her using the scratching post. The scratching post is a great spot to have fun and interact with your cat and his or her favourite toys.
   

• Replace old, worn-out scratching posts. If most of the carpet is worn away, or the post has become extremely ragged, it just isn't as much fun to use anymore.
   

• Keep your cat's claws trimmed. You can do this at home with a safe tool made just for cat's claws available at your local pet supply store. This will make your cat more comfortable, and limit scratching damage to furniture. Shorter, less sharp claws will also keep you scratch-free when you and your cat cuddle. If you don't feel comfortable trimming your cat's claws, ask your vet or groomer to show you how.

 

If your cat is already in the habit of scratching your furniture, you will have to break her of that habit. Provide attractive scratching posts while you make your furniture less appealing.

 

• One trick that has a great success rate is to temporarily cover the portions of the furtniture that your cat is using with tinfoil. Cats hate the feeling of tinfoil, and if they touch it while trying to scratch a few times, they will learn that spot doesn't feel good. Try taking it off after a couple of weeks, and hopefully by then your cat will have found a much better alternative: the scratching post!
   

• Try commercial repellents: There are some commercially available cat-repellents, intended to deter cats from scratching furniture. Choose one that is safe for indoor use, non-toxic, and recommended for furniture. The repellents have a faint odor, undetectable to humans, that cats find unpleasant, so they stay away from objects that have been sprayed. Repellents work for most cats but not all.
   

• Try herbs: Some people use herbal products as safe non-chemical cat-repellents. Good choices are citrus oils or the herb rue, both of which cats dislike.
   

• Change the texture of the furniture: You can place specially designed adhesive-backed strips over the areas your cat likes to scratch. These strips, made just to discourage scratching are available in pet supply stores. They stick right on your furniture and have a slippery surface to prevent cats from sinking their claws into the upholstery.
   

• Don't tempt your cat: If you are buying new furniture, stay away from textures that cats love to scratch. A really fuzzy plush couch may be too tempting for your cat to resist. It's a little like placing a plate of brownies in front of a group of kids and expecting them not to eat them. If you have cats that tend to scratch, investing in expensive leather furniture is a recipe for conflict. Microfibre furniture tends to be less appealling.

 

If all else fails you can ask your vet to put "Soft Paws" on your cat. These are soft plastic covers that go over the sharp part of the cat's claw. They prevent your cat from damaging furniture when she decides to scratch. These are non-toxic and painless. They do, however, need to be replaced from time to time.