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Scratching, Nail Trimming and Declawing
Why do cats scratch furniture?
Cats scratch to remove worn parts of their nails and to mark their
territory with scent and visual markings. They choose scratching
sites that have short-napped surfaces, won't tip over, and tend
to be near sleeping areas. As far as cats are concerned, couches
and upholstered chairs fit these criteria nicely. Most cats will
use a scratching post instead, if their owner teaches them to use
it.
Tips for buying or making a scratching post
The post should be tall enough for the cat to completely stretch
out and have a base wide or heavy enough that it won't tip and scare
the cat. Short-napped carpeting, the burlap backing of carpeting,
upholstery material, sisal rope, tree bark or cardboard are good
surfacing materials.
Post alternatives include: nailing a log to a base, or tacking the
covering to a door, corner of a wall or other vertical surface.
Spray the post with catnip or attach a catnip toy to it with heavy
elastic to entice the cat to play there. Training your cat to use
the post
To prevent inappropriate scratching during training, temporarily
cover scratched areas on your furniture with a less desirable scratching
material such as heavy plastic, or confine your cat when you can't
watch it. Put the post near the place your cat scratches or sleeps.
Praise the cat when it uses the post. You can try leaving a treat
on the post as a reward, too.
If you see your cat scratching elsewhere, squirt it with a water
bottle or make a loud noise. The cat will associate this negative
experience with the furniture instead of you. Then place the cat's
feet on the post and praise it. As the post gets scented by the
cat's feet and torn up, it will become more attractive to the cat.
Once your cat is using the post consistently, you can move the post
a few feet each day until it is located in a more convenient place.
Nail trimming
Trimming your cat's nails every two weeks can minimize damage to
furnishings during training. Extend the cat's nail by pressing on
its toe pad, then use human or pet nail trimmers to snip off the
hooked end of the claw. Avoid cutting the quick (a pink area in
the center of the nail) that contains a nerve and blood vessel.
Your vet or CCHS staff can demonstrate this for you. Temporary plastic
nail caps, are another option you can discuss with your vet.
Declawing
Declawing is an operation that amputates the last bone in each
toe. There is pain and risk of infection during recovery. Because
of these factors, CCHS recommends that declawing be considered only
after you have tried to train your pet to use a scratching post.
If you absolutely must have a declawed cat, we encourage you to
adopt one that has already been declawed. CCHS almost always has
declawed adults available for adoption. Owners of declawed cats
should keep the following points in mind: Declawed cats must be
kept indoors for their safety. This may be difficult to ensure if
there are small children in the home. If cornered or provoked, a
declawed cat may bite to defend itself, since it can't scratch.
This may also be a concern if there are young children in the family.
Cats and especially kittens, declawed or not, may cause damage by
running and jumping. Persons intolerant of any damage should carefully
consider whether a cat is the right pet for their household.
Humane Education Committee
Champaign County Humane Society,
Urbana, IL 61801 USA
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