Alternatives to Cat Declawing

Cat declawing used to be a widely accepted method for controlling cat scratching behavior. Alternatives to cat declawing are now considered humane solutions to destructive cat scratching.

What is cat declawing? When a cat is declawed, the end portions of the cat’s toes are removed. Another method of declawing, called a tendonectomy, involves cutting the tendon to the nails. This leaves the cat without the ability to extend its claws.

Cat owners may believe that cat declawing is necessary to stop or prevent destructive cat scratching. If a cat has a habit of scratching during play, the cat owner may feel that declawing is necessary. However, when robbed of its defenses, the cat may resort to biting.

Cat declawing can cause dangerous complications and behavior problems such as infection and the decline in litter box usage. Cat declawing can cause a cat to walk differently than its natural gait which can cause long-term skeletal and joint problems. If a declawed cat becomes a stray the cat is defenseless to protect itself.

Declawing has been associated with litter box problems. After cat has been declawed, the cat often experiences a great deal of pain. A cat that is experiencing pain from declawing may have increased pain while digging in the litter box which can make the cat want to avoid the litter box.

The Humane Society and other organizations that promote the humane treatment of animals are opposed to cat declawing. There are several humane alternatives to cat declawing. A cat owner can simply trim the tips of the cat’s claws regularly.

A cat’s claws can be trimmed with a regular fingernail clippers. That cat owner can extend the claws by gently pressing on the cat’s paw. The pink part of the nail, called the quick, should be avoided as they will bleed of cut. Only the very tips of the claws need to be cut.

Scratching post can teach the cat to only scratch where appropriate. If a cat does not use the scratching posts, the cat owner may have some success with training the cat to use the scratching posts by rubbing them with catnip and placing them near places where the cat has done destructive cat scratching.

Vinyl claw covers are tiny plastic nail caps that glue onto a cat claws. Vinyl nail caps typically stay in place for about five weeks.