Declawing Alternatives - What to Try First
Several Options Available to Stop Cats Scratching Furniture
Sep 18, 2009
Declawing alternatives do exist. Many cat owners would rather try alternatives to declawing, instead of resorting to surgical declawing as the first option to stop cats scratching furniture.
These methods do require time and persistence. Often the success of declawing alternatives depends on the personalities of both the owner and the kitty, along with how much time the owner has, and how new or expensive the furniture is. If the owner is very concerned about expensive or antique pieces, it may be best to keep the kitty in another part of the house.
Training Cats to Stop Scratching the Furniture
Cats are going to scratch. The trick is to get a cat to scratch where the owner wants him to, not in a location of the cat's choosing. Anyone who has ever dealt with a feline understands that this is much easier said than done.
Cats are sneaky. If a person yells at the pet, or makes noise, or squirts him with water every time Kitty attacks the couch, Kitty soon figures out that it's best to wait until said person is out of sight before clawing the sofa. Making noise or using a squirt gun is much more effective if there's a way to do it without the cat seeing the source.
Most owners have tried a cat scratching post, but often the cat prefers the fabric on the couch. If possible, try putting fabric similar to the furniture upholstery on the scratching post. Cats really seem to like fabric that has a vertical drag to it.
Try covering the place the kitty keeps clawing with aluminum foil, plastic, or double-sided tape, to make it less attractive to her. Or rig several balloons so that the kitty will pop them when she tries to scratch the couch. Hopefully the noise will deter her from coming back to scratch the spot again.
Cat Nail Clipping
This is an art that most people aren't familiar with, but it's not that difficult, especially if the owner has help. A good sharp pair of cat nail clippers will be required. Investing in a good pair makes the job easier on both kitty and owner.
Have one person hold the cat, while the other gently squeezes the cat's paw to make the kitty extend her claws. Look at the nail, and identify the "quick," or pink area at the base of the claw. Using the clippers, trim off the end of the clear area, avoiding the quick. Unfortunately, if the cat is black, it's much harder to see the quick. In this case, just trim as little as possible off the end.
Watch this video on cat nail clipping to see exactly how to do this. It will be necessary to retrim the cat's claws as they grow out, often every couple of weeks or so.
Nail Caps for Cats
These are just what they sound like: acrylic nail covers that are glued right to the cat's claws. Popular brands are Soft Paws and Soft Claws.
These caps do need to be replaced as they come off, and they also need to be replaced as the cat's claws grow. These feline nail caps are quite effective in preventing most cats from scratching furniture, but there are a few cats who are able to keep clawing the sofa, regardless of the nail caps. It's definitely worth trying them.
If a person is totally opposed to declawing a cat, there are alternatives to declawing available,. These alternatives do require time and patience, but they can work quite well.
Source:
Declawing and its Alternatives
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