CAT SCRATCHING: ALTERNATIVES TO DECLAWING

By Nancy Otten, Animal Health Technologist

Why do we need alternatives to declawing?

We need alternatives due to the severity of the surgery.  The cat’s claw is not a separate entity that can easily be snipped off the end of the cat’s toe.  It is actually part of the last bone in their toe.  If you remove the claw only, it will grow back because the germinal cells for the claw are in the bone.  To permanently remove the claw, we need to amputate the cat’s toe at the last joint to get rid of that last bone.  One amputation would be bad enough but the cat has to undergo ten amputations at once.  In many countries the surgery is considered cruelty to animals and it is illegal to perform it. 

Can there be complications to the surgery?

There can be several complications to the surgery.  When the vet is cutting the toe at the joint, there is a chance that some of the bone is left behind.  If that happens, a misshapen claw can grow back which may be painful.  Bone fragments left behind can be a source of infection and may prevent healing.  Cats may also end up with chronic back and joint pain.  This is because cats walk on their toes, not on the pads of their feet.  When we cut off the ends of their toes, they have to adjust their gait.  This can lead to back pain.  Also, without their front claws, they can’t properly stretch their back muscles.  There are also psychological complications to the surgery.  Because their feet will be so tender, scratching around in the litter box will be painful.  Some cats may associate the pain with the litter box and may choose to relieve themselves elsewhere.  Because scratching is a form of communication for them, when you take that away they may choose to use urine to mark their territory.  Some cats also become biters. 

So what can be done to prevent a cat from scratching the furniture?

Properly located and designed scratching posts are the answer.  There are four requirements that cats have for their scratching posts:

1. It has to be tall enough so that the cat can fully stretch when scratching.  This way they can fully stretch their back muscles.  Also, cats scratch to mark their territory and their goal is to leave their mark as high up as possible.  So if they can’t get up high enough on the scratching post, they’ll find somewhere else.
2. The scratching post needs to be stable.  If it doesn’t have a nice solid base and tends to wobble, the cat won’t use it.
3. If you make your own scratching post, don’t use the exact same materials that he presently likes to scratch.  The cat won’t understand why it’s OK to scratch the blue carpet on the post but not the blue carpet on the floor.  However, do use materials that are similar to what your cat already likes to scratch.  If your cat likes to scratch wood, make your post out of logs.  If he likes to scratch the couch, use a similar type of fabric on the post.  Be creative when building the scratching post.  You can use rope, the backside of carpet, burlap, canvas, etc.
4. The tree must be located in a high traffic area where the cat likes to hang out.  If the post is located where the cat likes to rest, he is more likely to use it when needing a stretch after waking up from his nap.  One of the reasons that cats scratch is to mark their territory so they want it to be visible.  If you put the cat tree in the corner of the basement, the cat won’t use it.  You need to locate the posts in areas where he’s already scratching and hanging out.  To facilitate this, you may need to erect more than one post. 

How do you convince the cat that he wants to use the scratching post?

It is important to make the scratching post a very fun place.  Make sure the cat gets plenty of treats when he uses it or even lies near it.  Rub catnip all over it.  Play fun games with the cat on it.  Soon the cat will see the scratching post as his favourite spot.  Also, when he scratches something he shouldn’t, make a loud noise, squirt him with water, or throw something soft at him like a rolled up sock or a foam ball.  You can also make his favourite scratching area unattractive by covering it with double-sided tape or tin foil, or spraying it with a citrus scent. Most cats find citrus odours intoleraable.

What if the cat absolutely will not use the scratching post?

If the cat will not use the scratching post, there are other alternatives.  Trimming the cat’s nails will reduce the amount of damage the cat can do with scratching.  You can also purchase a product called Soft Paws that are plastic nail caps that cover the nail so that your cat can’t scratch. 

What you must remember is that scratching is a natural and necessary behaviour for cats.  If you want to have an absolutely perfect house, don’t get a cat.  If you really love your expensive, delicate furniture, don’t get a cat.  People that live with cats have to put up with some damage.  It can be annoying but that doesn’t give us the right to mutilate the animal to suit us.