What are the alternatives to declawing a cat?
What are the alternatives to declawing a cat?
Alternatives to declawing a cat
Scratching can cause frustration for cat owners, but it’s a natural behavior cats use when cleaning their claws, playing, marking territory, defending themselves, stretching, and even when showing excitement. Even if your cat regularly scratches you or your belongings, there are better options than declawing.
Declawing your cat or kitten can cause pain, infections, and more behavioral problems. Alternatives to declawing a cat include using approved scratching posts, training, providing enrichment, keeping their nails trimmed, or using nail caps to cover their claws. These methods are best at addressing the root cause of scratching.
| Method | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Scratching posts | Allows the cat to clean, stretch, and mark territory safely |
| Training | Builds relationship and trust with owner |
| Enrichment | Releases energy in a healthy way |
| Trimming | Blunts claws and prevents damage |
| Nail caps | Also prevents damage; nontoxic |
What is declawing?
Declawing is a permanent surgical amputation that removes a cat’s claw and the final toe bone. This surgery seems humane to some but actually changes the way a cat stands and walks and can cause lifelong pain and other complications.
Organizations that discourage declawing include the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).
Popular alternatives to declawing
Use the following methods to address the root cause of your cat’s scratching and bad behavior. Most of the time, a cat simply needs you to tell them where to scratch and reward them when they use a scratching post properly.
Scratching posts
Place multiple appropriate scratching posts in your home to provide an outlet for your cat’s innate need to scratch. Pay attention to the materials and locations your cat likes to scratch and place similar scratchers in those areas. Scratching posts cost about $10 to $40 each.
Some cats prefer to scratch in different directions (vertically, horizontally, or at an angle), so provide a variety if you’re not sure of their preferences. Make sure the scratching posts are secure or have a stable base. If the post is wobbly, your cat may use furniture or something else instead.
Use catnip or a pheromone like Feliscratch to attract your cat to scratching posts and encourage future usage. Catnip comes in dry flakes, sprays, and oils.
Training
Train your cat to use the scratching posts by praising, petting, or giving treats every time you see them use it. Positive reinforcement is the most effective training method. You can also discourage bad behavior with deterrent sprays (usually citrus-scented), double-sided tape, or self-adhesive furniture protectors.
Remember, even fully-grown cats have the equivalent intelligence of a human 2-year-old. Try to be patient and understanding as they adapt their instincts to your expectations. You can contact a pet trainer for additional help.
If you catch your cat scratching something they shouldn’t be scratching, try not to scream, slap, or spray them with water. This usually only scares them and may damage your relationship. Instead, calmly remove them and put them near their scratching post and reward them if they use it.
Enrichment
Some cats scratch when they’re bored or stressed, so make sure your cat gets plenty of exercise, play, and interaction. Identify and remove any stressors if possible. Cat toys cost $1 to $20 each. Cat towers cost $20 to $150 and often come with attached toys and scratching posts.
You can also try using pheromones or calming sprays if you aren’t successful, even after consistent training.
Trimming
Trimming the sharp tips of your cat’s claws every 1 to 3 weeks can help keep them blunt and lessen any damage done while training. You can use a normal, human nail trimmer or a trimmer designed specifically for cats, which costs $5 to $20 on average.
It’s best to start trimming nails while your cat is still a kitten or as early on as possible to help them to be comfortable with the process. If you’re worried about getting scratched while trying to trim your cat’s claws, you can take your cat to a local cat groomer or vet instead.
Nail caps
Plastic or vinyl nail caps for cats are a bit controversial since they’re glued on, but they are effective at blocking claws from doing any serious damage. Nail cap companies like SoftPaws and Purrdy Paws use nontoxic materials that naturally fall off every 4 to 6 weeks as the cat’s nails grow out.
Claw caps cost about $10 to $20 for 40 caps, or a 4- to 6-month supply. They come in many different colors and sizes.
You can use nail caps temporarily as a supplemental aid while training and then stop using them when your cat stops scratching undesired surfaces.
Risks of declawing a cat
Declawing causes many different physical, emotional, and behavioral side effects that impact a cat’s quality of life:
Decreases healthy behaviors like playing and climbing
Can cause anxiety or depression
Removes the cat’s ability to defend itself
Increases likelihood of biting
Changes the way the cat stands
Can cause arthritis, chronic bone pain, or numbness
Can result in infections or surgery to remove regrown claws
Causes bad litter habits due to pain or discomfort
Often results in spraying urine to mark territory
FAQs about declawing alternatives
Why would someone declaw a cat?
Some cat owners declaw their cats to protect their furniture or belongings, family members, or other cats from scratching. Unfortunately, declawing does not address the behaviors behind the scratching and doesn’t help long-term.
The average cost of declawing a cat is $500 to $1,500.
Is it illegal to declaw a cat?
Declawing cats is illegal in the U.K., Brazil, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and many other countries. In the United States, it’s banned in Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, New York, and these cities:
Austin, Texas
Denver, Colorado
Madison, Wisconsin
Pittsburgh and Allentown, Pennsylvania
St. Louis, Missouri
Berkley, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Culver City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Monica, and West Hollywood, California.
What is the best alternative to declawing a cat?
The best method ultimately depends on your routine and how much energy you’re willing to spend on training your cat. If you’re at home a lot, you can spend more time positively reinforcing their usage of scratching posts.
If you’re away from home a lot or don’t have time, you may gravitate towards using nail caps or furniture protectors to get short-term results.
Questions to ask a vet or trainer
You should only consider declawing as a last resort. If your training efforts have been unsuccessful so far, ask your vet or a trainer these questions:
What else can I do to avoid declawing my cat?
Can you recommend any products that might be able to help?
What could be causing this scratching?
Are there any side effects associated with calming sprays or catnip?
What barriers can I use to physically block my cat from scratching furniture?
Are citrus sprays effective? Are they harmful?
My cats keep fighting and scratching each other. How do I stop this behavior?
Is my cat scratching my belongings on purpose?
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