Health & Harmony Animal Hospital is one of a select few veterinary practices in all of the United States to advocate for their feline patients by choosing not to offer declawing procedures. We are proud to stand with the many animal welfare organizations who maintain a Pro-Claw stance and support the growing movement against this unnecessary procedure. Instead, we focus on how to help our clients compassionately manage their cat’s claws and how they can minimize scratching damage.
Scratching is a natural behavior for cats. It marks a cat’s territory with the release of a scent from glands on their feet; muscles in the toes and legs are also strengthened with this activity. Stretching up and scratching downward on vertical objects (like the sides of upholstered furniture) just plain feels good to a cat. While these behaviors are totally appropriate in the feline world, they may not jive with your world – which is why you have options!
Regular Nail Trimming
Keeping your cat’s nails short can help prevent injury and minimize damage to household items. Depending on your cat’s temperament, you can bring them into the hospital for regular nail trims or we are happy to teach you how to do them at home on your own.
Click here for a helpful how-to guide!
Scratching Outlets
Make sure that your cat has plenty of choices for items to scratch so they don’t end up picking your favorite chair. It is important to experiment with a variety of textures and types of scratchers to learn your cat preferences. Knowing if they prefer vertical scratching or horizontal scratching will help you provide scratchers that they will be excited to use. It is best to have several options for scratching throughout the home and keeping one nearby your cat’s preferred, yet undesirable, scratching objects such as your couch or door frame. You can use treats to reward your cat for scratching the right things and even create a positive association by putting catnip on any new scratching objects.
Soft Paws
For some people, synthetic nail caps are a great option to help minimize damage and prevent injury to human family members. These caps are painlessly glued to your cat’s nails every 4-6 weeks, depending on the cat. Most cats don’t mind wearing these caps and they will simply fall off as the nail grows out. These caps can be applied at home or at our hospital, based on your cat’s temperament and tolerance for handling.
Environmental Enrichment
If your cat seems to be scratching things excessively, they may simply be bored and need more mental stimulation in their daily activities. There are many ways you can make your home more engaging for your cat such as cat trees, feeder toys, hunting games and even clicker training.
Click here for ideas on how to enhance your cat’s environment!
What's Next
Call us or schedule an appointment online.
Meet with a doctor for an initial exam.
Put a plan together for your pet.