Cat Claw Care
I know what it’s like to have a couch as a scratching post. I bought a new couch, very expensive, and thought to myself I know my two cats will get their feel for it. I had to do the whole, “NO!” deal, then go out and buy a scratching post to put next to it. It worked for me but it doesn’t always work out that way for everyone. I even tried that repellent type spray to keep pets off the furniture but that doesn’t work and it smells funny. The cats just ignore it totally, saying yeah right!
Avoiding Snags
| Nature provided cats with ample places to keep their claws sharpened and filed down, on surfaces such as tree bark and stone. But indoors, where many cats spend their lives today, there are few claw-trimming opportunities. That’s where you come in — by keeping your cat’s claws a safe and comfortable length, and setting up a regular scratching spot. When her nails are kept clipped, their naturally pointed tips will be replaced by straight edges that cause far less damage to furnishings.How frequently do you need to clip your cat’s claws? It depends on how quickly they grow, and how much time, if any, your cat spends outdoors. Keep an eye on her claws by making a “claw inspection” part of your regular grooming sessions. If left untrimmed for too long, the claws can grow into the cat’s paw pads, causing pain and possible infection. If this happens, she will need veterinary attention — but you can easily prevent this situation by monitoring her claws and tending to them regularly. |
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- Start with a sturdy nail clipper or a clipper specially made for claw trimming. Most pet supply stores will carry them.
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- Hold your cat firmly in your lap. If your cat is squirmy, you might want to enlist someone else to help hold her while you trim.
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- Take a paw in hand and gently press the paw pad; this will make the claws come forward.
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- Before clipping, take a moment to examine the claw — note where the pinkish part (the quick) ends and the white part (the tip) begins. You want to trim only the white tip, which is made up of dead cells. Cutting this part of the claw won’t harm the cat. Keep a safe distance from the pink quick, which contains nerve endings; if there’s any doubt about how far you can go, err on the side of safety and stay very close to the tip.
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- Snip off the white tip quickly and cleanly.
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Scratching Post Options
Cats need to scratch! It’s an urge that’s programmed into them and doesn’t change, no matter how many years they live in a cozy home far from the wild. Providing your pet with a scratching post will let her express this natural urge while sparing your furniture from damage. It will also give your pet some extra exercise, especially for the upper body, and promote the natural shedding of the outer sheath of the claws.
Scratching posts come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, and may be made of or covered in several different materials, including:
- Wood
- Corrugated cardboard
- Sisal
- Carpeting
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| If your cat shows little interest in one type of post, try another that stands a different way (perhaps vertical instead of horizontal) or is made of other material. You might want to provide several posts, each stationed in a different room of your home. Whatever kind of post you choose, make sure it’s sturdy enough to stand up to your pet’s eager scratching.For a standing post, be sure the base is broad enough to keep the post from tipping over when your cat leans her weight against it while scratching. You might want to stabilize the post further by anchoring one corner of the base underneath a heavy piece of furniture, such as a couch.A corrugated-cardboard post, which is naturally lightweight, can be set inside a wooden frame to weigh it down and keep it from moving around the floor.Some posts, or their frames, can be securely mounted to a wall. Mount the post at a comfortable height for your cat to reach with her front paws while standing on her hind legs. |
| Creating “Scratch Appeal” |
- Scratch the post yourself. The sound may spark your cat’s interest in this new object and give a hint about how to use it.
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- Rub catnip over the post, working it into the scratching surface a bit. Many cats find the aroma of catnip irresistible and will follow it anywhere.
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- Attract your cat’s attention by holding a favorite toy and running it over the post. If the cat comes over and bats at the toy, her claws may end up grazing the post’s surface — and with any luck, she’ll like the feeling and want more. If it’s a standing post with a ball finial on top, you can tie the toy to it, using a sturdy piece of sewing elastic.
Declawing
Declawing is a highly controversial procedure, and understandably so. It entails not only removing the claws themselves, but also cutting off the terminal bone of the toe. This is an extreme measure and should not be done lightly. A cat’s claws provide her main means of defending herself, and should be preserved if at all possible. If scratching is a problem, you should explore every other available solution before deciding on declawing. In most cases, simply keeping the cat’s claw tips trimmed will go a long way toward limiting the amount of damage she can do to the furniture.
Cat And Kitten BootCamp
Training : Learn how to clip cats claws while they are sleeping. 
This entry was posted
on Thursday, November 16th, 2006 at 12:12 am and is filed under Cat Care Preparation.
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December 16th, 2007 at 2:17 am
This is a very big problem when you own a cat. One that can be very easy to take care of. I have written an article on “cat scratching the furniture” if you want to read it you can find it here: Cat Care