Kitten paws are kinda like small baby hands. They're super important as your cat grows – those claws are essential for everything they do. Just like a baby might accidentally hurt things while learning, kittens need training to use their claws responsibly.
We will talk about why declawing is a bad idea and focus on ways to keep your cat's claws healthy and your furniture safe. Understanding how important claws are to your cat will help you find the right training methods and toys so you and your feline friend can live together peacefully.
Why Do People Declaw Their Cats?
People declaw cats mainly to prevent furniture damage. Declawing, or onychectomy, is actually removing the last bone of each toe – it's like cutting off a person's fingertip. Critics say this hurts a cat's balance and is very painful. While there are rare medical reasons to declaw, like a serious infection or tumor, most of the time it's done for purely human convenience. It's a pretty drastic step, really.
The Health Consequences of Declawing
Declawing is controversial because studies suggest it can cause health and behavior problems in cats. Declawed cats may experience back pain, aggression, and higher stress levels (due to higher cortisol). Plus, the surgery itself isn't always done perfectly – leaving behind bone fragments that can cause further pain and discomfort.
Even after the procedure, cats may walk differently because of the pain and changes in how they put their weight on their paws. Many vets now consider it unethical because it's unnecessary and causes so much suffering.
Cat Claw Anatomy
Even though we often call them “nails” cat claws are quite different from our fingernails. Cats have eight claws on each paw, plus usually one dewclaw on each front paw. Each claw is attached to a toe bone and made of keratinized dead cells, much like human nails.
But unlike our nails, a cat's claws can be retracted and extended thanks to special ligaments in their toes. The quick, pink part of the claw, contains blood vessels and nerves, essential for claw growth.
The Importance of a Cat's Claws
Cats' claws are super important for their health and survival. They’re not just for scratching—they help with a wide range of activities cats do every day.
Cats use their claws for climbing, which is essential for exploration and escape.
They also use them for hunting and defense, helping them to capture prey and protect themselves from predators or threats.
The act of scratching helps maintain their claws, removing the outer sheath and keeping them sharp and healthy. This natural behavior also provides important exercise, stretching and toning their back and shoulder muscles.
Understanding these vital functions helps us appreciate why declawing is so harmful and why providing appropriate and natural scratching space is so important.
Positive Reinforcement
We can definitely find ways to keep both you and your cat happy! The key is positive reinforcement and rewarding your cat when it does what you want. If it's scratching the sofa, gently redirect it to a replaceable sisal scratching surface and give it a treat or praise. The most important thing is to be consistent and repeat this training often. It takes time and patience, but it works.
Helpful Tips to Consider
#1 Start Early with Claw Care
Like you'd start brushing your cat's teeth early on, it's best to introduce claw trimming when they're kittens, ideally around four weeks old. This helps them get used to the process and makes it easier for everyone involved.
#2 Craft or Get a Scratching Post
To give your cat a place to scratch without ruining your furniture, consider a Cat-e-Corner, a Hilde & Phil creation. This attaches to the side of your sofa or chair, providing a sturdy sisal scratching surface. Make it appealing with a little catnip, and even show your cat how to use it by scratching it yourself.
It attaches securely with strong Velcro, making it easy to change the sisal cover when needed. The cat-e-Corner is designed to withstand even the most enthusiastic scratching! Right now it comes with natural sisal covers, but more colors and designs are on the way—follow Hilde & Phil and stay tuned.
While a Cat-e-Corner is great for sofas and chairs, and because every cat is different, you may still want to provide additional scratching surfaces around the house, in places where your cat likes to scratch, and in different orientations (vertical or horizontal) to find out what your cat prefers.
#3 Soft Claws (or Soft Paws)
Soft claws are plastic nail caps that can reduce scratching damage, but they're not a perfect solution. They're available in different colors and sizes from vets and pet stores, and a vet can even apply them for you. While they can help, they only last a few weeks to months and need to be reapplied regularly. Soft claws are also not a replacement for proper training and providing appropriate scratching surfaces.
#4 Keeping Claws Trimmed
Trimming your cat's claws regularly is a good idea, even if you're using a scratching post or Cat-e-Corner. Shorter claws will do less damage to your furniture, and regular trims help prevent painful ingrown nails, which can be quite uncomfortable for your cat. It's a simple part of good cat care.
Your vet can teach you how to do it safely at home, or most vet offices offer nail trims for a small fee. If you are unsure about doing this yourself it is always best to have a professional do it.
#5 Older Cats May Need More Frequent Trims
Older cats' claws grow differently than kittens', and they tend to be less active, meaning their claws don't wear down as much through natural scratching. Not to mention, older cats sometimes have trouble retracting their claws completely. For all these reasons, older cats often need more frequent nail trims.
Your Cat's Nail Care Is Part of Their Overall Care
Taking care of your cat's claws is a big part of being a responsible cat owner. Healthy claws are essential for your cat's comfort, activity level, and overall well-being. Regular nail trims, along with providing scratching spaces or other solutions, will keep your cat safe and healthy for years to come.
We hope this guide has helped you better understand your cat's claws and how to manage them! For more helpful tips, follow us on Instagram @hilde.phil and subscribe to our newsletter.
