Scratching is just something cats naturally do, but when your cat lives indoors, this natural habit can sometimes result in unwanted damage like shredded curtains, roughed-up sofas, or torn carpets. This kind of behavior can be upsetting for cat owners who are often left searching for a way to fix the problem.
Facing this frustration, some owners might consider declawing. The thought process is often that declawing will stop the cat from scratching furniture or causing accidental scratches during play. But it's important to remember that claws are also how cats defend themselves if they get outside and face an aggressive animal, or how they quickly climb a fence or tree to escape a threat.
Here at Hilde & Phil, we strongly recommend against declawing cats and believe exploring non-surgical alternatives is the better approach. Declawing is a significant surgery with the potential for lasting negative effects, including chronic pain and changes in how your cat walks.
Let's talk more about what declawing actually is and explore the reasons why it can be bad for cats.
What Exactly is Declawing?
Thinking about declawing a cat might make it sound like a simple fix, similar to clipping their nails. However, the procedure, technically called an onychectomy, is actually quite serious. It involves surgically removing the entire last bone segment from each of your cat's toes, including where the claw grows from, which research shows can lead to ongoing problems for your feline companion.
Cats who have been declawed often struggle with walking. Because the tips of their toe bones are gone, they end up walking unnaturally on sensitive cartilage that wasn't meant to bear their weight directly. You might also see them biting or chewing at their paws, and they can experience lasting pain.
Adding to these concerns, many cat owners find their cats become more prone to biting or other forms of aggression after being declawed, possibly due to pain or feeling defenseless.
Because of all these potential issues, popular organizations like the AVMA and ASPCA now advise against declawing, and the procedure isn't as common as it once was. Despite this growing awareness and opposition, a surprising number of cats in the United States – estimated at around 25% – have still been declawed.
Thinking Twice About Declawing Your Cat
Even if you set aside the research and reports, think about the practical, everyday reasons why cats need their claws. You can see how essential claws are as tools just by watching your cat play – notice how they use them to grab and hold onto a toy you toss. If a cat ever finds itself outside, its claws are their primary means of defense and their best way to quickly climb a tree or fence to escape danger.
Don't forget that scratching is a fundamental, natural behavior for cats with real physical advantages. It may look destructive sometimes, but scratching allows cats to enjoy a full-body stretch, keeping muscles in their paws, legs, and back strong and flexible. It’s a form of exercise for them.
Cat's scratching behavior also allows them to leave their scent from glands in their paws, which is how they mark territory and feel secure in their environment. Claws even contribute to a cat's amazing sense of balance.
Taking away a cat's claws through declawing surgery interferes with all these natural functions. Without claws, an indoor cat that gets outside becomes virtually defenseless. And because declawing removes the last bone in each toe, the procedure can directly lead to health issues like trouble balancing, chronic pain in the paws, joint stiffness, and potentially lameness or an unnatural way of walking.
What Are the Alternatives to Declawing?
There are definitely ways to manage your cat's scratching habits, especially if they're causing damage to your furniture or being harmful. Keep in mind, scratching is a completely natural and necessary behavior for cats, and trying to force your cat to stop scratching altogether simply isn't realistic or fair to them.
A much better plan is to understand and respect this natural instinct and then make some simple adjustments around your home to accommodate it. Most animal behavior experts recommend exploring different approaches to help guide your cat to use their claws in ways that don't damage your furniture or hurt anyone.
#1 Offer a Great Scratching Spot
Instead of letting your cat scratch your sofa or that nice coffee table, give them a more appealing place specifically for their claws, like the Cat-e-Corner. The idea behind this product was to create something stylish that fits right into your living room. It's designed to blend in with your furniture while providing a dedicated scratching surface just for your cat, which helps save your items from damage.
What's also helpful is that you can get replacement scratching mats for the Cat-e-Corner, and these come in different textures to suit what different cats prefer. The choice for all the mats is an all-natural sisal weave material, selected since it's both safe for cats to scratch and environmentally friendly.
There's a range of textures: Soft Stripe is the gentlest option, perfect for cats with sensitive paws. Pure Weave, Birdseye Weave, and Ziggy Weave provide a good middle ground, balancing a comfortable feel with decent durability. For young cats that are really vigorous scratchers, the Ivory Stitch texture is designed to be the most durable natural fiber option available.
#2 Reward Good Scratching Habits
Using positive reinforcement can be very effective, especially when teaching kittens. The basic idea is to reward your cat when they do what you want them to do. So, instead of getting upset or yelling if you find them scratching the sofa or curtains, try to catch them using their actual Cat-e-Corner or scratching post.
When they use the right spot, immediately reward them with something they enjoy, like a special treat, some petting, or a fun catnip toy. This positive connection helps them learn that scratching the post brings good things, making it a better choice than the furniture.
#3 Trim Their Nails Regularly
Another helpful step is to trim your cat's nails regularly, maybe every week or two. This won't stop their natural desire to scratch, but it can definitely help manage the results. Shorter claws are less likely to snag badly on carpets or fabrics, and they do less damage if they happen to scratch furniture or skin.
When clipping, make sure you use clippers designed just for cats, and only trim the very sharp, hooked tip at the end of the claw.
