There are 3 or 4 reasons why felines naturally claw. One, they do it for exercise. Clawing involves quite a bit of stretching, therefore working the leg muscles. Two, they attempt to remove the old claws that they are shedding from their feet. Three, they do it to mark their territory. Owners do not realize that felines do these things because they can’t help it. Marking, for one, is very important to the feline. They mark with the scents produced by glands in their foot pads. They also mark with scratches they leave on the surface of objects for other cats to see. Felines do not consider these actions destructive or bad. For them, it is a good thing. So, when their owners become unhappy, the animals get confused. Sometimes, the pets appear to be sneaky because they do not understand why their owners get upset over something normal and necessary like clawing and scratching, so, they do it when the owners are not watching or around. Cats pick the objects and places they scratch to mark their territory. Usually, this object or place is one that other cats will see or notice. They want other cats to know that the scents and scratches were put there by them. Cats choose different objects to scratch. Some choose carpets while others choose vertical objects to leave vertical scratches. Always keep in mind that cats do it because they can’t help themselves and they do not understand why you don’t want them to.

Cats can be coaxed into using places you feel are more appropriate. Discourage them from using those places you think are not appropriate; but, do it in a certain way. Make them think it is their decision; that they scratch where you want them to and they don’t scratch where you don’t want them to. For instance, you can provide places or objects that they enjoy. If the cat likes vertical surfaces, put up a vertical scratching post. If the cat likes horizontal objects, a scratching pad installed horizontally will do the job. Put these things in places you want him or her to scratch, places the cat would also think is appropriate such as entrances and exits from rooms. They like to stretch when they first wake up; so, putting a scratching post in areas where they sleep or take naps is a good idea. It is important to watch the cat in order to determine which areas and surfaces the cat likes and to provide him or her with the appropriate surface and place. If you don’t want the cat to scratch objects or places, placing double-stick tape on the surface will usually discourage a cat from scratching.

Tin foil is also a good deterrent. Cats don’t like the feel or sound of tin foil. Wrap it around objects and surfaces you feel are not appropriate for scratching and that usually will keep the cat from doing the deed. Some owners expressed dislike of having double-sided tape and tin foil around the house. Once the cat is trained to scratching the designated surfaces, the tape and the foil may be removed. They don’t have to be permanent.

Unlike nail trimming, declawing is a painful procedure. It involves the surgical removal of claws, so it is a good thing to avoid if at all possible. If all other options have been exhausted and the scratching still cannot be controlled, then declawing is an option. If an owner has health concerns such as immune suppression or if the owner is elderly and cannot afford to get scratches because of thin skin then declawing may be necessary.

Since declawing is a very painful procedure, it is very important to control the pain from the time the cats wake up from anesthesia until they are healed. Surgical nerve blocks or numbing agent (anesthetic) around their paws should be used to block the after-surgery pain. Cats also need systemic medication. This medication makes them feel euphoric which helps the cat eat and rest comfortably during this time, unaware of the procedure they just underwent. After two days, when the pain is less of a problem, the cat should go home with special instructions for the care of their feet. Cats should also have special pain medication for the next week or two depending on the cat. Some cats feel discomfort longer than others and some recover faster.

The older the cat, the more difficult the surgery will be. Declaw of older cats entails more risk and possible complications. So, if you feel your cat is destroying things in your home, please look at other options before declawing. Declawing is not a simple procedure and should be done by a veterinarian with experience and that talks to you about pain control, de-clawing technique and anesthetic safety.