- Defensive Aggression
- Scratching
- Biting
- Cat + Dog
- Declawing
- Exercising
- Litter Box
- New Kitten
- Outdoor vs. Indoor
- Pregnancy + Cat
- Spraying
What About Declawing?
If you are considering declawing your cat, please contact your veterinarian and discuss it first. Declawing a cat is a serious procedure, so take the time to consider your options. Alternatives to declawing include soft paws (a cover for nails), trimming her nails, and training your kitty to use a scratching post.
In some cats, declawing may cause behavioral changes such as biting and withdrawing socially. Although no definitive studies have been conducted on the effects of declawing, some owners have noticed personality changes in declawed cats. Losing their primary form of defense, their nails, can be stressful for cats. Some kitties may stop using their litter pan due to the discomfort of scratching in the litter after surgery. Also, if a declawed cat happens to get outside, she is less able to defend herself.
To train your cat to scratch on the right things, consider the following.
Cats will sometimes scratch to help get rid of nails that have grown too long. Regularly trimming your cat’s nails will help alleviate this problem. Have your veterinarian show you the proper way to trim the nails. Also, you will want to get a stable scratching post (if it moves at all while the cat is scratching on it, she will lose confidence and not scratch there anymore). There are many different types of posts out on the market. Make sure the one you pick is tall enough for a cat to stand on her hind legs and get her paws extended out to reach the top. It is ideal to get a post that has ledges built into it so that your kitty can sit, sleep, and relax on it, too.
Forcing a cat to do anything will almost always end up with the cat resisting and resenting you. Making the kitty think that this new exciting scratching post is her discovery will go a lot smoother. Take your cat’s favorite toy and begin to play. Once the cat is really into the game, take the toy closer to the scratching post. Once at the post, take the toy and put it atop the post so that the cat has to reach and grab at the toy - actually getting the scratching post. Then praise, praise, praise!
