Did you know that undesirable cat scratching is one of the top reasons that people surrender their pets to shelters? Although I can kind of understand this, due to having my fair share of couch-destroying cats, there are ways to get your kitty to stop. You can declaw the cat (which is very controversial), you can try to train the cat (which can be difficult, but worthwhile), or you can try cat claw covers. Please note that these should be used as a last resort after all behavioral modification treatments have been attempted.
Many people do not like the idea of removing a cat’s claws. They may believe it is inhumane, harms the animal, or for many other reasons opposes to the procedure. However, as many of use who own declawed cats know, those claws are sharp! And cats will use just about anything to sharpen them!
Cat claw covers, also called claw caps, are a great alternative to declawing.They are easy to apply at home.
Some cat claw covers are made from vinyl and are glued onto the claws. This includes the popular Soft Claws brand claw caps. To apply these, you simply fill the claw cover with adhesive and apply to the cat’s claw. The glue dries quickly.They will stay on your cat’s claws for between four and six weeks. They will fall off with the natural growth of your cat’s nails. Once they have fallen off, you should apply new ones.
**Your cat may take a little while to get used to these, they are a new thing attached to their body. They may groom them obsessively for the first day or so. Do to this excessive grooming a couple covers may fall off. Simply make sure to check your kitty’s claws the day after you apply them to see if any fell off. If they did, apply a new one.**
If your cat does not like it’s paws touched, or does not like to be handled, then you may want to ask your vet to apply these for you. Most vets will do it for a small fee.
You can make your kitty look super fancy with colored cat claw covers! These give your cats claws the look of painted nails. You can get them in blue, pink, clear, red, yellow, and green.
