Clawing and Scratching
Help! My cat is tearing up my furniture!
Your cat needs an appropriate place to scratch as well as to climb and explore. Cat condos help deter your cat from climbing on the furniture. They often include places to hide, and scratch as well. A natural wood fire log or an old wicker chair can also be great for scratching. Try to find something your cat prefers over the couch!
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Bergan turbo scratcher cat toy or KONG naturals Incline Scratcher Toy
- These are designed to attract your cat to scratch
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Cat Tree Scratcher Play House Condo or SmartCat multilevel cat climber
- Put these in front of an uncovered window and your cats will love them!
My cat is destroying my house! Should I get him declawed?
Declawing is a last resort. You can train your cat (lots of treats, again!) to allow you to trim his nails or apply nail caps to his claws at home. Your vet or groomer can show you how. Keep your cat busy with interactive play when you are home and motorized toys when you are gone; even try taking him for a walk outside to wear him out! (see topics above for toy and play ideas)
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JW Pet Company Deluxe Nail Trimmer for Cats
- For trimming nails at home
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Soft Paws or Soft Claws Nail Caps
- An alternative to declawing. You can put these on at home.
I simply have to get my elderly mother's kitten declawed. Her skin is so thin it tears easily and she will never be able to maintain soft paws or train him much herself. She lives alone and needs a companion. Is laser declawing better?
Lasers are a way of cutting the skin and stopping bleeding at the same time, which makes them a little better than a scalpel for this surgery; however, it really depends on the skill of the surgeon. An excellent surgeon can make a small incision, with minimal bleeding, and perform the surgery properly for quick healing and no complications with a scalpel or a laser. Possible complications or mistakes include infections, bleeding, cut footpads and nails actually growing back. Do some research when choosing a surgeon for this procedure. Lastly, most kittens will be running around the house the next day, but older cats will need a couple of weeks. All cats should receive pain medicine after.