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ALTERNATIVES TO REMOVING YOUR CAT’S CLAWS

CAT DECLAWING ALTERNATIVES

Your cat’s wellbeing is important to us, which is why Globalvet veterinary clinics stopped performing elective declawing in January 2019. Instead, we are here to help you learn to effectively manage your kitty’s claws! Read on for advice and solutions that serve as better alternatives to declawing your feline friend.

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CAT CLAWS: ESSENTIAL TO THEIR WELLBEING

Your cat’s claws are an important part of their anatomy that they use to:

  • Climb
  • Mark their territory
  • Communicate
  • Balance
  • Dig
  • Defend themselves
  • Hunt

(Although self-defence and hunting are less of a factor for house cats, obviously).

WHY NOT DECLAW YOUR CAT AND SKIP THE SCRATCHING?

Because when you remove a cat’s claws you take away a critical component of their physical and mental development. It is important to be aware of the fact that declawing causes more hard than we previously thought. Imagine if someone removed the upper third of your fingertips… it would drastically impact your quality of life, wouldn’t it? You can use this as a comparison to what it’s like when it comes toyour kitty’s claws.

Our technicians have an alternative option: helping you learn to live with your clawed companion. It’s just a matter of positively reinforcing different cat behaviours, and adjusting a few of your own!

LIVING WITH YOUR CAT AND THEIR CLAWS

When you live with a cat, you get to know how they behave and what’s normal for them. At the same time, your feline friend learns to adapt to your home and lifestyle. Part of that is learning to keep their claws to themselves and off your furniture!

SCRATCH MARKING
IS YOUR HOME CAT-FRIENDLY?
CLAW MAINTENANCE

SCRATCH MARKING

SCRATCHING: A NATURAL, HEALTHY BEHAVIOUR

To maintain their physical and mental balance, your cat needs a healthy outlet to engage in normal feline behaviour like scratch marking. This everyday behaviour helps cats:

  • Sharpen their claws and remove any frayed parts
  • Communicate and convey different kinds of information to other animals

Cats also use their claws to:

  • Grip and stretch their muscles
  • Defend themselves and keep
    potential threats

    at bay

Sometimes scratching can be excessive, which may indicate high anxiety, stress or a lack of stimulation in your cat’s environment. Talk to your Globalvet veterinarian for advice.

IS YOUR HOME CAT-FRIENDLY?

CONSIDER THEIR CLAWS: A SIMPLE WAY TO KEEP THINGS PAWSITIVE

Your cat needs a scratching surface with an agreeable texture and in a location where they like to scratch. If they don’t have a safe space to act on this natural animal instinct, they’ll take it out on your:

  • Sofas
  • Cushions
  • Mattress
  • Table

Consider getting kitty one or more scratching posts to prevent this.

CLAW MAINTENANCE

CAT CLAW CARE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A NAIL-BITER

You show your hands and nails some TLC from time to time, right? It’s important to do the same thing for your kitty’s claws. Your cat may keep them clean, but it’s up to you to trim them every two weeks or so or as recommended by your Globalvet team.

CLIPPING YOUR CAT’S CLAWS

You can bring your cat into the clinic to have their claws clipped by an animal health technician or do it at home using nail trimmers. Make sure you and your cat are in a comfortable position before you begin. Try not to restrain your cat. Offer treats as a reward.

Not sure how to proceed? Ask your Globalvet veterinarian or technician for advice. They’ll be happy to give you some helpful tips.

USE CLAW CAPS

Claw caps are another solution to the scratching problem. These are small vinyl covers that are glued to your cat’s claws. The procedure can be done in one of our clinics or at home. Your Globalvet team can provide more information.

MORE IN STORE

Our stores carry claw caps, nail trimmers, and scratching posts…and that’s just scratching the surface!

Find everything you need to live contently with your cat and their claws in our clinics.

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