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Controling Destructive Scratching

What is Normal?

Cats exhibit several normal scratching and pawing behaviors. These are instinctive to your pet, and are not meant maliciously, but they can be inappropriate at times, and you may need to modify them for you and your pet to co-exist peacefully.

All cats stretch and claw at certain vertical and horizontal surfaces. Principally, this serves to exercise their paws and sharpen their claws but it also leaves scent behind from glands on the cats paw pads, which identifies the surface as theirs. Every cat has its own individual preference of scratching surfaces. Some like smooth surfaces, such as wood. Others prefer the edges of books, baskets or boxes, and still others prefer fabric, sissal or carpetted surfaces. Often, success at keeping your posessions intact requires that you know which of these surfaces your cat prefers or that you are willing and able to offer a variety of alternatives.

Your cat, especially if it's young, may also scratch you or other members of your household. Usually this happens when a kitten is over-excited, and playing hard. A loud "NO!" or "OUCH!", and immediately stopping all activity with the kitten, every time they scratch, is usually enough to teach it quickly to keep its claws in when playing with soft skinned people. If your cat is hissing, growling or actually striking at you with claws extended, this is a much more serious problem. This indicates the cat is frightened and defending itself. If you have adopted an older cat or even a kitten from a shelter, this behavior can be the result of previous abuse or lack of socialization to humans. Only you can decide if you have the endurance and patience to work with an animal with emotional problems. Many times, with persistence, gentleness and devotion, owners of such animals bring them out of their fear, and are rewarded with loving pets. Your vet can often help you in a situation such as this, with advice about caring for an abused cat, or even medication to help calm the cat down.

What to Do

1) Trim your cats claws.

For an adult cat, both front and back claws should be trimmed approximately every two weeks. Weekly is more beneficial if you have a kitten. You can use either a human toenail clipper or, preferably, a pair of cat claw trimmers, available at your local pet or pet supply store. These are shaped like a pair of small scissors, and are both easier to use for most people, and make a cleaner cut. The first time you try this, you might want to ask you vet to show you how it's done. Remeber not to trim into the quick of the nail (the pink blood supply) as it is painful. And don't forget to trim the dew claws as well.

2) Soft Paws ®

If you have one or two cats, this is an excellent solution to the scratching problem. Soft Paws are soft acrylic nails, that are applied over your cats nails, after trimming, and glued in place. They are temporary, lasting 2 - 4 weeks, and come in packages of 30 nails, sized to your pet (Small, Meduim and Large). Your vet can show you how to apply them and then you can do this yourself, as they are lost or wear out. This is not a cost effective solution if you have many cats. You can find SoftPaws at your vet's office or at pet supply stores.

3) Provide Scratchable Surfaces

Purchase or build a cat tree, kitty condo or scratching post or pad. Instructions for building a cat tree can be found in some of the books listed in The Book Store on this site. Many pre-made items are available, and you should choose one that most closely matches your cats' prefered scratching surfaces. If your cat likes wood, you can use some sanded scrap lumber, for example. If you are unsure of your cat's preferences, choose a scratching post or cat tree with several different surfaces available, or buy a few different items. It is also important that the scratching surface is stable and doesn't wobble, move or fall when the cat uses it. Place the new surface in front of the area that your cat usually scratches. You may want to ub it with catnip, to make it more attractive to your cat or you can wrap an old shirt around it for a couple days. The shirt should be one that you have worn, but not washed. Praise your cat, or give it a treat everytime it uses the post instead of the inappropriate surface. When your cat tries to scratch your chair, etc, instead of its post, move your cat to the post and put its paws on it, making a scratching motion with them.

4) Negative Stimuli

You can apply tape, sticky side out, or a plastic slipcover to the surface your cat is scratching. You may also try aluminum foil, spraying the surface with an odor that your cat dislikes (strong perfume, citrus, mint for example), taping inflated balloons to the surface (the explosion is a deterent) or squirting the cat with a water pistol. Remember, if you are using the water pistol method, to say "NO!" loudly, and to move the cat to its scratching post or cat tree. Do not spank your cat, as cats do not respond well to direct negative reinforcement (unlike dogs), and can often hold a grudge.

5) Declawing

This should be used ONLY as a last resort when other suggestions have failed, and you feel that you may have to give up the cat because of its behavior. In this surgery, the first bone in each of your cats toes on its front paws is either removed at the first joint, or that bone is cut in half. The skin is left behind, so the feet still appear normal. There is also a form of surgery done that severs the tendon used to extend the claw. The best (least painful and least damaging to the cat) way to have your cat declawed is to have the full amputation of the digits described above. If you are going to persue this course, have the surgery done before the cat is 6 months old, as it will adjust better to life without its claws. Declawing will not change your cat's instinct to scratch, but will limit the damage it can do to you, your home and your possessions. If your cat is shy or prone to aggression, it may begin biting to defend itself. This is definitely an issue to discuss with your vet, and with other cat owners, before making a final decision.

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