![]() ![]() It is easy to see why a surgical solution would be attractive. Fortunately, there are more options.įor some cats, simply keeping the nails short is adequate control but many people do not know how to trim their cat's nails. Many owners are not excited about putting mousetraps up against their living room furniture, upholstering in aluminum foil, or decorating sofas and chairs with balloons. The idea is to convince the cat that the furniture piece is not a good area for scratching and that the appropriate scratch toy can be used with no adverse experience. In this way, punishment can still be carried out when the owner is not at home. ![]() ![]() Stacked traps can be set up so that they pop upward when tripped, making a surprising noise. If mouse traps are used, it is vital that they be turned upside-down so that the cat cannot possibly catch a foot in the trap. Booby traps can be set up using balloons. A water squirt bottle is better but only if the cat does not see where the squirt comes from. Yelling, spanking, or shaking a can with pennies in it is too directly associated with the person rather than the act of scratching. The cat can be punished for furniture scratching attempts but it is important that the cat cannot connect the punishment with the person administering it (otherwise the cat will simply learn not to scratch while that person is watching).Treats or catnip can be used to attract the cat to the scratching post.Spray-on antiperspirants can be used on the furniture as a repellent. Furniture can be upholstered in an unacceptable fabric and a scratching post can be swathed in an appropriate fabric (rather than the usual carpet).įurniture can be made unacceptable by using plastic, double stick tape or aluminum foil to cover the target pieces. Some cats take quickly to alternative scratching surfaces while other cats require time-consuming training. Training tips include:Ĭats seem to prefer to scratch upholstery with a vertical drag to the fabric. The usual goal is to transfer the cat's scratching instinct to a scratching post or other scratching toy it is virtually impossible to control the desire to scratch completely. Scratching is a natural behavior of cats, which makes it difficult to modify. (editor's note: perioperative means around the time of surgery)Īlternatives to Declaw Surgery to Try First Onychectomy is a surgical amputation and if performed, multi-modal perioperative pain management must be utilized. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the veterinarian to counsel the owner about the natural scratching behavior of cats, the alternatives to surgery, as well as the details of the procedure itself and subsequent potential complications. The AVMA respects the veterinarian’s right to use professional judgment when deciding how to best protect their individual patients’ health and welfare. The American Veterinary Medical Association policy regarding declawing is: The AVMA discourages the declawing (onychectomy) of cats as an elective procedure and supports non-surgical alternatives to the procedure. Pet owners need an understanding all of the alternative options involved as well as what the actual facts are regarding this procedure. The declaw surgery is an instant permanent solution to these problems however, it is popularly held that a number of adverse conditions result from declawing, possibly including chronic pain for the cat. Claws serve to mark territory and assist in communicating territorial messages to other cats though this behavior can be undesirable when it is directed against furniture. Cats, especially adolescent cats, tend to play rough, scratching their owners or other pets sometimes violently in play. While it is normal for cats to scratch things (to mark territory as well as to condition their claws) this behavior can destroy the bond between an owner and pet cat. Wendy Brooksĭeclawing (also known as onychiectomy) has probably become the most controversial of all the elective surgical procedures commonly performed by veterinarians. Books & VINcyclopedia of Diseases (Formerly Associate)Ī cat claws a chair.VINcyclopedia of Diseases (Formerly Associate). ![]()
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