Cats’ Nails: What To Do With Them?

Scratches, scuffed furniture, marks on clothes; cats’ nails can be a real headache. Many people, for convenience, choose to surgically extract the animal’s claws and, in this way, eliminate the problem. However, it is inhumane to mutilate an animal just to fix something that can be corrected with a little training and patience.

Before giving recommendations on what to do so that nails are not a problem, let’s reflect on their importance to cats:

• Nails help with balance and mobility;
• Scratching is a way of demarcating territory;
• Help in defense;
• Serve for climbing.

Below, we present some recommendations on alternatives for solving scratch problems:

education

The easiest way to avoid any kind of behavior problem is through puppy education. The best way to prevent a cat from scratching an inappropriate place is to teach him from an early age the places he can scratch.

Scratching is  natural for cats  and is  a beneficial behavior, as it is one of the ways they use to mark their territory, the mental health of cats is deeply linked to the time they dedicate to this act. So the best you can do is keep a place to let your cat scratch, teach him how to use this place, and reward him when he does.

If you choose to neuter your cat, remember to spay it at the recommended time (between 7 and 10 months),  which will partly prevent the custom of marking territory from being developed.

repellents

Pet repellents are substances designed to prevent them from getting close to places you don’t want them to come into contact with. Cats  tend to mark the same zones  regularly, so repellent can be used on objects your cat tends to scratch, which will push her away without the need to use a violent method.

spray water

Another non-violent method to use with your cat is to spray some water while scratching an inappropriate place. This method is quite effective for fending off cats, but it only works if caught in the act,  if you use it later, your cat wo n’t understand why it’s being scolded. 

However, cats can be quite apprehensive to learn through punishment, so it’s best to use the rewards method.

nail clipping

It is also possible to cut the tip of the cat’s nails a little bit  periodically, but close trimming should be avoided as  cats have a vein inside the nails,  so cutting can cause bleeding or permanent damage to the paws. Some prefer to take the vet to do the procedure, but if you’re careful, there won’t be any difficulties.

It should be taken into account if your cat goes outside or stays at home, because, when cutting the tip of the nails, the cat is unable to defend itself or do things like climbing, for example.

Carry out the demarcation for him

Cats have different methods of demarcating territory,  including, of course, the use of pheromones. Some veterinarians recommend running  a handkerchief over the cat’s face and body  to soak it with the oil they produce through their facial and body glands. Cats use this oil to mark objects as if they were their own, so if you rub your furniture with the impregnated handkerchief, you can prevent the cat from feeling the need to mark them, as they will already be marked as his.

cover the furniture

Some owners choose to cover the furniture with some kind of hard material that doesn’t allow the cat to pass under and that causes discomfort when touching. This method, however, prevents you from enjoying your furniture and also  does not stop the animal from scratching them,  as it will do so as soon as it has an opportunity. However, you can cover the furniture and use some other method, so you’ll avoid damage as your pet goes through the process of educating and adapting to household standards and space reconnaissance.