Declaw alternatives

I want to start with clearly stating I am opposed to declawing cats. Now, for the question.

We adopt out a large number of cats from our shelter. As an organization we are strongly opposed to declawing. In my experience I have been very successful using just a small number of training tips:

1. Plenty of scratch poles (with catnip for training if needed.)
2. Clear plastic tape over inappropriate areas the cat wants to scratch (with a catnip laced scratch pole nearby, which is gradually moved away.)
3. Safety pin plastic garbage or grocery bags over inappropriate places where cat wants to scratch (again the scratch pole thing.)
4. Keeping the cat's nails clipped properly.
5. Play training as a young animal - or even as an older animal when necessary. If the cat extends it's claws the play stops. By finding a fun game that stops when the nails come out the cats usually quickly learn not to put them out.
6. Supervision of children with cats (and dogs for that matter.)
7. No rough play

There's lots more, but what I'd like is to hear other people's successful training tips.

George

I found that properly clipping their claws tends to work very well. With their claws clipped just short enough they still have enough traction to keep from accidently falling off cabinets and tables (my cats are not exactly the most balanced of creatures, but they're working on it hehe) but not sharp enough to rip tender human flesh or tear clothes. Done correctly and it doesn't bother them as well.

Now both of my cats are indoors only so I am not sure if I would recommend the same for a cat that goes outside as well. Afterall their claws are their defense.

I'm a firm believer in trimming nails. All 8 of our cats are indoor only. Two of ours squirm quite a bit when we try to trim their nails, but they're getting better. We also have a bag made just for trimming their nails or other needed procedures (treating ears, etc.) It can be ordered from most animal supply stores. It's a humane restraint that allows us to do one paw at a time and is easier and safer than the wrap in a towel trick.

George

Niko will let me do her front paws without blinking. She just sits there and looks up at me wondering what's new.

Mischief had the unfortuante experience of having one claw cut a little too low when my roommate first was doing it. Luckily it wasn't too low. But since then she is quite nervous about it, and she isn't fond of being held. Loves being pet, loves to play, but ooohhh no she hates being held. But she's the most passive agressive animal I've ever met. She lets me do it without struggling, but she is rather vocal about how she feels about it.

Mrs. Wong squirms and complains, then runs away. She's the hardest of our bunch to clip. Anything else is OK, just don't mess with her paws. I had one cat years ago, Kitty, that actually seemed to like having her nails trimmed. Then again, she was a very special girl and I think she believed she was part dog (she grew up with a dog, he seemed to think he was part cat.) She would come when she was called and always slept in the crook of my arm with her head on my shoulder. Even at 18 she would boss around the dogs and other cats. We lost her in 1997.

George

5. Play training as a young animal - or even as an older animal when necessary. If the cat extends it's claws the play stops. By finding a fun game that stops when the nails come out the cats usually quickly learn not to put them out.


I trim thier nails, and they don't put their claws out on me, but when playing, they use thier claws alot with toys? Are they not suppose too?
how many of you train them to play without claws?

With the cats we raised from kittens, we have never had a problem with furniture scratching. However, those we adopted as adults did have to be trained on the appropriate places to scratch.

We found that providing a variety of scratching posts/pads seems to help in the training. We use sisal or bark covered wood upright posts and sisal or cardboard pads that are flat on the floor. We know which cats prefer which pad or post and make sure that as we were training them not to scratch the furniture that we put their preferred post/pad next to the place they were scratching inapproproiately. Then, we covered the naughty place with double-sided tape. That's all it took. Within days, they stopped scratching the furniture because the posts/pads were so much more fun!

Originally posted by cookie
I trim thier nails, and they don't put their claws out on me, but when playing, they use thier claws alot with toys? Are they not suppose too?
how many of you train them to play without claws?

Click to expand...

I think that they mean "playing with people or other animals." Using claws during "attack the feather" shouldn't be a problem, just so long as they realize they can't scratch the humans or fur-people while they're playing with them.

I agree, scratching at feathers, strings, balls, etc is not an issue. As for showing claws to people, start with gentle interactions, such as soft petting. Once the cat accepts that without showing his/her claws then advance to other things. Stop when it's still fun for the cat so the cat always remembers it as a fun experience. Always stop when they show their claws toward you. Adjust as needed until the cat doesn't show claws when playing with people. Note that if you play rough with the cat it will likely always put it's claws out.

As for clipping the claws, in my opinion this an important thing to do, and on a regular basis. I believe this helps keep the cats claws from becoming so sharp they don't scratch even by accident, prevents hangups in carpet/fabric/etc, and helps develop a healthy interaction between you and your cat.

As for how many, I've had 15 cats over the years (8 currently living with me.) All have been indoor only, none have been declawed, and all have learned to play with people without extending their claws. I've also helped an unknown (but large) number of people work with their cats on this same issue. While I've not heard back from everyone, the ones I have heard from have all remarked with amazement on how such simple techniques have worked so well. Personally I believe our cats want to be with us and simply need to understand what the bounds are that make us unhappy.

George

People need to realize that some cats are horizontal scratchers and some are vertical. If you have a scratching post that isn't working, then you invest in one that is the exact opposite of what you have, and that usually works.

Very true. Sometimes a creative approach is needed.

George

When did you start clipping your cat's claws? We didn't start clipping our cats' claws until they were over a year old and Mischief started using people as her perches. That was kinda rough on the back when she would jump from the floor to a person's shoulders.

With the newest kitten I've been debating it. Part of me doesn't want to clip her claws because that's her only defence against the older cats if they get out of hand. Another part of me wants to because our hands are being constantly mangled. (she's a cutie tho. hehe)

I've always started very young, as soon as pointy claws become apparent. We have had very few issues with older cats picking on kittens, though I do know of it happening in quite a few households. We've gone through an introduction period with all the cats. The new cat goes in a crate in the middle of the floor. (Never put the already existing cats in the crate and let the new cat run free.) The existing cats come up and check it out and we observe the reactions. If all seems fine we'll let the new cat out and continue to observe. If there is tension, the crate stays out for a couple of hours, then the new cat goes in a bedroom with the door shut and is allowed out to romp around that room. This way the cats can smell and hear each other, but potential conflicts are averted. The next day we start all over. One cat took a couple of days until she was fully accepted, but most come out the first day. The kittens seem to be accepted right away by the other cats and are allowed to get away with much more than an adult cat would be allowed.

Sorry if I'm rambling. Just got home at 11 pm and am a bit tired.

George