Stopping The Scratching
Destructive scratching — with tell-tale signs such as shredded furniture, mangled plants, tattered drapes — by pet cats is the source of frustration for many owners.
So what can a cat owner do when kitty continues to trash your home? The Early Show resident veterinarian Debbye Turner explains why cats scratch and what you can do to stop this behavior.
Turner says scratching is as natural as breathing for cats. They are not necessarily being mean when they whip out those razor sharp claws. Cats scratch to sharpen their claws, which is essential "in the wild" to make sure they have a fighting chance against their many predators.
Even the domestic feline sometimes needs to fend for herself against, perhaps, the neighborhood dog. Plus, cats in the wild need those claws to kill prey for food. Much like our nails, cat claws grow continually throughout life. The outer layer dries out and can separate from the rest of the nail. Cats scratch to remove that outer layer and keep their claws strong and healthy. Turner also says cats have scent glands in the bottom of their feet. Oftentimes, scratching is a way for cats to "mark" their territory. Just like dogs, cats are quite territorial and want to make it clear what is theirs. Sometimes scratching to leave a scent helps a cat of the opposite sex find his "date" a little easier. Scratching also serves as a way to stretch, flex and burn off a little energy.
Declawing — also known as onychectomy — has become very controversial. Critics passionately maintain that declawing is inhumane and unethical.
A cat's nails are an extension of the last digit of the foot, according to Turner. It is attached with its own set of muscles, tendons and ligaments, she says. Declawing is not the equivalent to cutting people toenails. Turner explains it is the same as cutting each of our fingers off at the first joint.
If the procedure is not done this way, and done well, the nails can re-grow (many times in unnatural, deformed ways). Turner warns that a declawed cat should never be allowed outside unsupervised. Although her back claws can help her escape a predator, her capacity to defend herself, if threatened, is dramatically reduced without the front claws.
The Procedure
Declawing, again, is the equivalent of cutting our fingers off at the first joint. The cat must be anesthetized first, and restrained. A variety of techniques are used to access and sever the tendons and ligaments that attach the last digit to the foot. The incisions are either closed with a suture, or glue. Or some veterinarians opt to leave the incision open to heal on its own. Each foot is bandaged (all the way up to the elbow/knee) for 1 to 3 days. For 7 to 10 days, the cats must not get the feet sullied by regular litter. So the owner must put strips of paper in the litterbox until the paws are healed.
Pros for Declawing:
Turner says the most common reason pets are abandoned is behavior issues. And this applies to destructive scratching in cats. There are instances where owners have tried all other method and can't stop their cat from scratching. Turner says if declawing will make sure that a cat stays in a loving, caring home, then perhaps declawing is the answer — especially if the cat must be abandoned, or euthanized otherwise.
A cat who is inclined to harm children or other members of the family with its claws may be best served by declawing, according to Turner. People who are HIV positive or otherwise immunosuppressed can avoid potentially dangerous cat scratches, and the resulting infections, by having their cats declawed.
If done by a properly trained veterinarian, in a sterile, appropriate manner, there is a good chance that the cat will recover and live a long life without incident.
Cons for Declawing:
Declawing is a painful procedure. The cat will be forced to bear all her weight on the surgery site when walking. The cat's paws will be "pressure-wrapped" for a short time after the surgery. They will not be able to use a litterbox with regular litter.
There have been cases where a cat's feet were severely disfigured due to infection, or improper technique in surgery. If the bandages are not applied with the proper amount of pressure, bleeding or poor circulation can be an issue, warns Turner.
There have been cases where the nail has re-grown in some unnatural or deformed way. This could lead to crippling infection and disfigurement. A cat's foot could even have to be amputated in this extreme case. Possible surgical complications include: inadvertent removal of part of a digital pad, incomplete removal of the nailbed and partial re-growth of the nail, infection, rare anesthetic complications and prolonged healing time in older cats.
Some declawed cats have been reported to have "personality changes." There are cases when a declawed cat is more apt to bite and be aggressive. This is presumably because the cat is aware of its decreased capacity to defend itself and will opt to take the offense first to prevent a possible challenge.
Turner gives the following suggestions to prevent your kitty from destroying your house:
There are many items at your local pet store that may entice your kitty to scratch it instead of the couch. Scratching posts, scratching pads and cat trees are just a few of them. Many have been scented with catnip to attract the cat to them. Often, if you provide these items to your cat when it is still a kitten, you will establish a "habit" of having the cat scratch the post that will last a lifetime.
Yes, Turner says, cats can be trained. It does take some patience and time, but it is possible to teach your cat the rules of the house. And in many cats, they will respond. Turner says to try the following methods:
- When your cat starts to scratch, use a loud authoritative voice to scold the cat. This usually startles it enough to get attentions and stop the behavior. You must be consistent with this every time the inappropriate scratching occurs. If you voice doesn't work, then try a water gun, or a can filled with coins. The noise will surely be enough to make her scurry away. Never hit your cat.
- Also, try putting upside down plastic carpet runners in the areas where you don't want your cat. The bottom of her feet are very sensitive. She will not like the prickly feel of the runner and should stay away, Turner says. The same principle applies to using adhesive shelf paper, places sticky side up. Cats do not like that.
These are plastic sheaths that are literally glued to each nail. The success rate of this device is variable. You must keep applying new sheaths when the old ones fall off.
Many control the destructiveness of the cat's scratching by keeping the nails clipped to a blunt edge. It is best to allow your veterinarian or pet care professional teach you how to do this, Turner says. Each nail does have a blood supply. It is important not to clip too far back. It hurts the cat, and can be quite messy if you nick the artery. This will not stop the cat from scratching, but it can minimize the damage done. Nails should be trimmed approximately every 2 to 3 weeks. Be sure to have styptic sticks available if you do the trimming yourself, just in case you cut down too far and cut the "quick."
This is a surgical procedure that must be done by your veterinarian where the tendon (called the deep digital flexor tendon) that controls the movement of each nail is severed. So the cat is no longer able extrude the nails. While this is becoming more popular, and considered by some to be more humane, there are some downsides. First, the nails continue to grow, so you much keep up a regimen of clipping the nails. It is possible for the nail to get caught on something and be violently pulled from the cats paw. This could be disfiguring and very painful.