Tips for living with a cat that has his claws

Over the last decade, there has been a push to end declawing in cats.

By Sonnya Crawford

Over the past decade, there has been a push to end declawing in cats. It can be difficult to find a veterinarian willing to perform the surgery, which involves amputation of each of the last toe bones on the front paws.

In addition to hunting, fighting and climbing, cats use their claws to scratch objects. They do this to sharpen their claws by dislodging old nail material.

They also scratch and rub their paws on objects to mark their territory, both with scent and visual cues. The paw pads have pheromones, and when rubbed on an object these pheromones communicate the cat’s ownership of that object — and, therefore, making its territory known to other cats.

When cats are distressed or anxious, scratching on objects intensifies as they try to mark their territory in order to keep the object of their stress away. Although aggression between cats and lack of resources are big stressors, anything occurring in a cat’s life can cause increased territorial marking. New furniture, guests, teenagers coming and going, an outdoor cat hanging around, even changes in the feeding schedule can cause anxiety and increase scratching.

Management of resources is critical to reducing territorial anxiety in cats. Litter boxes, sleeping and resting areas, food, water, toys, perches, scratching surfaces and human attention (if desired) are all resources that need to be managed in a multi-pet household.

Litter boxes should be provided at a ratio of one box per cat plus one extra. They should be in a variety of places, at different heights, and with different substrate. The boxes should be uncovered, and they should be scooped at least once daily with a complete cleaning every one to four weeks.

Sleeping and resting locations should be available for all cats in a variety of locations. Most cats do not want to sleep close to other cats; therefore, beds should be distributed throughout the house. Places to hide are important if there is any inter-cat aggression. Since the signs of aggression in cats are subtle, inter-cat aggression should be assumed unless the cats sleep touching each other, or they regularly groom each other.

Scratching posts and perches should be located near windows to allow for mental stimulation. Additional scratching surfaces should be placed near sleeping spots so the cats can scratch and stretch after a nap. Place scratching surfaces in both quiet and busy parts of the house, as some cats prefer human interaction and others avoid it. If the cat has selected a surface that you do not wish to have scratched, place a scratching post in front of that item. Use catnip to help encourage use of these objects.

Remember, cats need to scratch and mark with their claws. It is a normal, healthy part of being a cat. But if your cat continues to scratch undesired objects, it may be due to stress and anxiety. So provide appropriate scratching surfaces and do your best to limit your cat’s anxiety.

Sonnya Crawford, DVM, is a veterinarian at Grays Harbor Veterinary Services in Montesano. Her pets include two cats, numerous parrots, a giant bunny and saltwater fish. Her special interests are in avian medicine, veterinary dermatology and dentistry. Reach her at drsonnya@gmail.com.