Cats CAN be trained to use appropriate scratching objects!

Why do cats scratch things?

Cats use their claws to maintain proper condition of their nails, for fun and exercise, and to mark territory visually as well as with scent. They stretch their bodies and tone their muscles by digging their claws into something and pulling back against their own clawhold. They are a form of self-expression. A cat's natural instinct to scratch serves both physical and psychological needs. House cats can be trained to satisfy their desire to claw without damaging valuable property.

Why do people declaw their cats? By far, the most common reason given by cat owners who are considering having their pet declawed is to protect furniture or other property. Some erroneously believe that declawing will prevent the cat from injuring them. People may report that they are happy with their cats after declawing, because it makes the cats "better pets." Unfortunately, as many people discover too late, declawing may cause far worse problems than it solves. There are many better ways to treat behavior problems other than radical and irreversible surgery.
What is declawing? Declawing is the amputation of each front toe at the first joint. This is equivalent to a person losing the entire tip of every finger at the first knuckle. The surgery is so predictably painful that it is used to test the effectiveness of pain medications. Initial recovery takes a few weeks, but even after the surgical wounds have healed, there are often other long-term physical and psychological effects.
What are the potential complications of declawing?
Pain. While the immediate post-surgical pain that the cats suffer is obviously severe, it is impossible to know how much chronic pain and suffering declawing causes. However, one can consider similar procedures in people. Many human amputees report life-long, painful "phantom" sensations from the amputated part. Declawing is ten to eighteen separate amputations, so it is not unreasonable to believe that declawed cats experience phantom pain in one or more toes. Their behavior may appear normal, but a lack of overt signs of pain does not mean they are pain-free.
Post-surgical complications. Lameness, abscesses, and regrowth of the claw can occur after surgery. In one report that studied cats for only five months after surgery, about 25% of cats developed complications from both declaw and tendonectomy surgeries (digital tenectomy or tendonectomy is a procedure, sometimes promoted as an "alternative" to declaw, where the tendons that extend the toes are cut).
Joint Stiffness. In declawed (and tendonectomized) cats, the tendons that control the toe joints retract after the surgery, and over time these joints become essentially "frozen." The toes can no longer be extended, but remain fully contracted for the lifetime of the cat. The fact that most cats continue to "scratch" after they are declawed is often said to "prove" that the cat does not "miss" its claws. However, this could also be explained by the cat's desperate desire to stretch those stiff, contracted joints.
Arthritis. Researchers have shown that, in the immediate post-operative period, newly declawed cats shift their body weight backward onto the large central pad of the front feet and off the toes. This effect was significant even when strong pain medication was given, and remained apparent for the duration of the study (up to 40 hours after surgery). If this altered gait persists over time, it would cause stress on the leg joints and spine, and could lead to damage and arthritic changes in multiple joints. As cats age, they also will develop tendonitis that may require additional surgery.
Severe Behavior and Litter box problems. Many experts say that declawed cats have more spraying and avoidance of the litter box than clawed cats. It is not uncommon for declawed cat owners to trade scratched furniture for urine-soaked carpeting.  In one survey, 95% of declawed cats developed litter box problems.

Biting. Deprived of claws, a cat may turn to its only other line of defense—its teeth. Some experts believe that naturally aggressive cats that are declawed are likely to become biters.
Death. There is always a small but real risk of death from any general anesthesia, as well as from hemorrhage or other surgical complications.

Is LASER declawing okay? NO! Laser declawing causes less bleeding and swelling than other techniques. This reduces pain in the first few days after surgery, but the implications of the procedure remain the same.

 The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (www.aspca.org): "The ASPCA does not approve of the declawing of cats as a matter of supposed convenience to cat owners. It is a form of mutilation and it does cause pain."
Dr. Nicholas Dodman, author and professor, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine: "Declawing fits the dictionary definition of mutilation to a tee."
The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (www.avar.org): Declawing is "unacceptable because the suffering and disfigurement it causes is not offset by any benefits to the cat. Declawing is done strictly to provide convenience to people."
Animal Care and Control Department, City and County of San Francisco: "Declawing is NOT the answer. Declawing is a painful and difficult operation. It is the same as removing the first joint on all your fingers. It impairs the cat's balance and causes weakness from muscular disuse."

FAQs About Declawing                                    

Declawing = Amputation

 (based on articles by Jean Hofve, DVM and Gary Loewenthal)

How can I stop unwanted scratching behavior without declawing?

    Despite their reputation for independence, cats can readily be trained to use a scratching post instead of the sofa, curtains, or rugs. Using surgery to prevent or correct a behavioral problem is expedient, but it is not the wisest, kindest, or best solution for your cat.

    Cats can be trained not to scratch furniture or other objects. Amazingly, many people do not even know that they should provide a scratching post for their cats!

     Because scratching is a deeply ingrained instinct in cats, if there is no appropriate spot, they will be forced to substitute furniture or other objects.

    A vertical scratching post should be at least 28-36" high to allow the cat to stretch to his full height. Many cats prefer natural soft wood, such as a cedar or redwood plank, or posts covered with sisal rope. Some cats like to scratch on a horizontal surface; inexpensive cardboard scratchers are popular with these cats.

     Rubbing the surface with catnip, or using a catnip spray, may enhance the attractiveness of the post. For the more adventurous types, there are cat trees in dozens of sizes and colors, with features such as hidey-holes, lounging platforms, hanging toys, and other creative amenities.
    There are many other options as well, such as clear, sticky strips to apply to the furniture, and other deterrents, as well as a multitude of climbing trees, mats, and other distractions that will protect your possessions.

    Adequate exercise, especially interactive play sessions, will also help channel kitty energy. For aggressive scratching, conscientious nail-trimming or soft plastic caps for the claws, Soft Paws, are a good beginning.

    Remember, never play or roughhouse with your kitten or cat using your bare hands. You don't want her to get the idea that biting or scratching human skin is okay. And while it's fun to watch the kitten attack your wiggling toes under a blanket, when he's 15 pounds with inch-long canine teeth, it's not nearly as amusing.

Serious aggression problems require assistance from your veterinarian or a professional behavior consultant.