Scratching Solutions: Alternatives to Declawing Cats

Declawing is not recommended for cats. It is a painful surgical amputation of the last bone of each toe and can lead to long‑term physical and behavioral problems. The good news is that most scratching and behavior concerns can be prevented or managed with positive reinforcement, appropriate scratching options, and daily enrichment. This guide will help you teach your kitten good habits early so they can keep their claws—and your furniture.

Why Cats Scratch

Before we dive into training strategies, it is important to understand why cats have a scratching behavior. Scratching is a normal and necessary behavior.
Cats scratch to stretch their muscles and joints, keep their nails healthy, mark territory (both visually and with scent glands), and relieve stress and excitement.
Our goal is not to stop scratching, but to redirect it to appropriate places

Our Strategy: Positive Reinforcement

Cats learn best when good behavior is rewarded.
What to Do

Reward behaviors you like with treats, praise, or play
Be consistent – reward every time you see the behavior in the beginning. As your cat learns, you will not have to reward as often.
Use tiny treats (pea-sized is plenty)

What to Avoid
Avoid yelling, spraying water, scruffing your kitten, or punishment. Punishment often increases fear and anxiety and does not teach cats what you want them to do.

Training Your Kitten to Use Scratching Posts

1. Offer Multiple Scratching Surfaces
Cats have preferences! Providing variety greatly reduces furniture scratching. Try both vertical and horizontal options.
Common materials cats enjoy:

Sisal rope or fabric (very popular)
Cardboard scratchers (horizontal and angled)
Carpet (short, tightly woven)
Wood or bark-style posts

2. Proper Placement Matters

Place scratchers near favorite sleeping areas (cats like to stretch after naps)
Put a scratching post next to furniture your cat targets
Place scratchers in social areas, not hidden rooms.

3. Make Scratchers Appealing

Sprinkle or spray catnip on the post
Use interactive toys to lure your kitten onto the post
Praise and reward immediately when they scratch the post

4. Protect Furniture During Training

Use double‑sided tape on furniture edges so your cat does not enjoy the feel of the furniture
Temporarily cover areas with blankets or plastic covers
Gently redirect your kitten to a nearby scratching post (Never pull your kitten away aggressively -calm redirection works best.)

Nail Care Basics

One of the best ways to protect your furniture is learning how to keep your feline friend’s nails short and properly maintained. Here are some tips:

Trim nails every 2 to 4 weeks
Start while your cat is young and keep sessions short- if your cat starts to get overwhelmed, pause the trim and resume at a different time
Pair nail trims with treats or play to keep it a positive experience

Trimming nails can be difficult and intimidating. We are happy to provide a nail trim demo- just ask!

Nail Caps (Soft Nail Covers)

Nail caps are soft vinyl covers that fit over your cat’s nails and can be a helpful, temporary tool for some families. Nail caps are a non-surgical alternative that may help during training or transitions, but they work best when combined with proper scratching options and enrichment.

What Nail Caps Do

Reduce damage from scratching
Allow normal scratching motion without sharp claws
Help protect furniture and people

Important Things to Know

Nail caps do not replace scratching posts or enrichment
They must be applied correctly and checked regularly
Caps usually fall off naturally as the nail grows and should be replaced every 4 to 6 weeks

Tips for Success