Think Twice Before You Declaw

The Itch to Scratch

Cats do write. They don’t communicate Asking a cat never to scratch with a pen and paper or by using a com- is asking a cat not to act like puter keyboard. Instead, their prose is a cat. cat scratch—literally. They scratch to express their excitement and pleasure. Most of us don’t mind that They scratch to leave messages, both cats scratch; what bothers us visual and aromatic. (A cat’s paws have is where they scratch. But scent glands that leave smell-o-grams; nearly all cats can be taught we can’t read them, but other cats can.) where to scratch—and where not to. Kittens are particu- Cats also scratch, not to sharpen their larly easy to train, but it’s not nails but to remove the worn-out that difficult to teach the sheaths from their claws. You see the adults, either. The secret is to results as little crescent-moon shaped provide attractive alternatives bits around scratching areas. Scratching to the sofa or stereo speakers is good exercise, too. and then teach the cat to use those alternatives. Scratching is normal behavior for cats. Scratching is good exercise too. Photo by Weems S. Hutto

REALITY CHECK

Just so you know, a typical declaw illegal. The American Asso- (called an onychectomy) is an irreversi- ciation of Feline Practitio- ble surgical procedure. ners advises veterinarians to never include declawing A cat’s toe has three bones; the claw along with spay/neuter as a grows from the end of the last bone. In promotional incentive or to declawing, the veterinarian amputates present declaw as a routine the end section of the last bone, which surgical procedure. contains the growth plate, along with the nail. This can be very painful, so Even if many cats ultimately pain management is critical before, do recover just fine, why during and after the procedure. Some take the chance? Why put human amputees feel phantom pain your cat through the ordeal long after a limb is gone, and declawed and yourself through the cats also may. expense when there are other options? Declawing should never be performed on a cat who goes outdoors, since these cats have been disarmed.

In many countries declaw surgery is Cats Love to Scratch. Photo by Steve Dale Think Twice Before You Declaw Page 2

How Cats Scratch

Just as we have our own preferences for equal to or exceed the cat’s height when their claws into. Sisal is particularly either pen and paper or a computer key- she is standing on her back legs. popular. Natural wood and carpeting board to write our prose, cats, too, have (many cats prefer the back side of the preferences. While almost all cats relish A wobbly vertical scratcher that moves carpet) are also favorites. Again, it’s all a vertical scratch, many also enjoy a and feels as if it might tip over when a about individual preferences. good horizontal scratch. However, all cat sinks her claws in, or a horizontal cats seem to agree about certain re- scratcher that easily slides along the An assortment of surfaces and scratch- quirements for their scratching surfaces. floor, is not stable enough for serious ers is ideal, even in a home with just scratching. one cat. And several scratching choices Because cats like to stretch and scratch, are absolutely necessary in a multi-cat favorite vertical scratchers should be Cats like materials they can really sink household.

SCRATCHERS 101

Effective horizontal scratchers materials that are easy to are relatively inexpensive to get at home improvement buy from a pet supply store. stores. They are often made of corru- gated cardboard and some- While purchasing a luxuri- times catnip is included to ous multi-level cat tree or sprinkle into slits cut in the condo playground is pricey, scratcher. Angled cardboard it’s likely to be less expen- scratchers are especially ap- sive than a buying a new pealing to many cats, giving sofa because the old one has them a combination vertical been shredded. The multiple and horizontal scratch in one. surfaces and perches will attract feline scratchers of Good vertical scratchers are all preferences. And when tall and sturdy, with a wide, the cats lounge on the cat heavy bottom to prevent tip- tree, there will be less cat ping. Industrious souls can hair all over your house. Cats like materials they can really sink their build their own cat trees with claws into. Photo by Weems S. Hutto

Location, Location

When you’re thinking about where to • Near where your family congre- and can damage your relationship.) put the scratching post, keep in mind gates. that, like all real estate, location is eve- • Near a favorite napping location, rything. Remember that cats scratch to • Reasonably close to the front door, since cats enjoy a good stretch and communicate, and leaving a message since many cats like to scratch after scratch after awakening. hidden in the basement or behind the their people arrive home. (Never washing machine is not their idea of think your cat runs to the sofa to • As a part of a feline aerobic center, effective communication. scratch after you walk through the such as a sprawling cat tree, which door because he’s angry that you’ve may also include places to climb, You’ll need to place the scratching post been away. In fact, your cat is play and snooze. in places cats want to scratch. These scratching to express his excitement include: to see you. Reprimanding a cat for • Near a window or places where sev- being happy to see you is confusing eral cats gather to play and party Think Twice Before You Declaw Page 3 Scratching School

Kittens are especially easy to instruct your nails on the appropriate scratch- quired taste and a small percentage of about where to scratch, but most any ing post and act like you’re having a cats seem to never develop an interest cat will learn. Realistically, it will take really good time. If your kitten follows in catnip.) more time to teach an adult who has your example, offer a pay-off with a been scratching the sofa her entire life tasty morsel and enthusiastically tell Play with your cat around the post us- than a 12-week-old kitty. However, your cat how smart she is. Cats have ing an interactive toy (a fishing pole- mostly it depends on the individual huge egos; they love it when you tell type toy with feathers or fabric at the cat’s demeanor and how good an in- them they’re the greatest. end). Even if the cat just accidentally structor you happen to be. Just remem- puts her paws on the post, that’s a great ber to be fair and consistent. Rubbing catnip on a vertical post and start, since now your cat’s scent has depositing catnip within the corrugated been deposited on it. Consistently If you’re training an impressionable compartment of a horizontal scratcher make the area near the scratching post kitten, begin the first day you bring will entice many adults to scratch. a playground. your baby home. Cats learn by watch- (Young kittens might not be turned ing, so all you have to do is scratch onto catnip. Sometimes it's an ac-

Click and Train

One way to teach your cat where to Now entice your cat to paw at the post. Begin the next session where you left scratch is by using a clicker to tell him This might be as simple as you pointing off—with the kitty merely touching the when he is doing the right thing. Click- at the post and kitty following your scratcher. Your next goal is to shape the ers are inexpensive and easy to find at finger. Or play with him around the behavior; don’t reward the cat until he pet supply stores. post using an interactive toy. The mo- touches the scratcher with his paw. ment your cat touches the post with any First teach your cat what the clicker part of his body, click and offer a treat. In each successive session, hold out for means. Click the clicker and drop a a behavior that’s just a little bit closer to treat on the floor. (For noise-sensitive Learning sessions should never be more what you want before you click and cats, clicking a retractable pen will do.) five to ten minutes, and even less time treat. Soon your cat will be scratching Soon your cat will come running from with a kitten. While kittens may actu- at the tree. In addition to the reward it another room when you click because ally learn faster than adults, they’re at will feel good, so your cat will enjoy he knows the click means food. Once an age when they have very short atten- the experience. Once your cat begins to your cat understands that “click” means tion spans. Always end a learning ses- scratch regularly, offer rewards only “a treat is on the way,” you can use the sion with a treat for a successful behav- intermittently or else you’ll end up with sound of the clicker to train him to do ior. one very pudgy pussy. just about anything.

Bad Kitty

What if your cat is scratching up a most effective when you are not a favorite chair or sofa? Don’t take it part of the deterrent. That’s be- personally! Remember, scratching cause if the reprimand comes from these things is only inappropriate you, your cat quickly figures out to you; it’s normal to your cat. she can scratch anywhere when You’ll need to block her access to you’re not around. the inappropriate place, make sure she has a fabulous scratching post Remember what cats like to to use instead, and then show her scratch and what they don’t. They what you want her to do. Discour- want to dig their claws into a suit- aging your cat from scratching is (Continued on page 4) Make sure your kitty has a fabulous scratching post. Photo by courtesy of Angelical Cat Company Think Twice Before You Declaw Page 4

Think Twice Before AD ITTY You Declaw B K

Author—Steve Dale, Tribune (Continued from page 3) the nubby side up) or a plas- propriate items unattractive to Media Services syndicated tic rug runner (also nubby kitty and then provide some- newspaper columnist, host Pet able material and they don’t side up). thing very attractive to Central WGN Radio; syndicated like to feel something bumpy scratch as an alternative. So if Steve Dale’s Pet World and The Pet or smooth or sticky. That’s When you discourage the cat your cat is scratching the arm Minute with Steve Dale by simply blocking her ac- (www.petworldradio.net) why Sticky Paws (available of the sofa, cover it up and at pet supply stores and on cess, there is no reason to place an enticing scratching Co-Author, Editor—Beth line) is a superbly effective chase after and/or raise your post right next to the sofa. It’s Adelman, feline behavior consultant, deterrent. These are strips of voice or use a squirt gun. a set-up that tells your cat author and editor of more than 100 Sometimes these emotional pet books. double-sided sticky tape “Don’t scratch there, scratch (designed not to damage fur- responses will actually en- here instead.” When your cat Layout, Editor—Margaret H. niture) that you can put on courage cats to scratch, since is consistently scratching at Bonham, award winning author of fabric or wood. Another op- they so love doing anything the right place for several 18 books including, Bring Me to see their people get ex- Home: Cats Make Great Pets. tion is ordinary double-sided weeks, you can safely un- www.shadowhelm.net tape. If you need to cover an cited. cover the sofa. entire sofa or chair, try a Photos—Weems S. Hutto and Dusty smooth plastic tarp or shower Do you need to leave the tarp Rainbolt., Steve Dale, Angelical Cat curtain, car floor mats (with on your couch forever? Nope. Company. The idea is to make the inap- Editorial Consultants— Lore I. Haug,, DVM, MS, DACVB, CPDT, CABC Animal Behavior Service Texas A&M University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. PAWS ’N ORDER Llona Rodan, DVM, ABVP, co- chair 2005 AAFP Feline Behavior Keep your cat’s nails while offering your cat a spe- tens can easily learn to asso- trimmed by cial treat ciate a special treat with the Copyright ©2005 Steve Dale, Beth clipping as you nail clipper, so they actually Adelman. Photos copyright An- them with a clip. That look forward to the experi- gelical Cat Company, Steve Dale, Weems S. Hutto and Dusty Rain- nail cutter way, your ence. (Well, at least they bolt All rights reserved. This every 10 to cat is so won’t fuss about it.) newsletter may be freely distributed 14 days. busy eat- and printed in its entirety. All Your vet- ing that If you and your cat just can’t rights to articles and photos belong see eye to eye about nail to their respective authors except erinarian or he won’t where noted. No portion of this a groomer notice trimming, Soft Paws are soft, newsletter may be reprinted or temporary nail coverings that can show Keep your kitty’s nails you’re distributed in another medium can be fitted over a cat’s you how to trimmed. Photo by Weems S. Hutto also clip- without contacting the copyright claws. holders. do this ping. Kit-

Resources

—Learn about clicker training at Bring Me Home: Cats Make • TopCat Products www.clickertraining.com or Great Pets by Margaret H. Bon- www.topcatproducts.com, Help Is Here! check out Clicker Training for ham (Howell Book House). (615) 874-1221 Cats by Karen Pryor, (800) 47- If you still need help, it’s CLICK • Angelical Cat Company cat • Soft Paws: available. Ask your veteri- trees: www.softpaws.com, (800) narian to help you find a vet- —Read Think Like a Cat by Pam www.angelicalcat.com, 989-2542 erinary behaviorist. Or, to Johnson Bennett (Penguin Pub- (954) 747-3629 find a certified feline behav- lishing), Every Cat’s Survival • Sticky Paws: ior consultant where you Guide to Living with a Neurotic • Smart Cat Ultimate Scratch- www.stickypaws.com, (817) live, check out Owner by Beth Adelman ing Post: 926-3023 (Barnes & Noble Publishing), www.esmartcat.com/shoppin (www.iaabc.org). Kittens for Dummies by Dusty g/ultimate.php • Steve Dale’s website Rainbolt (Wiley Publishing), or www.petworldradio.net.