Greenbriar Animal Hospital

Kittens are born with a certain need to scratch, and it does not change much throughout their lifetime. So, if your kitten is scratching all your furniture, he’ll probably continue to do so as he grows up. Always try to have 2 to 4 different legitimate and appealing scratching spots for your cats!

Major tips for your scratching cat(s):

Cats will maintain their nails themselves until they get very old, but a cat’s idea of perfect nails is long and dagger sharp. If you want them to be in any other shape, you’ll need to intervene. Regular trimming of your cat’s nails is something you can do with some cats. Ask us to show you how!

If your cat is not cooperative about nail trims, try distracting with canned food, catnip, sardines, or a toy.

Kittens need a nail trim every few weeks, while most adults need a trim every month or two. Trimming nails does not mean your cat will scratch less, but it does mean he’ll do less damage when he scratches.

If you trim your cat’s nails regularly and he is still damaging things, consider Soft Paws. These are soft vinyl nail caps, glued on after trimming the nails. They are well tolerated and last 6 to 12 weeks on most adult cats. Soft Paws come in 4 sizes and several colors (and clear). We can help you choose the correct size.

Cats with nails need a good place to scratch. Kittens will scratch just about anywhere, but adults and older kittens need horizontal and vertical surfaces they can really push against. Posts will rarely be used by adults for serious scratching (too small, too short, too wobbly).

Miscellaneous helpful things to know about scratching cats:

If you want to purchase a large piece of vertical cat furniture, terrific! But if you don’t, check local carpet stores and find one with discontinued samples. Purchase a Berber (looped) piece, and put it up on your wall. Use drywall screws and you’ll be able to replace it when it gets ratty! Place it so the top edge is at about your waist level, and vertical (short edge up). If at all possible, put it close to one of your cat’s favorite furniture scratching spots. Horizontal scratching places are easily purchased at pet stores – one of the best is made of strips of cardboard. Rub a little catnip on the new scratching places, and show them to your cat. If your cats scratch at furnishings even though you have several good cat scratch places, get some large plastic drop cloths. Cover any furniture your cat scratches on (make sure you tuck the drop cloths under the furniture well). For dining type chairs, tape plastic over the seats for a while. Leave the plastic on for at least a month, and then gradually remove it. The advantage of drop cloths is they are very cheap, and if company comes over, you can stuff them under the couch quickly! You can also try Sticky Paws products (available in pet stores).

Declawing is a permanent solution to scratching cats. If you think you may want your kitten declawed, the best time to do it is at 4 to 6 months of age. If your kitten or cat is older than this, the surgery may still be okay but you will need to consult with the doctor first; this surgery is not a good option for older cats. Declawing cats at Greenbriar Animal Hospital may not be done the same way it is done at other hospitals (our patients rarely need any bandages, and are usually up on their feet within hours of the surgery).