What can I do instead of declawing my cat?

With that in mind, we offer three alternatives to declawing your cat.

Safeguard tempting surfaces. Many cat owners prefer an approach that emphasizes deterrence.
Try vinyl nail caps. Soft Paws™ nail caps were developed by a veterinarian to act as sheaths over your pet’s claws.
Make nail trimming a routine.

Is there a humane way to declaw cats?

Laser declawing is considered by some in the veterinary community to be the most humane method for declawing. Reasons cited for this are that the toes undergo less trauma with laser, nerve endings are “sealed” off leading to less pain, and less bleeding occurs.

Is there a painless way to declaw cats?

If claw trimming is not working or isn’t enough, consider plastic nail tips such as Soft Paws. These are caps that are glued on to trimmed front claws to prevent damage to furniture and injury to people.

Does cat nail caps work?

Do cat claw caps stop cats from scratching? Nope. It just makes their claws dull so they can’t do any real damage. But, you’ll find plenty of people on the internet telling you that nail caps are cruel, “seem like mutilation,” and are generally silly-looking.

How much does cat claw removal cost?

How Much Does it Cost to Declaw a Cat? The cost of declawing a cat ranges from $200 to $800 (or more) and is dependent on your cat’s age, your local veterinarian’s prices, take-home medications, and pre-anesthetic health assessments, and any other potential complications that may come with the surgery.

In what states is declawing cats illegal?

New York became the first state in the nation to pass a ban on elective cat declaw surgery in 2019, and Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver and St. Louis have passed similar bans in recent years. More than 20 countries, including England, Germany, Spain, Australia and New Zealand, have also long banned the practice.

Do nail caps work on cats?

Are nail caps safe for cats? According to Mary Molloy, animal behavior counselor and founder of Nirvana Tails in NYC—yes, absolutely. “[The caps] do not prevent the cat from retracting his claw, and if properly applied, they do not cause any pain or damage to the claw bed,” she reports.

Are nail caps safe for cats?

The Soft Paws nail caps were created by a veterinarian to be soft and non-toxic to both cats and dogs. When the nail caps are applied correctly, they should not be able to damage or cause discomfort to your cat’s paws or nail beds. To make sure you are using the caps correctly, follow the tips below.

Are declawed cats happy?

Declawing and the Feline Psyche It makes them happy. “Declawing takes away all of this as well as their integral means of movement, balance and defense,” the vet explains. A lot of declawed cats do eventually adjust, more or less.