Declawing cats is illegal, here’s options to manage scratching – Baltimore Sun

In October 2022, Maryland joined New York in banning cat declawing operations. The procedure, which involves the amputation of the third phalanx, can be likened to a human having finger tips removed between the second and third knuckle of each finger. The procedure has most commonly been used to prevent human injury or furniture and upholstery destruction from scratching, which is a normal behavior exhibited by cats.

There are alternative methods of management and intervention that can help prevent those sharp claws from wreaking havoc on your home. First, and perhaps most obvious, keep your cat’s nails trimmed. If you’re getting a kitten, get them used to having their nails trimmed from an early age. You should also look into products like “Soft Paws” which are caps placed over the nail and held in place by an adhesive. These don’t stop scratching, but help prevent the damage caused by the behavior.

Next, observe your cat exhibiting scratching behaviors and note whether the surface is horizontal or vertical. Once you’ve established what your cat likes to scratch, offer a variety of surfaces to explore, like carpet, corrugated cardboard and rope in a variety of locations around the home. You can even consider using catnip on the scratching surfaces to entice your cat to use them, and consider having scratching surfaces near where your cat naps. They like to sharpen their claws and stretch after waking up from a snooze.

Hopefully, these guidelines can offer reassurance and optionality for past and present cat owners. As always, please submit any other topics you’d like to see covered in these columns.

Ask The Vet is a weekly series by Dr. Devon B. Smith, a Baltimore veterinarian who is an associate at Madonna Veterinary Clinic in White Hall. Send your pet questions or photos via the forms below.

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