Are Nail Caps For Cats Safe

Updated September 18, 2020: OK, I'm going to go into this commodity bold you know what a cat is and that you know they beloved to scratch stuff. Information technology's kind of their matter, likewise napping. Also, I'grand just going to assume you lot ain a cat and you're reading this commodity because you're looking at cat claw caps and wondering if they'll help you protect your furniture. (Also homeowners insurance, of grade.)

What are cat hook caps?

Cat claw caps are tiny plastic boom caps that y'all glue onto your cat'southward claws. While a few different companies make them, you're most probable to run into them from a company called Soft Paws. You lot can typically go a pack of 40 (plus the adhesive) for under $15 on Amazon. You lot tin put them on your cat yourself — no need to visit a groomer. Each cap should stay on the smash for nearly half dozen weeks, and then fall off with the natural growth of the blast. A pack of forty caps should terminal you virtually four to vi months.

They usually come in neon colors. (Here are some other money-saving hacks for pet owners.)

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Why would people use cat hook caps?

People usually utilise cat claw caps to protect their article of furniture and body from their cat'due south claws.

Cat claws are precipitous — you know, so they can protect themselves from predators and stuff like that. But too, cats have to scratch stuff, which in the wild is not a problem, because they can just scratch tree trunks.

Hence, the wisdom of the scratching post, a tall pole that encourages cats to treat it like they would a tree in the wild. Unfortunately for humans, lots of other stuff in your dwelling house encourages cats to scratch, similar your furniture, door frames and your leg.

(Past the style, if yous're looking for ways to protect your cat, we tin can assistance you compare pet insurance quotes here.)

Do true cat hook caps stop cats from scratching?

Nope. It just makes their claws dull and so they can't practise any real damage.

Only, you'll find plenty of people on the internet telling you that nail caps are cruel, "seem like mutilation," and are more often than not lightheaded-looking. Some common complaints claim that true cat hook caps:

trap the sweat that cats get in their nails
limit the power of the cat to fully stretch and retract their claws
make information technology difficult for the cat to walk

Other people say cat claw caps do none of those things — and that they're great and they protect furniture and notwithstanding allow the cats to do everything usually. Plus, it'southward cute!

Is at that place a right reply hither?

Nope. I'grand not a vet, but I know different cats take different experiences with the cat claw caps. Your cat might non react to them well, and another cat may be totally fine with them.

Withal, I would categorize claw caps every bit a "last resort," that you should but consider if you lot tin't train your true cat in some other mode. It's still much more humane than the other terminal resort, declawing, which actually amputates upward to one third of your true cat'southward front paws, and is considered by many, including the ASPCA and the Humane Society, to be beast cruelty.

What are the training techniques I should try before choosing cat hook caps?

Cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy has a great post on his site most teaching your true cat not to scratch on furniture. Substantially, his advice boils downward to ii techniques:

Give your cats dedicated true cat furniture, such as scratching posts, cat trees and cat condos, that they scratch to their center's content.
Discourage your cat from scratching your furniture by covering it in tin can foil, using double-sided record, or a plastic protector.

Get-go-time cat owner? Check out our guide.

Somewhen, you true cat will give up trying to scratch your piece of furniture completely and you tin can stop covering information technology. You tin too clip your cat's nails, which keeps them dull plenty that won't harm your piece of furniture but doesn't get in the way of anything else your cat wants to do with them, like stretch and leave scents around the house.

Paradigm: Carrie Anne Castillo

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