Anti-scratch for cats: how to remove, stick, tips for choosing

Ways to get rid of cat claws

Pet stores offer special pheromones and anti-scratch sprays. This remedy is not always effective, since the cat continues to sharpen its claws on sofas and armchairs, in addition to the carefully prepared scratching post.

A more effective, but downright cruel way to save property is onychectomy. This is an operation to remove a cat's claw with part of a finger, leading to disruption of the musculoskeletal system, pain, coordination problems, arthritis and other diseases. After it, the animal’s uniform load on the body’s muscles is disrupted, some of them experience overload, and others begin to atrophy.

The cat becomes disabled, increasingly uses its teeth and ceases to maintain hygiene in the tray due to the inability of its sore paws to turn over the litter. Often such animals end up on the street and die there.

As an alternative to surgical intervention, anti-scratchers for cats have been invented - soft claws, which are designed to stop the cutting off of cat's toes. This is a real salvation for an animal's health - an individual cover for each claw, made of multi-colored plastic, rubber or silicone.

Popular manufacturers

Yami-Yami scratching post

The scratching post is made in the style of a hut with a post. Made from artificial fur and carpet. The winding is made of jute fiber. Approximate weight: 5.6 kg. The average cost is 1,495 rubles.

ADVANTAGES:

appearance
availability of a house
variety of colors
easy to assemble and disassemble
assembly key included

FLAWS

not detected

Yami-Yami scratching post

Kitty City scratching post

The product includes interactive entertainment and can also be used horizontally and vertically. The material is high-strength sisal that can withstand the diligent efforts of your pet. Suitable for individual use, as well as in tandem with other complexes. Price – 1,000 rub.

ADVANTAGES:

price
presence of ball toys with bells
Can be used in horizontal and vertical positions
can be used with other Kitty City play complexes

FLAWS

not very stable design
claws don't grip well

Kitty City scratching post

Homecat corner scratching post

The Homecat scratching post will distract your cat from loneliness and fit perfectly into the interior. Material: high quality carpet. Includes: mint to attract attention. Cost – 325 rubles.

ADVANTAGES:

price
good quality carpet
Includes a bag of catnip
doesn't take up much space

FLAWS

not detected

Homecat corner scratching post

Scratching post TRIXIE

A convenient device made of high quality materials. The range offers a variety of sizes as your pet grows and needs the right item. Contents: bolt, two screws. Color – beige, material – sisal. Price – 1,070 rubles.

ADVANTAGES:

nice appearance
presence of a ball toy
high quality braid material

FLAWS

the structure is not very stable

Scratching post TRIXIE

"Cottage" Benelux

The house with an unusual design incorporates all the best and most comfortable things for a four-legged friend. Mounted on 3 scratching posts, firmly mounted on a platform made of faux fur. The play set is made of sisal. Price – from 8,450 rubles.

ADVANTAGES:

attractive appearance
structural stability
strength of materials
availability of toys with bells

FLAWS

somewhat inflated price tag

Benelux Scratching Post

MAJOR Wave

Ideal for a pet. The design and compact size will fit well into the interior of the house. The complex will allow you to keep the furniture in its original form and amuse the cat. Includes: bag of mint. Material: sisal and plush. Cost – 1,730 rubles.

ADVANTAGES:

nice appearance
sustainability
good quality plush and sisal
Includes a bag of catnip

FLAWS

not detected

Major Foxie Wave

scratching post post

The product is made of high-quality materials, it optimally correlates the criteria of height and width. The round base is securely fixed and comfortable for the cat; it will not move due to movements. The average price is 680 rubles.

ADVANTAGES:

price
sustainability
compactness
rope with ball firmly attached

FLAWS

some cat owners considered the quality of the winding to be poor: the ropes come off and crumble

Homecat Scratching post

Why are anti-scratch pads needed?

The functional purpose of this invention is quite broad; claws have a huge number of advantages:

Protects furniture from being torn apart.
They keep the animal healthy and look aesthetically pleasing.
Protect cat owners in case of health problems. With anti-scratch protection, the cat will no longer be able to cause a wound and cause infection.
They will protect children and adults from a playful kitten.
They will save your pet from showing jealousy towards another family member or animal.
Will stop attempts to scratch or tear off stitches after surgery.
They will provide accommodation in a clean and tidy apartment, as the cat can use the litter box without any problems.
Bathing a pet becomes a less dangerous activity for the owner.

Main advantages

The obvious benefits of using anti-scratch products are primarily experienced by the cats themselves: for about two months there are no scandals in the house from accidentally torn wallpaper or scratched furniture. In addition, pets:

They generally do not experience any inconvenience associated with impaired claw mobility. They are great at releasing them and hiding them when necessary. Nails continue natural growth;
retain their habits. Often, after radical trimming or complete removal of claws, there may be a lack of coordination, motor activity decreases, and gait changes. The use of anti-scratch pads guarantees quick adaptation of cats;
do not experience stress and are protected from accidental injuries that are inevitable when trimming claws.

Silicone rescue for furnishings and floors serves as an excellent reason for reconciling strict adherents of order and their active pets:

you don’t have to worry about the safety of your interior items and at the same time enjoy your cat’s mobility;
The bathing process, which will certainly be stressful for all participants, will become less dangerous, as will attempts to give the cat medicine - the claws will not be involved in this process.

An absolute advantage is the absolute confidence that with anti-scratch protection the cat will not be able to injure the child, even by accident. Although even for adults, scratches will no longer be scary.

When not to use anti-scratch products

Veterinarians have mixed opinions about wearing nail guards. Firstly, putting caps on is stressful for your pet. Secondly, the opportunity to satisfy the natural need to grind off the claws is lost. Anti-scratch products are not recommended when:

the cat walks on the street, because in case of danger, it will not be able to climb onto a hill or protect itself;
the kitten is less than 6 months old;
the cat, due to old age, no longer scratches either people or furniture;
The animal has an allergic reaction to the glue.

Myths about claw pads

Manufacturers claim that silicone tips are completely safe for the animal, even if it swallows them. In rare cases, an allergy to the glue may occur, but it is not toxic. In Russia, there are myths about anti-scratch kits among cat owners:

The claws itch under the caps. The assumption itself is absurd, since the claws do not have nerve endings, otherwise it would be impossible to trim or sharpen them painlessly.
Nail guards prevent the claws from retracting. This is not true, given that the anti-scratch pads are glued to the tip sticking out of the pillow. If the cap is placed very deeply on the claw, the cat may experience discomfort, but if everything is done correctly, the pet’s movements will not be constrained.
The gait changes. To some extent, this statement is a fact, since at first the animal gets used to the innovation and experiences stiffness in its movements. After an adaptation period, the cat begins to move confidently and calmly again.
The glue and material used to make the attachments are toxic. Manufacturers completely refute this statement; a cat can easily chew and swallow the cap, it will come out naturally without harm to health.

Where to hide claws

In European countries, cats have long been no longer doomed to suffer, but anti-scratch treatments are used. With their help, you will protect not only children, but also furniture, wallpaper and the entire interior from the formidable weapons of your pet.

Many people are interested in the question: are anti-scratch products harmful to cats? Let's put it this way: the same as false nails for a luxurious woman. Of course not. In numerous photos and videos you can see that they are made of plastic, but quite soft. It is also biologically safe, since the possibility of ingestion by animals is taken into account. Even in this case, the cat is not in danger, since they do not irritate the esophagus.

The glue used in anti-scratch products deserves special attention. For such purposes, the same adhesive mixture is used as in medicine. Therefore, even it is as safe as possible for your beloved pet.

It should be noted that the described device is intended not only for adult cats or those who are already approaching old age, but also for small kittens. After all, anti-scratch products can be used even from the age of six months for your pet. There is no point in using them on younger animals, since they do not yet have such strong claws that can cause harm. Moreover, during the game the claws are constantly worn down on their own.

During the conversation, the question often arises that the cat will try to chew them off. Such cases are not excluded. You'll just have to re-glue the missing ones. However, the animal quickly gets used to them. This happens over several days. However, caps placed on the claws do not cause any discomfort to the cat.

Anti-scratch pads are amazing because even in them, your pet can go about its business - extend its claws and sharpen them on furniture, but at the same time it will never leave behind any traces of destruction, and its instincts will be preserved. Also, you will no longer be afraid that an animal will scratch you or your child. The moments described can be seen in the video and photos.

Based on the fact that the protective caps are glued directly to the cat’s claws, they will fall off along with them, as the scales that make up them die off. Approximately this happens one to two times a month and not at the same time. However, one bag of these anti-scratch pads is enough to replace those that have fallen off.

Thanks to their multi-colored protective caps, your cat will look glamorous and irresistible. With their help, you can create a specific manicure or glue colorless ones - for ascetics.

For your cat, try to buy protective caps only from trusted sellers.

Disadvantages of anti-scratch pads

In addition to myths, you can hear unpleasant reviews about silicone caps:

The pet's movement around the apartment becomes noisy. To solve this problem, nail guards can be glued only to the front paws.
Slow getting used to the “manicure”. The adaptation period is individual for each animal, but if the anti-scratch pads are applied correctly, the cat should not experience discomfort for a long time.
Rapid wear of the caps. On average, the attachments last for a month, but some cats manage to remove them much earlier. In this case, it is recommended to have spare ones.
Nails prevent the cat from performing hygiene procedures: cleaning its ears and teeth. This concern falls entirely on the shoulders of the owner.

How to use the pads

The most correct decision when putting on anti-scratch pads for the first time would be to consult a veterinarian. He will tell you about all the nuances and show how to put the caps on correctly without compromising the health of the pet and the owner.

The sizes of the nozzles are selected based on the size of the cat:

up to 6 months, pads are contraindicated;
XS – for kittens and cats weighing from 0.5 to 2.5 kg;
S – animal from 2 to 4 kg;
M – cat from 4 to 6 kg;
L – pet from 6 kg or more.

Trying on anti-scratches is carried out immediately before gluing them. If the owner made a mistake with the size, you can trim the caps a little or buy others that are suitable in size.

The nozzle should fit tightly around the claw, not slip off, and the distance to the base of the claw is at least 3-5 mm.

Owner stories

Larisa: “I bought my kitty glamorous pink “cat scratchers.” I had a hard time getting used to it, I exhausted the cat and myself when I glued it for the first time. A day later, the cat chewed off one cap, then two more. I had to redo it. This situation repeated itself 2 more times. Then the cat got tired of fighting and no longer chewed on the pads. What can I say? The glue holds the caps very tightly. It is also difficult to wipe off from your hands. You also need to accurately guess the size. We bought the XS for our one-year-old tartan, but it turned out to be too big for her. I had to trim the pads."

Sophia: “The problem of sharp claws arose with the arrival of a small child in the house. I looked at and ordered ultra-thin claw attachments from MIKOO through the online store. I chose the Medium size, it is for animals weighing 4-6 kg. Just for my cat. The package contained 20 pads, instructions and glue. The cat really didn’t like what I wanted to do to her. When the first three claws were glued, she watched intently. Then she began to break free and bit me. The cat wore the anti-scratch pads for about 3 weeks, then they began to fall off one by one.”

Operating procedure

First of all, you need to take the cat on your lap, pet it, and let it relax. If she breaks free and runs away, in preparation for the gluing process, you need to give her the opportunity to calm down and unobtrusively massage her paws.

Steps to put on anti-scratch boots:

without touching the parts where the blood vessel and nerve pass, you need to trim the part of the claw that bends downwards with a hook by 1 mm;
disinfect with any antiseptic;
Fill the cap one third with glue, so that the excess does not stick the wool together when it subsequently flows out;
press on the pet’s paw pad so that it releases its claws, put on the pad with glue, stepping back 2 mm from the skin, hold for a few seconds for better fixation;
hold the cat in your arms until the glue dries completely.

If the cat cannot get used to the pads or they are glued incorrectly, the caps must be removed. If the animal behaves calmly, sooner or later they will disappear on their own.

Mr. Cat recommends: the opinion of veterinarians

Veterinarians believe that the procedure of putting on anti-scratch guards can cause stress for up to several weeks even in a calm animal. With attachments, the cat cannot fully wash itself, does not feel the surface on which it moves, all this causes discomfort. Doctors advise:

Attach the caps only to healthy paws. If there are injuries, irritation, fungal or infectious lesions, the animal must first be treated.
When the anti-scratch pads are already glued, you need to regularly inspect the paws for fungus or infection.
Apply the pads carefully to prevent glue from getting on the skin, since as the claw grows, painful cracks may form on the skin, which are favorable for the development of infection.
If an allergy to glue manifests itself in the form of irritation or swelling, you must immediately contact a veterinarian and remove the anti-scratch protectors.