Cat claw caps are vinyl sheaths which a cat owner glues to their cat’s claws to prevent their cat from scratching. In the UK, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home state that they are a cruel fashion statement. They released a photograph of a cat, Christina, being operated on by a veterinarian in order to remove claw caps. Battersea Dogs and Cats Home describe claw caps is extremely cruel and a craze. This is strong language from a very well respected rescue organisation.
Apparently, Christina was the first cat that they have seen with claw caps. That is interesting because they been around for a long time. They’re sold commercially. They are used by quite a lot of cat owners. They don’t need removing surgically unless there is some problem. And therefore I am bemused as to why a veterinarian had to operate on Christina to remove them. Claw caps normally fall off and then you have to replace them.
Lindsey Quinlan who is the Head of Catteries at Battersea said:
“This is the first time we’ve seen a cat come in with claw covers and we are concerned that this craze is becoming increasingly popular with pet owners. It’s extremely cruel to inflict this sort of thing on your cat as it stops them from displaying their natural behaviour. It’s worrying that claw covers for both cats and dogs can be so easily sought from the Internet. Pets are not fashion items. We want to spread the message that claw covers are unnatural for both cats and dogs.”
Well, there you have it from a well respected rescue: claw caps are a bad idea and even worse than that, they are cruel and a silly fashion statement. Some people will disagree.
Claw caps divide opinion. Perhaps they are seen as far worse in the UK because cats are not declawed in the UK. In America where many cats are declawed, claw caps are seen as a way to prevent declawing. Therefore there is some justification for their existence in America. I suspect that this is a reason why Lindsey Quinlan so vociferously argues against them and why she had never seen them on a cat entering Battersea before.
Note: Claw caps are made by Soft Paws. They call them “nail caps”.
I agree with you of course Ruth. Claw caps are a poor product because they pander to cat owners who don’t like claws and want to protect furniture etc.. Also as you say sticking them on claws is a horrible idea. It must feel awful for the cat and they prevent natural behavior. It seems that they are disliked more in the UK than the USA.
We almost came to blows over this news from Battersea Cats and Dogs home, on our facebook page ‘The International Coalition Against Declawing’ my sister and I co-founded in 2010 and which has members worldwide. Our UK members and even some Americans are totally against claw caps, but some members insist they are not cruel and that the cat can still retract his/her claws. I really can’t see how, because you can plainly see them in photos with their garish colours sticking out! Compare pictures of cats without them and you can’t see their claws at all, they are neatly tucked away in their sheaths when not in use. Also they stop a cat’s natural behaviour of digging in their claws to exercise their muscles. The claws have to be trimmed before putting them on and when changing them, so if anyone is so scared of a little scratch why not just do that regularly rather than hamper the poor cat with those things stuck on! They are a million times better than declawing, but why oh why can’t all Americans let cats be cats and accept they come with claws, which are simply another beautiful and essential part of a cat and loved by true cat lovers. I just hope and pray that claw caps don’t catch on here in the UK as ‘fashion accessories’
Thanks for that great insight Zach. Very useful. I didn’t know this.
Wow, Susan, you hate claw caps 😉 Thanks for expressing your views on this product. I dislike them too. I didn’t realise how hated they were. I am surprised they are still on the market.
Blood pressure hit the roof! I absolutely hate the nail caps. They are cruel and most of the people I have known to use them are selfish idiots who have no flippin’ business having ANY animal as a pet!!! I can’t tell you how many cats I’ve had to remove these damn things from their pads, apply antibiotic cream, give the cat an antibiotic pill, bandage and keep the poor creature in a cage and change bandages until the pads are healed. Or how many jerks have refused to accept treatment for the cat and take it home after the nail caps were removed. I have been retired 7 years now and just last week I was helping a fellow pet sitter with a client’s 2 cats and 2 dogs. When I saw the nail caps I went through the roof. My friend and I came back the next day and I brought my equipment and gauze and removed 1 nail cap from a pad and cut the rest of the nails from all claws, all the while heaping vile curses upon the heads of the owners. my friend contacted these owners who are in the process of being transferred to our state for their jobs. The dogs were theirs, but the cats were rescued from their grown children. I hope we got through to these morons!!!!! Okay, thank you for letting me blow off my anger at idiots.
The last time I saw claw caps be removed is due to using too much adhesive which binds it to the fur. It is supposed to be 1-2 drops but some people use more than that which can cause huge complications and can be relatively painful for the cat.