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”.
My oldest cat is almost 16 years old and has never had issues with his soft paws or any of my other 11 cats and aye I have several cat scratching post through out my home,upstairs and down stairs and alot time I dont need to take off the soft paws since they come off themselves whilst using the scratching post and also none of my cats are arthritic.
No, just a vet tech for over 40 years and a former wildlife rehab worker for several years. I learned from some awesome vets how to observe the actions of all domestic pets and some farm animals, and to use common sense when dealing with pets and their people. I have also worked for a few vets that I would much rather have seen at the bottom of the ocean! For the last several years of my working life, I worked for an awesome cat specialist who used what the cat was trying to communicate rather than what the books said. I don’t think nail caps are of any use. Keep the cat’s nails trimmed or get several scratching posts, rugs, toys and let the cat keep his or her nails trimmed naturally. I haven’t trimmed my cats’ nails in over 7 years-they do a great job by themselves.
Are you a vet Susan? You talk a lot of sense and sound as passionate as I am about letting cats be as Nature intended.
Why cats are born with claws, I hope the attached poster downloads
May I just ask if you ever tried providing your cats with scratching posts and/or pads? It’s very easy to teach a cat how to use them and let them enjoy their claws as Nature intended. Cats need to dig their claws in to stretch their muscles, a lifetime of being unable to do this because of wearing ‘gloves’ may cause arthritis as they age, just as declawing does!
Okay will probably get slammed for this but I dont care,I have used (Soft Claws)on my moggies for years and if applied correctly there are no issues and Susan Gort for ye to say I have no business having animals ye need to check ye attitude,I dont use them as a fashion accessory,they are to deter my moggies from scratching my walls and furniture and my moggies behavior dont change,tis all I’ll say on this subject.