Cats can be ill tempered and mean on their worst days, but even the most annoying problems have a remedy somewhere. If your cat is clawing your furniture, your carpet, and your legs with the same ferocity, understanding the how and why behind the behavior can help you redirect your feline friends clawing instinct to be expressed in less destructive ways.
So why IS your cat clawing everything in sight?
Heres the jawdropper: a cats claws never stop growing. Let me repeat that: They NEVER stop growing. When I found that out, a big light went off in my head. Just like a pet hamster that constantly needs to knaw on wood to keep their teeth from growing too long, what cats are actually doing when they sharpen their claws is removing the outermost layer of their claws. O.K. Kitty Cat, we finally get it!
So what to do? What to do?
The first thought bubble that forms is to scoop kitty up for a little declawing action at the nearest vets office. But before you take such a drastic step, keep in mind that once those claws are gone, theyre GONE. Take away those claws, and youre taking away your pets primary form of defense. Even if you have an indoor cat like I...