Declawing and Alternatives

At AnimaPlus, the respect and well-being of your animals is a priority. For this reason, we no longer practice declawing in our 10 establishments since January 1, 2018. AnimaPlus is thus the first veterinary group to stop this practice in all of its establishments.

Declawing in cats consists of amputating the first phalanx of each finger. The claw is composed of a bud that serves as its root. This bud is directly fused to the bone of the first phalanx, which makes amputation of the latter mandatory if you no longer want to have the claw. This surgery, as you can imagine, is very painful. Many countries now prohibit this procedure.

Here are some alternatives to declawing your cat:

The Cat Tree

The cat tree is about training your cat to scratch in an appropriate place. It consists of a set of shelves and posts covered with carpet and is built in such a way that it allows your cat to climb and have fun while using its claws. Training on the cat tree is easily done through play (making the cat climb) and positive reinforcement (reward) when the cat scratches the tree. The use of catnip can help with learning. This herb has euphoric effects on the cat and makes it very likely to rub and roll on the object covered with this herb. By rubbing, the cat deposits its pheromones (hormones) on the tree, which subsequently promotes the acceptance and use of this object.

Soft Paws®

Soft Paws® are small plastic caps that cover your cat's claw. They are applied with glue in the same way as false nails and stay in place for 8 to 10 weeks.

The principle is simple: you cut your cat's claws, apply glue to the inside of the plastic cap and then put it on the claw with light pressure to adjust it well.

Soft Paws® are available in several sizes and colors and can even be applied to dog claws. If you have difficulty installing Soft Paws®, our team is very skilled!

Nail Trimming

Although it does not prevent your cat from scratching, nail trimming can limit the damage. Combined with the cat tree or Soft Paws®, nail trimming is the ideal complement to the happiness of your cat...and your living room furniture!