My kitten's claws are too sharp! How do I keep my baby safe?

It is normal and common for cats to knead or "make biscuits" as a way of showing affection. The problem with kittens is that their nails are so sharp! I usually recommend trimming their nails every week to keep them short and dull, so it is not painful. Another option would be use Soft Paws ( https://www.softpaws.com/ ). Finally, you can sometimes utilize a blanket to have her knead on the blanket, so her claws do not touch your skin. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Getting appropriate toys and scratching posts/mats can help tremendously is giving your little guy something GOOD to scratch. You can also use human nail clippers for a kitten this size to help blunt the tips. (Added bonus, he will tolerate it better when its time for the vet to examine his feet or trim his nails!) As he grows, you’ll have to graduate to a veterinary nail clipper. Best wishes to you and Oliver!

I recommend trying Soft Paws. They are nail caps that you glue onto your cat's claws, and it prevent damage to the furniture when they try to scratch. You can order them online, and you may be able to find them in a pet store. I hope this helps!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I always recommend trying alternative methods first such as Soft Paws, scratch posts or keeping the nails trimmed back with frequent nail trims. If all else fails, then declawing is something that is safe but can be very painful for them. If you do end up declawing Binx, I recommend prophylactic antibiotics afterwards to prevent a post op infection. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns.

Yes absolutely! Declawing causing severe pain to your cat and possibly can result in aggression following the procedure. This is seen often. You are essentially removing the entire bone and flesh from your pets lower paw, which is like a mini-amputation. We don't recommend this unless absolutely necessary, which is often in cases where the cat is causing serious harm/injury to a debilitated/senior/sick owner and there is no other alternative for the cat. It is best to keep Oliver intact if possible. You can also try out soft paws for cats, which are soft nail covers that can stay on for an extended period of time, protecting kitty from scratching you or your furniture. https://www.softpaws.com/ I hope that this helps and best wishes with your fur baby Oliver moving forward. Take care.

Hello, sorry to hear about your cat. She is very young still, so managing her scratching and biting will be crucial in this stages of life before she gets bigger and her scratching could become more damaging. Here are some tips you can follow to decrease the incidence of scratching. Hope this helps and best of luck. Why do cats scratch? Scratching is a normal behavior that aids cats in the marking of their territories in the form of scratch marks. Scent glands in their paws leave olfactory clues for other cats to alert them to their presence. Cats also find it pleasurable as a means of exercise and stretching. Scratching also allows cats to keep their claws healthy and shortened. Unlike dogs, a cats’ claws do not exfoliate evenly from the end; rather they peel off in layers like an onion. What is inappropriate scratching? Inappropriate scratching is ultimately determined by the owner, but is generally directed at furniture, screens, carpets and rugs and other items that the cats finds suitable. What can I do to prevent this? The easiest way to prevent severe damage is to trim your cats nails every 2-4 weeks. It is best to begin this process when the cat is very young, as they will become more accustomed to this procedure. However, older cats can learn to tolerate it as well. Another excellent method is to provide them with a suitable scratching substrate. As with nail trimming, this is also best started at an early age before the scratching behavior begins, but older cats will also generally accept such items as carpet or sisal fiber scratching posts or corrugated cardboard. For more options, you can visit your local pet store or make your own from their preferred scratching material and a supporting board of wood. My cat is ignoring the scratching post. How do I get him/her to use it? Place the item in the areas that your cat(s) enjoys scratching. You can entice the cat to use the item by rubbing or sprinkling with catnip. If your cat insists on using the wrong scratching surface, guide your cat to the correct site. Once at the post, you can start petting and scratching your cat while placing their feet on the surface for encouragement and stimulation of the natural kneading motion. Remember to reward your cat for its good behavior!

This is a highly debated topic even amongst veterinarians and the truth is that there is no right or wrong answer here. The biggest concern veterinarians have about declawing is that it is very painful for cats and may cause life-long pain or other complications. However, vets who have been doing this for a long time note that most kittens/cats do just fine. Often, people want their cat declawed to prevent them from destroying furniture/curtains. It is well known amongst shelters, that this is a big reason for people giving up their cats. Since shelters are limited with how many cats they can take, many of these cats may be euthanized, because of this. So, many vets agree that the chances of complications and pain are not as big of a concern as possible surrender, abandonment and/or euthanasia of the cat. I say that if you think you can manage to keep her with her claws on, then it's best not to get her declawed. If you think that she is just too destructive and you can't keep her with her claws, then it may be worth discussing with your vet about declawing or other options. I hope that helps.