My cat Seren considers me a living, breathing scratching post, and uses my denim-clad legs for claw aerobics. She knows better and has been trained to use “legal” scratch objects, but I allow the behavior because my jeans are old--and I recognize she’s paying me a compliment.

Clawing cannot be stopped because it is a natural instinctive behavior that keeps nails healthy by helping to shed the old layer, and expose the sharp new growth. Clawing relieves stress, too, and the behavior often increases when a cat feels upset. But when Seren “nails” my pant leg, scent pads in her paws leave invisible smell-cues of ownership, while any visible marks warn away other cats from important feline property.

Feline claws correspond to the last joint of a human’s fingers and toes, but extend and retract courtesy of two small “hinged” bones that rest nearly on top of each other. A relaxed paw sheaths the claw inside a soft, smooth furry skin fold. Flexing the tendon straightens the folded bones and pushes claws forward and down.

When cat claws destroy furniture, owners may turn to declaw surgery. I am not a fan of the procedure. I’ve counseled too many cases when these cats becoming biters and/or develop litter box problems due to painful paws. You see, declaw surgery cuts off the last joint of each kitty toe. The most humane techniques use lasers these days, but declawing should never be considered routine. And there are many alternatives!

Protect furniture with a feline pedicure. I trim Seren’s front claws every week using my own nail clippers to take off the needle-sharp points. Even if a cat forgets and claws a forbidden object, dull claws do little damage.

Pick a time to trim claws when your cat relaxes on your lap, or snoozes on the sofa. Pick up a paw and squeeze gently to express the claws, and quickly snip off the white hooked end. Avoid the pink “quick” at the base of the toe, which contains the blood supply and will bleed if nicked. Take your time, perhaps trimming only two or three a night and follow up with a treat or play session so the cat learns to enjoy the attention. Then train your cat to claw legal targets instead of the new La-Z-Boy by making forbidden objects “yucky” and the legal ones irresistible.

The “old” scratch object (aka the sofa) has scent and visual markings that keep your cat returning time after time. It may also be in an ideal location from the cat’s point of view--high traffic area, near windows or favorite lookouts. Make it less attractive with Sticky Paws double-sided tape (www.stickypaws.com) on the upholstery. Cats dislike touching surfaces that stick to paw fur. Strong scents such as citrus deodorants or Vicks Vapo-Rub repel many cats. Cinnamon peppered on dark upholstery, or baby powder on light fabric, prompts a poof of dust into the cat’s face when he assaults with feline claws. These pet-safe “booby-traps” are effective when you’re not around.

A product called Feliway duplicates the cheek pheromone that cats produce which is also used in territorial marking. Studies have shown that cats won’t scratch where they’ve already cheek-rubbed, so you can spray Feliway on illegal targets to help persuade cats to leave the sofa alone. You can find Comfort Zone/Feliway products at pet supply stores.

Since clawing marks territory, the location of scratch objects is vital. Your cat wants the world to see his scratch-graffiti. To be alluring to the cat, place objects in high traffic areas and close to important cat real estate such as windows, nap places, and food stations. Don’t stop with one object--offer three or even more. Place at least one object directly in front of the “illegal” target, and you can move it a little at a time later once his preference has changed. Give your cat lots of opportunities to be good.

Cats don’t care about decorator colors. Texture and shape are deciding factors. Watch your cat for clues. Does he like wood, sisal, carpet? Prefer a horizontal full-belly stretch, or vertical reach to claw, or (like Seren) want to squirm on his back and claw overhead? Spiking the new object with catnip helps promote feline allegiance.

Remember that cats don’t scratch to be bad, any more than babies reach out and grab things with their tiny fingers to aggravate you. Interrupt the behavior with a loud sudden noise—slap a newspaper against your thigh, clap hands, or shake an empty soda can full of pennies. Once he stops, direct his claws to the legal target using a feather toy or laser light moved over the scratching post, and praise when he does the right thing.

For a fashion statement with hard-case cats, Soft Paws (www.softpaws.com) vinyl nail covers that come in a variety of colors glue over the top of each claw to prevent damage even if the cat scratches. They are available from pet supply stores and some veterinary offices.

Seren has several legal scratch objects, including me. I sort of like being considered prime kitty real estate.

You'll find more information about dealing with kitty claw issues in "PETiquette: Solving Behavior Problems in Your Multipet Household" and in the excellent free pamphlet from the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants "Think Twice Before You Declaw."

© 2007 Amy D. Shojai