ArcaMax

Always let the cat initiate contact with you and respect their boundaries. Also, get a feline pheromone collar for your kitty and spray feline pheromones on your clothing each day. These may help your cat relax and learn to accept more contact from you.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention to you and others humane alternatives to declawing in order to protect furniture. First, provide multiple scratching posts made of different materials such as sisal, cardboard, wood, or carpet, accommodating both vertical and horizontal structures, to determine your cat’s preferences. Encourage and train your kitten to use these posts by gently guiding them to the post when they scratch where they shouldn’t, or by enticing them with treats left at the base or rubbing the scratching post with catnip. Reward them with treats or praise when they use them.

Second, use Sticky Paws tape on furniture to discourage your cat from use, and Soft Paws nail caps on your cat’s nails to protect you and your furniture.

Third, learn how to trim your kitten's claws to minimize their sharpness. Online tutorials are readily available, or your veterinarian can offer guidance.

Finally, cats require a lot of physical and mental enrichment. Provide plenty of toys, climbing structures like cat trees, and interactive playtime to reduce mental and physical anxiety.

Training a kitten to use appropriate scratching surfaces takes time and patience. So, please reconsider getting your cat declawed and try these suggestions instead. With consistency and persistence, you can successfully redirect their behavior without subjecting your cat to the trauma of this surgery.

Dear Cathy,

Callie, our longhaired, miniature longhair black and tan dapple dachshund always preferred my husband over me. But I didn’t realize she thought she was his alpha female and was totally taken by surprise one day when she jumped in my lap, walked up my chest, and peed on me; that little witch.

She never did it again, but she had her own code of “don’t get mad, get even.” And she did, by peeing in obscure places that we had to find to clean and remove the smell. We loved her dearly and were devastated by her unexpected passing in 2020. One of your recent columns took me back to that day and had me laughing. Just had to share.

— Kathy, Norfolk, Virginia

Dear Kathy,

It sounds like Callie had quite the personality. It's not uncommon for pets to have their own ways of communicating, even if it's not always what we expect. It's heartwarming to hear that you were able to look back on those moments with laughter and love. Our furry friends have unique ways of leaving lasting impressions on our lives, don't they? Thanks for sharing.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)

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