Soft claws are specially designed vinyl claw caps that attach easily to a cat’s natural claws. They offer benefits for both cats and their owners.
How to Use Soft Claws
To apply Soft Claws to your cat’s nails, place a small amount of adhesive in the claw cap and slide it over a recently trimmed claw. The quick-drying adhesive will hold the cap in place for 2 to 6 weeks, depending on your cat’s age and activity level. Various sizes are available to accommodate the needs of most cats. Soft Claws are available in a variety of colors.
The vinyl claw caps fall off as your cat’s nails grow, so it’s important to check your cat’s nails regularly and replace any missing caps promptly. The caps can be easily removed at any time using an acetone-based nail polish remover.
Benefits of Soft Claws for Cats
The biggest benefit Soft Claws offer your cat is that they are a safe alternative to declawing. Declawing is a significant surgical procedure that involves removing part of your cat's toe bone along with her claw, so it's not to be undertaken lightly. Your cat also faces a recovery period in which she is unable to fully use her feet, and some cats are permanently affected - either physically or emotionally - by the surgery.
Soft Claws prevent your cat from clawing and scratching your belongings, which means she won't have to undergo surgery to resolve her clawing problems. Your cat can still extend and retract her claws normally, and she can still stretch and scratch, but she isn’t able to do any damage with her claws.
While most owners apply the caps only to a cat's front feet, Soft Claws can be used on both the front and hind feet, which can help protect a sensitive cat's skin from damage caused by overscratching. They are not recommended for use on outdoor cats, because the caps leave an outdoor cat unable to fully protect herself by using her claws.
Benefits of Soft Claws for Cat Owners
By placing vinyl claw caps on your cat’s claws, you’ve eliminated the chance for your cat to damage your belongings or scratch family members. You’ve also saved the cost of having your cat declawed, not to mention saving your pet from the discomfort of surgery and recovery.
If your cat has a history of scratching your furniture, she can be retrained to use a scratching post through patient retraining. You might want to leave the Soft Claws on your cat as you begin the training process, but they can be removed as your cat learns where she can and can't scratch in your home.