29 Sep Tiger Will Keep His Claws (Sept 2024)
Tiger’s physical and emotional well being won’t be harmed by removal of his claws. There is a solution.
Tiger Will Keep His Claws
(Declaw Alternatives) ….
As I bicycled home from my lesson at the Apple Store, my trainer’s conversation came back to me. He told me how he and his girlfriend had adopted Tiger, a rescue, a really cool cat. He used his scratching post but tore up their nubby textured chair — a similar texture to his post. They thought more of Tiger than the chair. But what if one day he dissed their brand new stuff?
”We would never **declaw Tiger but there’s gotta be a way for him to workout without it being a destruction derby,” he said.
I told him:
* Cover the entire chair for at least three or four weeks and secure the cover so it’s Tiger-proof. Otherwise, he can crawl under the cover.
* One scratching post isn’t enough — especially if Tiger’s solo post isn’t sturdy. Two or three sturdy, nubby or sisal posts would keep him scratching in the right places.
* Whenever he works out, tell him he is a cool, best cat and cheer him on. If he scratches stuff, a very sharp, non-negotiable “NO” will startle and interrupt his intent.
* But you must be consistent. Otherwise, Tiger will be confused and inconsistent.
I mentioned how my cat, Orion, has an assortment of sisal, cedar and cork alternatives. Whenever he wants my acknowledgement he knows it’s a given — if he makes the rounds of his posts and pads, I’ll repeat and repeat “What a good boy you are”. He usually greets me at the door with a scratching post work out to my shouts of “Good boy” — instant acknowledgment for me too.
R.A.C.E.
Repetition, Acknowledgment and Consistency add up to the Endurance which will keep Tiger scratching in all the right places. So remember R.A.C.E.
Orion works out at his sisal post – the Ultimate Scratching Post
**The removal of a cat’s claws can trigger medical and emotional problems. Refer to my article You Can’t Declaw With Love
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