Soft Paws for Cats

If your frisky feline is scratching up your fine furniture, you may be tempted to declaw her before she takes a swipe your new love seat. However, declawing your kitty is considered demoralizing, declasse, and downright de trop by members of established cat fanciers organizations and veterinary professionals. The American Veterinary Medical Association has also made its policy against declawing quite clear and suggests use of acrylic or vinyl tips, such as Soft Paws for Cats, as an alternative to this brutal surgical procedure.

  1. Soft Paws for Cats--What Are They?

    • Soft Paws are soft vinyl "substitute" claws that are inserted over kitty's natural claws using a pet-safe glue. Soft Paws don't hinder your pet's ability to retract or use her claws--they just prevent her from damaging your fine furnishings, as well as prevent scratches to soft human skin. According to the manufacturer, Soft Paws last from four to six weeks and eventually drop off as your pet's claws grow, so they will need to be replaced. However, individual Soft Paws tips may come off before this time, so it's important to ensure all of your cat's claws are covered if you want these to work effectively.

    How to Use Soft Paws

    • First, trim your kitty's nails using a conventional nail clipper. Make sure not to cut into the pink part of her cuticle, or else her nails will bleed. Fill the hollow Soft Paws nail tips one-third full with the glue that comes with your product and slide them over your pet's nail. Make sure she remains still for five minutes after Soft Paws are in place to allow the glue to dry--you may want to cuddle or pet your cat or distract her with her favorite food treat.

    What Consumers Say

    • Soft Paws gets mixed online reviews from those who have used them. Many customers comment that Soft Paws work very well for their pets, who don't seem to mind their nails being capped with the vinyl tips. Yet others state that their favorite feline reacted adversely by chewing them off or mentioned that as their cats' nails grew out, their Soft Paws-tipped claws tended to get stuck in upholstery or bedding. Many pet owners noted that their Soft Paws-tipped kitties fell off cat trees while attempting to climb them. Soft Paws seem to work well for good-natured felines who will tolerate them and quite poorly for sensitive cats who take offense to having their natural nails capped.

    Soft Paws® Options

    • Soft Paws does have competition--Soft Claws, which cost the same (per package) and are also applied and used in the same way as Soft Paws. But if your kitty isn't thrilled with her "fake nails," there are a couple of other alternatives to declawing. One method is to simply use conventional nail clippers to trim your pets' claws. While this may result in jagged edges that can still result in damage to your furniture, this is the most efficient and inexpensive way to keep kitty's nails short. Another way of getting rid of sharp cat claws is to file them manually with a study emory board or use an electric nail filer, such as Pedi Paws. Whatever method you use, it's important to get your kitty accustomed to a regular routine of claw clipping, filing or acrylic tipping as soon as possible--preferably, when she's still a kitten.

    Where to Get Soft Paws®

    • Soft Paws can be ordered online from the manufacturer, although there are several online sites that sell them. The cost for 40 acrylic Soft Paws tips in 2009 was $18.95 plus $3.99 shipping. Soft Paws come in four sizes: kitten (for use up to the age of 4 months); small (between 6 and 8 pounds); medium (between 9 and 13 pounds); and large (14 pounds and more). Most adult cats wear medium-sized Soft Paws, although the large size may be appropriate for large-cat breeds such as Maine coons and male Norwegian forest cats. Soft Paws are sold in a clear color, but there are a variety of festive colors available for adult-sized cats, including black, gray, blue, purple, red and pink.