At the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, Florida, staff have applied red and blue nail caps on the paws of several cats available for adoption during the Fourth of July weekend to help show the public a humane alternative to declawing.

While scratching posts and nail trimming are the easiest and least expensive routes for new cat guardians to take, the nail caps are another option for keeping sofas and carpets scratch-free. The temporary nail caps come in a variety of colors and are glued on to the front claws until the cat’s outer nail sheds naturally. Cats can extend and retract their claws normally while wearing the nail caps without damaging furniture or materials.

The Humane Society in Vero Beach applies the nail caps to adoptable cats during holidays such as the Fourth of July in order to help educate the public about the issue of declawing. Most people think of declawing as the removal of the nail when it's actually more akin to your fingers being cut at the last knuckle.  The procedure is illegal in many countries - but still allowed in the U.S. Declawed cats have a greater propensity for developing joint and bone problems, not using the litter box and biting.

The nail caps are available at pet supply stores and online and can be applied at home or by a veterinarian.