Nail caps

Nail caps are small, soft vinyl covers glued onto the tips of a cat's claws to blunt the sharp point, so normal scratching does not shred furniture, curtains, or flooring the way an unclipped claw can. They do not stop the scratching behavior itself, only the damage it causes, which makes them a common compromise in rental apartments where furniture and floors need to stay in good shape.

Application involves trimming the claw first, then sliding a properly sized cap over each nail with a small amount of adhesive, and most cats need a short adjustment period before they stop noticing the caps at all. They typically last a few weeks before falling off naturally as the claw grows and sheds its outer layer, at which point they need reapplying.

Sizing matters more than most first-time buyers expect, since a cap that is too loose falls off within days and one too tight can pinch. Nail caps work best alongside, not instead of, a scratching post, since a cat still needs an outlet for the scratching instinct itself, and skipping that outlet can push the behavior toward carpet or upholstery even with capped claws.