🐾 Cats’ claws aren’t just for scratching, they’re essential multitools to help them climb, hunt, play, and defend themselves. Thanks to their ability to retract, claws stay tucked away in a furry sheath when relaxed, ready for action. 

Scratching on surfaces helps cats to care for their claws, keeping them sharp and helping them not to grow too long. It’s also used for communication. When cats scratch, they leave a visible mark and a scent signal from special glands between their toes, helping them establish territorial boundaries. 

See how you can support your cat’s scratching needs 

Dr Andre Costa Pereira

Orthopaedic & Soft Tissue Expert

DVM MSc PGcertEAMS PGcertVPS certAVP-GSAS MRCVS
Andre graduated in 2011 and has been working
in the UK since 2013.

Since moving to the UK he has been working in busy hospitals, while training for his certificate in order to ensure high surgical caseload. For the past 3 years he has been the lead surgeon for a large group taking surgical referrals from the other clinics within the group.

He has attended many international congresses and courses to be up to speed with the most recent techniques and has trained with some of the best surgeons in the field.


He enjoys all aspects of soft tissue and orthopedics, but has a special interest in minimally invasive surgery, BOAS (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome) and traumatology.

He has a certificate in Advanced Veterinary Surgery and is an Advanced Practitioner in small animal surgery.