Kitty needs nails trimmed. Need suggestions.

[BMWTurboDzl]

Why would a cat need his/her nails trimmed? Makes no sense.

Houses contain a lot of soft surfaces such as upholstery, bedding, and carpeting on which a claw(s) can get stuck and cause sever damage if the cat "freaks out" in order to free itself. That's the primary reason to trim.

It's funning to watch a cat grab is back leg and start gnawing/pulling on their claws in order to remove the older sheaths. I find the sheaths on the floor all the time. Now as cats age they do a worse job at maintaining their claws because they lose flexibility.

I've never heard of claws curling back into their pads. That must be breed specific.

 

[Tom NJ]

Veterinarians can do this. The cat might need sedation to get the trimming done.

If the nails aren't trimmed, they can grow long enough to curve back into the paw. It's roughly the same as balling your fist with long fingernails digging into the palm of your hand, except the cat won't get any relief until the trimming is done.

Exactly the problem with my old cat. I take her to the vet every two months where they sedate her if necessary and trim her claws for $25.

 

[JGmazda]

Lots of playtime to tire them out, then trim as many as you can.

Never, ever think of de-clawing. Its mutilation. How would you like to have your fingers chopped off at the first joint to eliminate your finger nails?

Amen on that! Horrible disfigurement and impairment.

 

[PandaBear]

 

[K-Man]

Many vets won't declaw cats these days. They look at that as mutilation too. I agree.

 

[Mr_Luke]

I haven't trimmed Manny's claws for a while. He's a Manx cat that was semi feral, now indoors with us. His claws can get super sharp.
What I've done is put a sock over their heads so they seem to resist less. Also wrapping him in a towel might help.
I do think I'll trim his claws soon because he can menace the other cats and if his claws are too sharp it will definitely upset the other cats more.

I hope you never declaw. Declawing often ruins a cat's life because they won't poop or pee in the litter box because of sensitive paws, and then the owner surrenders it to an animal shelter where it's not readily rehomed. In decades of owning cats, I've never declawed a cat and never would.

I once adopted a cat that was declawed, and no one seemed to want to adopt him. He had litter box issues and often pooped outside the box. He had a spinal injury possibly from a previous owner hurting him for pooping outside the box, and one day he got up and died. I loved that cat but IMHO declawing clearly destroyed his life. His pooping all over the house made it hard for me to want to deal with him also.

 

[zzyzzx]

Provide scratching options for them and no need to trim nails.

Remind me to post pictures of some my my scratching posts. I have a cat that routinely stops at one every time he goes into the room.

 

[JGmazda]

I haven't trimmed Manny's claws for a while. He's a Manx cat that was semi feral, now indoors with us. His claws can get super sharp.
What I've done is put a sock over their heads so they seem to resist less. Also wrapping him in a towel might help.
I do think I'll trim his claws soon because he can menace the other cats and if his claws are too sharp it will definitely upset the other cats more.

I hope you never declaw. Declawing often ruins a cat's life because they won't poop or pee in the litter box because of sensitive paws, and then the owner surrenders it to an animal shelter where it's not readily rehomed. In decades of owning cats, I've never declawed a cat and never would.

I once adopted a cat that was declawed, and no one seemed to want to adopt him. He had litter box issues and often pooped outside the box. He had a spinal injury possibly from a previous owner hurting him for pooping outside the box, and one day he got up and died. I loved that cat but IMHO declawing clearly destroyed his life. His pooping all over the house made it hard for me to want to deal with him also.

Sad. Sad that people will do this to an animal just to fit their lifestyle. Screw that. You want an animal (Any Animal) for a pet... then realize they come with some behaviors.
I've known people that had pets for two weeks and then shipped them off to the shelter. They couldn't deal with the inevitable "mess" of chewed items. Unreal.
Then DON'T get a PET!!! It's that simple. People drive me nuts.

 

[Eddie]

I love my SKooter and have scratching posts and mats. I even put catnip on them which encourages him to scratch. I still need to trim his needle-sharp nails. I didn't mean to start a no nails vs nails fight. Gads

 

[Mr_Luke]

A year ago I was feeding Manny outdoors, he would not come in, but he adopted us last May.

 

[JGmazda]

Actually, there was a time when one of our three rescue cats would scratch the sofa. Solution was to provide him with a scratching pad (Cardboard) that we placed near the back of the couch. Sure enough, he started using this and left the couch alone. They often try to claim their territory by scratching, and this allowed him to do both. Win-Win for both of us!

 

[Eddie]

I may try that JGmazda

 

[DriveHard]

Cats do not have a medical reason for nail trimming.
It is easy to mess up and then really puts the animal in pain as well.

IMHO declawing is a form of mutilation.

Work with the animal with scratch trees and the like.
If that is no sufficient to protect furniture then thats the cost of doign business of owning one of these wonderful creatures

I have tattoos, piercings, a vasotomy, and am circumcised. What is wrong with declawing?

 

[Hyundai Respecter]

I have tattoos, piercings, a vasotomy, and am circumcised. What is wrong with declawing?

Declawing would be like chopping the tip of your fingers off down to the first knuckle. It’s cruel.

 

[Supersonic]

With the big cat it's easiest if I can cradle him on his back to do the back paws. And then for the front paws it's into the bathroom and onto the counter, then back and forth, a catch and release to let the cat's anxiety levels decrease. For both front and back paws, sometimes as few as one, and just get the others later when my anxiety and frustration levels decrease. And sometimes the big cat will let me do his back nails while he is resting on my lap, I keep a small nail clipper handy for that option.

 

[Dave Hess]

Declawing would be like chopping the tip of your fingers off down to the first knuckle. It’s cruel.

Yep. + 1000000 %