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trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 10:23:02 AM

pahunkboy

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My cat is de-clawed in the front- but not the back. I trimmed her nails once since April. How often do you cut your cats nails?

How short is best?

Any thoughts on do's and don'ts?

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 10:34:41 AM

honeygirl

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My cats have all their claws/nails/etc and I almost never clip their nails. The last time I clipped them has go to be more than four or five years ago. They seemed always seemed so defeated and sad, I just stopped. They would go limp as soon as I'd gotten them into position and before I even started so I think whomever may have clipped their nails in the past had been really rough.

Thanks to generous use of water in spray bottles, we finally reached an agreement about what was acceptable for them to scratch up

. Scratching pads are "in" and furniture is "out!" Rugs - we'll, if I don't catch them in the act, it never happened

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 10:55:40 AM

cajingrl

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Both of my cats are declawed in the front but not the back. I am very glad that their back claws are still there, because back in Sept. one of them fell out of his carrier from upstairs when I was moving and was attacked by the roommates dog. If it wasn't for his back claws he wouldn't be here today.

ETA: I have never cut their back claws and they don't claw the furniture.

< Message edited by cajingrl -- 1/2/2010 10:59:23 AM >

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 11:03:47 AM

OrionTheWolf

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The only time they should need trimmed is if they split or become damaged in such a way as to snag on things. If you clip, it should be very tip, and watch for hitting the vein that goes through the nail. There is some actual stuff you can get to stop that bleeding, but I have found super glue works great. If you want to keep your cats from damaging things with their claws, try using soft paws instead of declawing.

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 11:32:31 AM

LafayetteLady

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Since your cat is declawed in the front, there should be no need to trim the back nails. Your cat isn't backing up to the furniture and clawing the hell out of it with its hind legs, is it?

Socks isn't declawed, and she is the first cat I have ever had that claws the furniture. She makes me nuts. I need to get a water bottle to break the habit. She also likes to use my leg to sleep on and will frequently do that pawing thing trying to make my leg more "comfortable." Hurts like a bitch.

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 11:33:18 AM

zephyroftheNorth

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quote:

The only time they should need trimmed is if they split or become damaged in such a way as to snag on things.

Master Orion, the only thing I would add is that I trim Maggie's nails when I get tired of her digging long trails in my legs with her front nails. It does take long though, does anyone have tips on how to cut a young kitten's nails without being gouged or bitten?

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 12:51:33 PM

switch2please

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My cat is terrible about it, I wrap her in a towel so I can trim her nails one paw at a time without being attacked by the other three. I do it once every few months, or as needed to keep my favorite reading chair intact...

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 1:14:34 PM

zephyroftheNorth

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I've tried that but she slides out like she's greased. I have resigned myself to doing one paw at a time, or in the case of her back paws one nail at a time

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 2:21:39 PM

SweetPoosy

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OK, regarding the OP, I wouldn't worry about back paws, only front paws. I do clip all of my cat's nails, simply because I don't like being perforated while they are showing their great love by kneading my flesh...YeeeOUCH! I may be a sub, but I'm not into THAT type of pain!

Zephyr, I "burrito" my kitties if I need to do something they won't like. Get a towel, lay them on their back on the towel diagonally, pull the pointy corner by their tail up to their chin first, then the other two sides, and tuck it in VERY firmly. But for mail clipping, I usually wait until they are in a very lovey mood, all curled up in my arms like a baby, then I clip inbetween lovies. They usually realize that they've been "had" by about the third or fourth paw.

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 3:22:50 PM

LafayetteLady

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You could also just take them to a local groomer and have them done there. Costs I think about 8 bucks. Only need to do it once every 2-3 months so it isn't all that expensive.

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 3:34:24 PM

Owlet

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I'm terribly confused as to why the back paws need to be trimmed at all...

quote:

ORIGINAL: OrionTheWolf
The only time they should need trimmed is if they split or become damaged in such a way as to snag on things. If you clip, it should be very tip, and watch for hitting the vein that goes through the nail. There is some actual stuff you can get to stop that bleeding, but I have found super glue works great. If you want to keep your cats from damaging things with their claws, try using soft paws instead of declawing.

Seconding Soft Paws, and also PediPaws nail trimmer, which can be found at most chain pet stores. However, I've had many, many cats over the years and never had to resort to declawing. I guess a lot of people don't realize that cats actually respond to discipline almost as readily as dogs do. You just have to approach it differently and tailor it to their highly individual personalities (a.k.a. brattiness). It does, of course, help greatly if you raise them yourself. The one cat I had to trim a little with was just a giant baby and never developed the ability to retract his claws fully, and so in order to allow the poor guy to walk across the carpet without tripping himself up, I had to file them down a little. Silly little guy.

And I have to say it: Declawing is eeeeeeeeeevil.

quote:

ORIGINAL: zephyroftheNorth

quote:

The only time they should need trimmed is if they split or become damaged in such a way as to snag on things.

Master Orion, the only thing I would add is that I trim Maggie's nails when I get tired of her digging long trails in my legs with her front nails. It does take long though, does anyone have tips on how to cut a young kitten's nails without being gouged or bitten?

Just how young is the kitten? Very young kittens actually don't have the ability to retract their claws at all until they're a few weeks old. They're born ready to climb curtains and cling to screen doors! When they're that small, I'd be super afraid of hitting the tissue bed.

< Message edited by Owlet -- 1/2/2010 3:41:09 PM >

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 3:43:55 PM

Phoenixpower

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I never felt the need to klip the nails from my cats in almost 27 years of cat owner ship now. My boys are outside most of the time and keep them short enough by themselves with their climbs up and down the trees and my girls use the little cat tree inside as they don't go out much.

As other said regarding de-clawing, that would never happen to my cats. I dated once a guy who spoke about declawing as he was so fearful that they might touch his holy guitar (as if they would have no other interest at all

) and that was one big red flag for me...so if I would have to choose between declawing the cat and being together with a bloke...the bloke will go.

There are enough other ways out there how to keep cats away from items they are supposed to be kept away from.

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 3:52:32 PM

Owlet

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Phoenixpower

There are enough other ways out there how to keep cats away from items they are supposed to be kept away from.

This. I'd exhaust many forms of deterrents and discipline before I started whacking at their best form of self defense and escape.

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 3:59:21 PM

kyraofMists

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We do not trim our cats nails often. Most of them have all their claws. If you are having problems with a cat scratching where you don't want it to, our vet recommended Feliway. I am not sure if you can get it in the US, but it is a spray that works wonders. You spray it on the area that you don't want them to scratch and they don't scratch it.

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 4:08:36 PM

Termyn8or

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I, of course have a different perspecective, but what did you expect ?

I don't declaw nothin, I think it is unfair. You have highly domersticate lap cats that is fine, but I do things a bit differently. We have white kitty, also known as rent-a-kitty. He actually live a couple of doors down and his name there is snowball. He must got his ass busted over time because he does not claw anything. In fact after a recent visit I don't think he'll be up on anyone's kitchen table anytime soon. He went flying twenty feet and got thrown out the window. Now he leaves the table alone when he comes.

I don't advocate taking away his ability to defend himself out there. You declaw a cat you have just morally taken away your option to ever throw him out or whatever. In my case I can, with a clear conscience as well. Go see what it's like out there, go right ahead. We actually quit feeding him as well. Now we know he comes around because he likes us. He can be here or not, his choice. Actually he is about due to stop by tomorrow. But I still don't keep pets.

He is a welcome guest, but if he tears up the grille cloth on my Bostons he is going to eat those motherfuckers, frame and all. No need for hitting, as long as he wants to be here, ejection works quite effectively. But if I declawed him, that is like taking on a whole new magnatude of responsibility. He wasn't made for that and neither was I.

Other people's dogs obey me in my house as well, or else. When here, I am the law, and if you don't like it, I'll point out that wood thing in front. It's called a door. This applies to people, animals, Martians, Venutians, every thing and every body. (note the discrete words, supra)

To me, to declaw a cat is tantamount to poking someone's eyes out and making them drive home blind. You don't like it here, fine. But I won't take away your survival tools. About the same thing as gun laws to me. If I ride into a town where I have to check my sidearm with the sherriff, if I don't like the looks of the place I just ride on out. Fukum.

I won't even let my sinister hypnotise white kitty, he is not ours. Now that's a sight to behold. She actually can get about 110% of their attention, and once that happens it is almost like a Vulcan mind meld.

But to get to that point is to actually have a pet, which is something I will not do. I like animals too much to interfere with their lives. They choose to be with me fine, they change their mind fine.

T

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 4:12:19 PM

zephyroftheNorth

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quote:

ust how young is the kitten? Very young kittens actually don't have the ability to retract their claws at all until they're a few weeks old. They're born ready to climb curtains and cling to screen doors! When they're that small, I'd be super afraid of hitting the tissue bed.

Maggie is 5 months old. Clipping her nails too close to the nail bed isn't an issue, only the tips plus a tiny bit more are clipped...in other words just enough that she doesn't gorge my legs.

I agree with you, declawing is evil, there is zero chance that any cat of mine would be declawed.

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 4:17:41 PM

BKSir

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Yes, yes we do. It's not hard to do, just have to be careful not to clip the quick. That can lead to bad things like infections, great pain, etc.

It also helps older cats whose claws get less able to shed when they claw things or get them stuck in things, and that can cause injuries to them.

And although one could just declaw a cat, that's also bad and lends to behavioral problems such as not using the cat box, biting, etc. It's akin to chopping ones own finger off at the first joint. Not a pleasant thought, huh? It also would cause cleanliness issues, as part of the cats claws produce a natural antiseptic they use for cleaning themselves.

Actually, our vet refuses, and many others are starting the practice, of refusing to declaw cats for many of those reasons, unless there's a true medical need for it such as looping, infections, ingrowing, etc.

EDIT: To add, there are other, wonderful options such as dipping or capping the claws that are inexpensive and very effective..

< Message edited by BKSir -- 1/2/2010 4:22:51 PM >

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 5:39:18 PM

GreedyTop

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I trim my girls toes (front only) about every two weeks. Not every toe needs it, and 2 weeks isnt written in stone. I trim when I notice them getting caught on stuff (including my skin). Avoid the quick. Any doubt? Take them to a groomer.

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 6:28:22 PM

Kirata

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quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

My cat is de-clawed in the front- but not the back. I trimmed her nails once since April. How often do you cut your cats nails? How short is best? Any thoughts on do's and don'ts?

It's important to trim a cat's claws at least every couple/few weeks as a part of maintaining healthy function, if the cat doesn't go outside or otherwise wear them down. I usually trim Aiki's every two weeks, or sooner if I start to feel sharp points sink through my jeans (always a clue... heh) when he wants to come up onto my lap.

I've found that it can also be a good idea to gently (emphasis on gently) push the cuticle back a little if it has grown down too far. A cat's claws are layered. If the cuticle has grown down, part of the shell of the outer layer may not separate completely when it is shed and can cause discomfort. You don't have to do this, it will fall or be chewed off eventually anyway. But I do if I notice that happening, and occasionally even if I don't just to prevent it.

Aiki is pretty good about it, he trusts me. It's not his favorite activity, to be sure, but on the other hand it's part of taking care of him and I think he knows that. Here's a link to the Humane Society page on trimming a cat's claws.

K.

< Message edited by Kirata -- 1/2/2010 6:31:15 PM >

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RE: trim cats toe nails? do you? - 1/2/2010 8:33:07 PM

Owlet

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quote:

ORIGINAL: zephyroftheNorth

quote:

ust how young is the kitten? Very young kittens actually don't have the ability to retract their claws at all until they're a few weeks old. They're born ready to climb curtains and cling to screen doors! When they're that small, I'd be super afraid of hitting the tissue bed.

Maggie is 5 months old. Clipping her nails too close to the nail bed isn't an issue, only the tips plus a tiny bit more are clipped...in other words just enough that she doesn't gorge my legs.

I agree with you, declawing is evil, there is zero chance that any cat of mine would be declawed.

Oh, good! That puts me at ease then. After volunteering for several years at animal shelters and helping at clinics I've seen some things that now make my hackles go up at any mention of delicate pet care. I'm one of those people who nearly burst into tears at those ASPCA commercials.