Thread: Nail Clipping?

Nails clipped save the furniture,clothes etc. I never done it to my little domestic moggies as they were out & about climbing etc but these ones lead a different lifestyle so just helps make it easier on everything.We have got one lovely tear in the leather sofa where I had forgotten to do one of the cats claws once so it hasn't happened again,all claws done once a month,a vet would never suggest cutting the nails it is just an individual personal thing.
For cats that are shown it has to be done,don't know that it makes that much difference if they decide to stick them into you though,as yet have been lucky enough not to find out....

Maybe we're just lucky, our cats have a cat shaped door mat in our bedroom that they use, and a 6 foot 5" scratch post down stairs that they love to climb, and they scratch them both like mad and there are often nails (shells like casings) from old nails left behind. Im not convinced it's going to be necassary for us to do but if im proven wrong then I guess i'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it. Im not apposed to cutting them but we'll see. They wont be going outside.
Thank you though.

Im just wondering why we should clip our Cats claws?

Like I said in my post: The main reasons we clip nails are: (1) so you can play with them without getting scratched, (2) so they don't get caught on cat tree carpeting, (3) so they are less likely to injure each other when playing.

As other people have pointed out, it also helps make it less likely they can damage furniture.

I like to really play with our guys, as they love chasing hands, grabbing arms, etc. However, if their claws are not clipped, you will end up being quite scratched up. If they are clipped, I almost never get hurt at all. Of course you may not want to play with yours like this.

We also find that as their front claw become very long they curve quite a bit, and this can cause them to have real problems getting caught on the carpeting on many cat trees and scratching posts (other than sisal). Trimming the nails really helps with this.

I'll buy some tomorrow and see what's what and the play fighting is great, i love my shredded hands, I wear my scratches with pride! Plus it's the bite that you want to watch and Im not about to pull there teeth! LOL!
Thank you.

I was wondering the same thing, but realised if cats didn't go outside they wouldn't get the chance to wear their claws down.
our moggie loves to dig his claws in and he scratches things he shouldn't... lucky not the leather lounge, but the cover on the pool table.
I think I will handle Gryfns paws, then if i have to do it I won't have the problems. He will be going outside into a cat enclosure, and I'm going to try to get him some large branches to scratch. There is one in there that we used when we had birds but I don't think its strong enough at the top to hold gryfn's weight.

I usually clip the nails on my coon once or twice a month...that way it doesn't hurt so much when we are playing

I wait until he he is sleeping to cut his nails, it is so much easier that way...he hardly notice it

It has been great reading all the replies on such a simple topic as nail clipping,why we do it etc. One point to make though is if they are cats that are allowed to roam free they do need to keep their talons as nature intended because they are used as means of defence & also,bless,for catching those little items of prey & as much as I cherish keeping my furniture in one piece as long as possible never would I have backed the nasty declawing of them {is this still legal in some countries}at the end of the day we are just taking off that little hook that is not needed for our very pampered pets,even dogs have that trimmed off of their nails if they don't get roadwork. Wether nails are clipped or not it pays to keep an eye on the older cat,as their claws don't retract so much they do become very
susceptible to ingrown claws,very often have a cat in at work where owners think they have broken their leg & one claw out of pad later we have a miricle cure.
Now what was my first job this Sunday morning,Ah I know,where are those clippers.....

Originally Posted by jckkerrison

It has been great reading all the replies on such a simple topic as nail clipping,why we do it etc. One point to make though is if they are cats that are allowed to roam free they do need to keep their talons as nature intended because they are used as means of defence & also,bless,for catching those little items of prey & as much as I cherish keeping my furniture in one piece as long as possible never would I have backed the nasty declawing of them {is this still legal in some countries}at the end of the day we are just taking off that little hook that is not needed for our very pampered pets,even dogs have that trimmed off of their nails if they don't get roadwork. Wether nails are clipped or not it pays to keep an eye on the older cat,as their claws don't retract so much they do become very
susceptible to ingrown claws,very often have a cat in at work where owners think they have broken their leg & one claw out of pad later we have a miricle cure.
Now what was my first job this Sunday morning,Ah I know,where are those clippers.....

Yes of course your absolutely right, an outdoor cat will almost always look after their own claws, the point I think we have all made is that indoor cats are a different kettle of fish so to speak, although we all have scratch posts, they are by no way enough to do the same job as being outside. Infact, when I came to cut Harry's nails a couple of them had already split obviously from using the scratch post and as you know on a human can be painful if not looked after. I think it's a necessity with indoor cats for the cats wellbeing and ours. Declawing on the other hand, well that's another topic, I think I could probably say our thoughts on this horrible subject would be the same it makes me mad Thanks for everyone's input on this subject !