Hello

Do any of you who let your cat out sometimes clip their nails ?? I am assuming its not a very good idea since they might run into trouble and need needle sharp nails? my vet seems to think it would not make a diff though :rolleyes:

We clip Bijou's nails and he goes outside with my husband. I don't think it's a problem - he's still got teeth. :lol3:

I just clip the very sharp hook end off if they start getting caught in the carpet (that's not often though). I like to leave them enough so that they can jump up the tree if they need to.

When Addie (our feral/stray) went for her check over at the vets we asked if he would clip her nails as they were getting caught in the carpet and he clipped them as short as you would for an indoor kitty. It didn't seem to cause her a problem when she went outside.

I clip the nails out the outside/garage cats just like I do the inside cats. At least, the ones that will tolerate it. I clip them because they are always in my lap & I was getting scratched up pretty bad(my fault, too)!

but doesnt having longer sharper claws benifit outdoor cats in case they get into trouble? :confused:

Every few months, I'd cut the barn cats nails - didn't hurt them any - they still caught the mice.

The most dangerous thing to the cat outside is a car and nails aren't going to help them with that! I think even with clipped nails they can easily climb a tree if that is what they want to do.

it is true that if they were to get in a fight with another animal, they do most damage with their claws, not their teeth.

I wouldn't cut them too short - just trim the sharp, pointy bit so that they aren't like little needles but are still sharpish.