OK...somebody`s GOT to tell me "WHY"???

Originally Posted by TNKittyMom

I agree completely with this. I do the same thing, especially since we have a small child. Not to mention I have several scars from cats over the years, and, personally, I don't want any more.

Click to expand...

I have had numerous scratches in many many locations over the years, snags in sweaters, blankets, even jeans, and I've had Tuxie get her claws stuck in the carpet on more than one occasion, and she tends to panic when that happens. So for their safety, as well as the safety of my baby girl, I started clipping their claws when I found out I was pregnant. That's not to say they like it all that much, and I do have one that the vet has to do for me every other month, but it gets done.

I don't care about getting scratched (although I'd be happier if I didn't) and I could care less about my furniture.

I clip because I've seen first hand what can happen when a cat gets a claw stuck in something and panics.
It's very bloody, and very painful for the cat.

I clip my guy's nails. I know 2 of mine will scratch the furniture, so clipping reduces the damage. Ophelia's get clipped because she has this tendency to attack. All my foster kittens get their clipped in hopes the new owners will not declaw.

Shami likes to knead my neck. I'm not quite sure why he choses to knead my neck all the time, but I wouldn't want to know what it would feel like if his claws were never clipped. Even with his claws clipped he leaves scratch marks on me.

If you let the claws grow, the get to be like needles. They'll go straight through jeans and plunge a good half a cm into your skin. Very painful.

I clip for the same reasons everyone else seems to...

1. It hurts like crazy when they knead on you with long claws and all three of mine are kneaders
2. Tryon likes to move the drapes so she can watch outside the window and has occasionally gotten a claw stuck in the drapes which leads to a bloody freakout scene.
3. I've witnessed what a claw to the eye can do.
4. I've also witnessed what a claw can do if left too long - it can curl under and become embedded in the paw pad (was not a pretty sight) and yes, this cat had plenty of things to scratch on.

The dogs get theirs clipped because if left too long they can break under the skin which is very bloody and very painful for the dogs.

Originally Posted by Epona

I don't understand how anyone can't keep their cats claws trimmed. If I didn't do it I would regularly have wounds from where they have raced over me chasing one another during a 'funny five minutes', or from overenthusiastic kneading.

!

Click to expand...

i have plenty of scars and my DH has a nasty one on his back, and yes we get them running over us in bed when they get there nutty half hours, but weve never had any of them hurt each other nor have we had any injurys where they have caught there nails. and i can honstly say they have never caught the kids with there claws even when cuddling down with them and kneeding them.
i can understand why a lot of people trim there cats claws, but i also understand why some dont.

I'll move this to care and grooming

I'm pretty lax in clipping Nikita's claws. However I watch her carefully and whenever I spot her starting to gnaw and bite at her front claws I figure they've gotten too long for her comfort since she's trying to shorten them herself and out come the clippers.

I'm not worried about scratches really, just her comfort. Even if she doesn't start to bite at her claws I check them over almost daily just to make sure they're healthy and not starting to curl under etc.

I clip all of my cat's claws for all the reasons listed above. And I do have many, many scars from kitties!

I clip because I am trying to save my screens and curtains. another reason is I sometimes find scabs on them from getting stuck by the others nails. My guys are not crazy about it, but they tolerate it. If you don't, the nails get incredibly long and sharp. I can't imagine NOT clipping nails.

I guess you could say the adoption group where I volunteer promulgates the idea of clipping claws.

We get so many adopters who are on the fence about declawing their kittens. So we spend a lot of time with every adopter, whether they are adopting a cat or kitten. The bottom line is if people want to lie on their application they can probably get away with it.

So we make a big case for regular claw clipping along with other activities as a humane and reasonable way to keep from scratches and shredded furniture.

We show them how easy it is to clip the claws, and we do it right there with their kitty. We have them practice on cats at the show. We show them the cardboards that cats love to scratch on, and we tell them about the scent glands in their paws and how the kitties aren't always out to scratch as much as they are to leave their scent which only they can smell.

I don't clip my kitties' claws but there is a good case to spread the word to the general population so they don't just amputate them.

I've never clipped because previous cats have been both indoors and outdoors, and I find that cats only scratch you when you do something to p**s them off. At first I got a few scratches from Harry until he learned to retract and now he NEVER puts his claws out at me. Yes he does scratch the furniture but I knew this would be something that would happen if I planned to get a kitten.

I'm not against clipping in any way; I just don't do it myself.

To be honest, I'm surprised that so many people clip their cats' claws. I had never seen a need for it, or even thought about it, until a few years ago. After all, cats don't have nails that keep growing longer, like people or dogs. They aren't meant to wear down. My cats learned not to scratch me or the furniture without too much trouble, and I figure the occasional accidental scratch is just part of owning cats.

However, when I adopted a 5 year old retired breeding cat who had always had her claws clipped, I soon found out that her claws would grow too long and snag on things if they weren't cut. My theory is that claws are damaged by clipping and don't grow and shed normally afterward, so you have to continue clipping them. JMO. I would not clip a cat's claws unless that particular cat shows a need for it.

I clip PHX's claws whenever I notice they need to be cut. If I don't he gets them snagged on the carpet, bed, blankets, me, etc. I wouldn't want him to get them caught on something and tear out and bleed!

I think if your cat is indoors, you should clip them! It doesn't really take all that long, and PHX doesn't even care if I do it. I usually do the front paws one day and then the back claws the next... It's really no big deal!

Originally Posted by Dragoriana

I would've assumed as a cat owner, you might already know the answer

Click to expand...

That's not necessarily true. When we got the cats, the shelter told us / showed us how to clip their claws, but they didn't tell us why and I didn't ask. I gave it a go with no success whatsoever. Once I read up on why, and talked to the vet, we decided not to clip (despite their being indoor cats). If I ever see them having a problem getting snagged on things, I'll rethink. Otherwise, except for the first couple weeks while Swanie was still young and I was still stupid, I haven't had a scratch on me from them. As for the furniture, Swanie will occasionally scratch the back of the sofa, but I figure, it's only furniture ..

One other thing that is not mentioned. If you are a show person, you are REQUIRED to clip nails before a show. Maybe I'm just in the habit of clipping and can do just about any one's cat

But with my experience in the accident with the kittens and the one almost blinded; I'd really hate for those of you that don't clip to experience something like that!

Originally Posted by momto3cats

To be honest, I'm surprised that so many people clip their cats' claws. I had never seen a need for it, or even thought about it, until a few years ago. After all, cats don't have nails that keep growing longer, like people or dogs. They aren't meant to wear down. My cats learned not to scratch me or the furniture without too much trouble, and I figure the occasional accidental scratch is just part of owning cats.

Click to expand...

I have to disagree with the statement about cats not having nails that keep growing. Now, it's not a normal thing to see, but I'll never forget one cat that came into a grooming shop that I was working in a few years ago. This older couple came in with their large black and white long-haired cat asking to have his nails clipped. They had recently got the cat from someone who had him for several years and was unable to keep him. Anyway, they noticed him having a problem walking, so they checked and his nails were so long that they were, literally, curling back into his feet. We were able to get them clipped, and you could just see how much better he felt. I had never seen that with a cat before. It happens with dogs, but I'd never even heard of it with a cat. So, even though it may be rare, it can happen. I'm still not sure how his nails got that long unless the previous owners never allowed him to do anything, but somehow it happened.

literally, curling back into his feet

Click to expand...

I can tell from the angle of two of Fang's nails that they would grow into his pads if left unattended.
I never clip the back toes, just the front. They chew off the back nails themselves.

Cats that go outside wear their claws down by walking on hard surfaces and climbing trees. Indoor cats dont get an opportunity to do this which is why most need their claws trimmed. As they get older, their claws tend to grow longer so it's best to start when they're young, imo. I dont' recall there ever being an issue when Jaffa was very young, but for many years now I've trimmed claws. Jaffa's back claws are now very long (so that he can't fully retract them) so I'm having to be a bit devious now about getting them trimmed (I normally only do front claws - I live alone and Jaffa hides when I have visitors so I can't get someone to help) - I got 2 done last night when he was sitting on top of something with them overhanging.

I do it partly so that they don't hurt me as much when climbing on and off my lap, but also so that they dont hurt each other when they play rough. Jaffa's get caught on the sofa throw when they get too long and that distresses him a bit when he can't instantly free himself.

I don't think clipping the claws damage them. Every cat care book I have here (and I have a few) advocate clipping the claws on a regular basis.

Oh and not all cats claw a person because they are mad at someone. Ping does it when he plays with our feet. Thats really the only time. And I attribute that to him not being raised with his mom or litter (not my choice).