Yup, gotta trim! I use the scissors-type that you can get at any pet supply store. They are made specifically to fit a cat's small claws. If the claws are white, it is easy to see the quick. Even if you can't see it, you sort of learn to cut where the "hook" is....you can almost "grab" the hook with the scissor and then cut...hard to describe....Originally Posted by Degu_2009
Do you need to trim a cats claws? Or will buying them a scratching post keep the nails down?
I have a friend who is looking into getting a cat, but he is afraid to hit the quick.
Even with the scratching post and cat tree, Bijou's claws get very long and since he loves to knead my neck at night, I definitely need to cut his claws. I also find that if they get too long they get caught in fabrics and mats/carpeting. He does a good job himself of getting the shedding parts off though - I often see him "biting his nails".Originally Posted by jcat
I only trim jagged or crooked claws. Unless cats are ill, very overweight or old, they manage to keep their claws in good shape themselves, given scratching posts, boards, etc.. "Inappropriate scratching" is usually what induces people to clip claws, but why bother if the cat isn't wrecking things?
If a cat has "white" claws, you can avoid cutting too much and into the quick by shining a small flashlight from the side of the claw.
Originally Posted by Yosemite
Even with the scratching post and cat tree, Bijou's claws get very long and since he loves to knead my neck at night, I definitely need to cut his claws. I also find that if they get too long they get caught in fabrics and mats/carpeting. He does a good job himself of getting the shedding parts off though - I often see him "biting his nails".
Your cats are indoor cats, though. Jamie goes out for a long walk on a leash every day, and his predecessors were allowed out alone. They need long claws for protection if they're outside. We have hard floors and leather/wood furniture, so I don't worry much about scratching or claws getting caught.Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45
Personally I don't know how some of you can stand to have sharp nails on your cats!