help totally new to cats

Hi! I want so to get off to a good start with a cat that was passed to me with no instructions. I think it is a tabby (striped, brown/grey with orange tummy, M mark on forehead, and mascara stripe from eye corners. I read about these traits online. I cannot tell if it is a neutered male or a female, so no name yet. People have been offering me bits of advice- "If you love your cat, you have to clip its nails!" etc. By reading online info, I have concluded that teeth care is essential. But is it really necessary to cut nails? I think this is an older cat judging by its large size. It has a beautiful temperament, and I already love it. Thank you so much if you could give me your opinion on the nail clipping. PS- my name is mousemom because I already own 15 pet mice. I am working on logistics to keep these pets separated. The cat came with a toy squeak mouse that it rips into constantly.
Jen W

hello and welcome to TCS
congrads on your new cat, as for nail clipping, im not really sure about that, i know people do clip their cats claws, its just declawing most people are against, hope you like it here

Hi Jen- welcome to the board! Nail clipping is not always necessary if you provide your Mackeral Tabby mix (that's what it sounds like you have) with a hard wood scratcher or one wrapped with sissal rope. Scratching by a cat serves several purposes- it helps them shed their old outer nail- for claws to shed out. It helps them stretch their back, and it allows them to claim the area as theirs, for cats have scent glands located under their paws and this is how they mark their territory. I don't know where you are located? But if you have access to beach driftwood, that is a really good way to provide your cat with a scratching post that will also blunt her nails.

You can work with your cat in various ways to get her used to a nail trim, but first ask a vet to show you the proper way to trim nails so that you know. You can cause some harm if you do it incorrectly.

Welcome Jen...sounds like a quick visit to the vet is in order...first to determine the sex, second to get it fixed. As far as nail trimming...Hissy has covered it very well above. Congrats on your new addition! Feel free to let us know if you have any further questions.

Katie

Welcome to the site! You've already gotten very good advice, but I'll move this to Care & Grooming for you.

The other benefit of providing good scratching posts/pads for kitty is that he probably won't scratch your things. Scratching is a very natural behavior for them, it comes to them just like breathing.

welcome aboard nail trimming is an option but as they scratch and claw it does help keep them down and shedding they can also get caught in things when long

Hello, I am so red-faced, I forgot how to log on to this forum after my first post, and didn't have time to figure it out until today. I was so amazed to find all the helpful posts. I've had a few weeks now to start to know my tabby (what a big, round head!), and plan to take him/her to the vet in 2 weeks when my work goes down a bit. I have moved my mice to a totally different room (the cat has a mechanical mouse it is fond of tearing to bits), but moving my big marine crab tank is a project I have to put off. Mr. Whiskers can't keep his eyes off the delecacies, and I caught him several times just about to go crabbing. My daughter is home during the day when I am at work, so she has been instructed to monitor my tank. I will check back in with you all after I browse this site a bit. Again, thanks!
Jen