How important is claw trimming?

[missymotus]

Originally Posted by Arlyn

Scratching posts, etc DO NOT do anything for claw trimming, it simply removes shedding claw sheaths and is a marking behavior.

If anything it helps sharpen them up.

 

[trouts mom]

Originally Posted by missymotus

If anything it helps sharpen them up.

Exactly right.

Why not just trim your cats claws? Its not bad for the cat, and its outlined here why it is necessary. Its not hard either.

 

[yosemite]

Originally Posted by emmylou

In a lifetime of having cats, I've never seen one get a claw stuck to anything. Even if it does happen, it could happen with a trimmed claw also.

A cat who's using a scratching post regularly is not going to have claws that get overlong or grow into his paw pad.

It's possible my lifetime may be a bit longer than yours and I have to say I've seen a number of cats get their claws stuck. It's not pleasant to see the little bleeding claws as I saw Bijou's.

Scratching posts sharpen claws but do nothing to shorten them. As the others said, the scratching posts get rid of the shedding sheaths.