Do you trim your cat's nails?

[catlady34]

MIL thinks it's cruel and unnecessary. The internet is full of mixed opinions... do you trim your cat's claws and if not, why not?

Thinking about it, I've clipped dogs & rabbits nails - just never thought or saw any need to do cats - I don't think my cats would even let me entertain cutting theirs

Never...he would probably try and rip my face off. Hard enough get to this collar on him.
He goes out regularly so I don't think I need to.

I’ve only ever had to do it on my 21 year old cat, when he developed dementia and forgot how to strop his claws or groom himself. He was limping, and I found his claw had grown right round into his pad - the vet had to cut that one, then I clipped him regularly myself for his final year until he died.
My present feisty little 7 year old would have definite views on letting me clip her claws! Fortunately she’s outside a lot, and also has a scratching post.

Only ever had to do it with my old boy in the last year of his life (aged 19/20) because he wasn't managing them himself so kept getting his claws snagged. Wouldn't dream of clipping a cat's claws otherwise.

Mine uses her scratching post all the time but her claws still get so sharp that they catch into everything so need to have the needle like points clipped off.

Its never occurred to me! Why does it need to be done?

I’ve had indoor cats but always offer plenty of scratching posts/toys so it’s never really been a problem.

Yes, for my 18 year old who no longer goes far outside. When younger, there was no need, but now, if I don't keep an eye on them, his claws can grow round into his pads and that must be agony. He tolerates it, most of the time.

Indoor cats here too. Girlcat is usually fine, though I have her done when she has her annual MoT and will do them once in between (if I can persuade someone to hold her for me). Boycat tends to get his caught in his throw on the sofa at the best of times, so I try to catch him drowsing & do a couple at a time every few days 2 or 3 times a year as well as his MoT.

I've always assumed that scratching posts, trees and the like isn't the main way they wear the claws down as they only scratch with their fronts, and the rears don't seem to grow any faster.

Even when Boycat's nails have just been trimmed, he often doesn't seem to retract his back ones all the way in - I've known a couple of other (male) cats the same.

I don't, but my cat spends about 80% of his time outside.

No, the cat that stays here wouldn't allow it.

I wear specs. Quite decent quality ones.
Wouldn't want to test them out as' cat claw shields' if my dcats had to be restrained for claw cutting sessions!!

Yes, but only now he's very old and doesn't really shed them. They get very thick and hard to retract if I don't, which must be uncomfortable for him.

I do now my cats are elderly. Vet told me to. If I didn't get the wrong end of the stick, he said they don't retract as well as they would in a younger cat and I had certainly noticed that they seemed to be getting stuck in everything all the time. Also of course cats don't go out as much as they used to. Find if very easy with a pair of nail clippers if you catch them in a sleepy frame of mind.

No. Fadingcat is very outdoor - uses the washing line prop and a footstool, unless I catch him at it 😾

Just the kitten, because he's still indoors and like to attack my legs :(

My MIL has her cats claws tipped as she doesn’t use scratching posts or climbs trees and loves to dig her claws into legs as you walk past her.

One vet initially refused and was horrified (English wasn’t her first language and there was a miscommunication) but the other vet at the practice demonstrated it was just take the very tip off the claws so they’re not so needle sharp and that was all ok.

I clip my cats claws as and when she needs it. She loves sitting on my lap but uses her claws to anchor herself down . She's a truly unique weird cat who will lick me while I'm clipping them.

I clip my boys claws about once a month. He's mostly indoor, with a pen in the garden. He likes to scratch my carpet though, so I clip them to stop damage. Also, I don't want my young daughter covered in scratches, like my friends children!
It doesn't hurt them, it's not cruel. He just sits on my lap now and lets me. He's so clever 😸

Yes, only if he gets a sharp one and he will ask by holding his paw out

No, it's unnecessary. Cats' claws are supposed to be sharp. Not unless they are elderly IMO.

Nope although I used to peel off fat cats when his got overgrown at the back of the nail I would grab it he pulled he also used to let me file the tips when they got rough

Elderly cats need trimming, they don't have the strength to scratch them off. I had a tortie who developed a nail that curled right round and grew into her skin so ever since then I've always checked my cats claws. My old girl of 16 cannot sort her claws out and I have to take her for regular trimmings at the vet (impossible to do her on my own as she was feral and bites) otherwise I can hear her tap tapping across the kitchen floor. It's amazing how long her claws get especially rear feet and given she has destroyed the stair carpet and goes outside.

We have indoor cats and we trim a couple of their back claws because they hurt themselves when they scratch their ears if they get too long.

Yes. Every month along with deflea. . Outdoor cat. Hunts every day. Done since kitten so just sits there. Always done with all my cats, Guineas too. Not cruel or difficult if they are trained from a young age. My vet does it too.

Yes I cut my cats claws as they are ridiculously sharp. She does go outside and she does use a scratch post.

My friend used to work in a vets and showed me the technique they use.

The vet also always cuts them when we go for her vaccinations.