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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

I'm going to try to cut their class this evening. How much are they going to hate me?

45 replies

Rockbird · 20/10/2018 16:11

Just that really. We've had them for a month now and they're getting used to us but it's time for some paw maintenance. Either that or we get rid of the rugs and carpets...

I have clippers, I have Dreamies. I have watched YouTube videos. I have a towel to wrap them in if necessary. Anything else I need or is it just an iron will and the luck of the Gods?

OP posts:

KittensAndCake · 20/10/2018 22:22

Nope, I'm another one who's had cats all her life and never clipped their claws

Original poster

Rockbird · 20/10/2018 22:27

I'm heartened by these stories because, believe me, clipping their nails is the very last thing I want to do! DH has only just got home so didn't do it tonight. Don't any of you find that they catch their claws on things?

OP posts:

PlateOfBiscuits · 20/10/2018 22:31

My cat did once clip clip across the wooden floor like she had high heels on - but just for one day and then it must have righted itself.

I’ve had many a loving look at her little paws and have never noticed her claws bring excessively long or curled.

ihatebeans · 20/10/2018 22:35

I cut my cats claws! She doesn't mind actually, some dreamies after each paw and she's all over me again. I have to cut them as they're extremely long and she uses my sofa as a scratching post rather than anything outside 😡

problembottom · 20/10/2018 22:37

DP and I tried once and it did NOT go well. He’s like an angel for the vet nurses tho!

MrsCatE · 21/10/2018 08:26

My cat hates getting his claws done and we have to get the vet to do it during his annual check up and another couple of times in the year. However, last visit was a disaster and vet was crap - very nervous in his approach, cat went ballistic.

Cat is now occasionally getting stuck in carpeted areas and can be heard from Mike's around on wooden floors. Last thing I want to do is sedate him for just his claws. I hope to find a good vets nurse who can come and clip him at home.

Childrenofthesun · 21/10/2018 08:32

Oh dear, please don't do this. Clipping claws used to be relatively common in the US where cats are often kept indoors but it is now considered cruel and unnecessary and is highly discouraged by vets. Just get scratching posts/mats. My cat has a scratch bed that she likes to use which is made of cardboard.

Childrenofthesun · 21/10/2018 08:35

Actually, ignore me, I was thinking of de-clawing rather than trimming. I still don't think it's really necessary if you find something they like to scratch rather than the carpets. My cat started to scratch the carpet for a while but soon stopped when she was told off every time - they can learn.

Original poster

Rockbird · 21/10/2018 10:01

Oh goodness no, I'd never declaw them! They have scratching posts and I got them some box thing with a ball inside yesterday which they've gone mental over. I just read something which mentioned them getting their claws caught (which they do) and possibly causing injury by pulling them out so was trying to avoid that.

I'll leave it for now and think about it, I think.

OP posts:

Toddlerteaplease · 21/10/2018 12:09

I wouldn't bother trying to do cheddar's except that she likes making biscuits on me and it is very painful if her claws are long. Anyone else got a cat that has never unsheathed her claws in anger? I have never met one before. Even the very docile Fatty and Snorg scratch if very cross.

viccat · 21/10/2018 12:24

I can't believe some of the responses here...

Of course it's a perfectly normal thing to do. Cats that live mostly indoors or only go out on the lawn etc. and don't climb trees can't wear their claws down naturally - much like human nails they never stop growing. They do get stuck on rugs and soft furnishings if you don't trim the sharp tips off - scratching posts will not wear down claws.

OP, I had the vet show me the technique the first time and have since done it myself for about 12 years now. I trim all my foster kittens' claws too as they are even sharper than adult cat claws. Once you know how and approach the task confidently, it's done in a few minutes. Wrapping the cat in a towel helps contain a more skittish cat but unless they are particularly aggressive, they are unlikely to lash out or anything.

OlderThanAverageforMN · 21/10/2018 14:04

viccat Thank you. I was starting to think I was weird. I think Arthur's claws probably don't wear down as we live in the country, so he is generally on grass, lawn or fields, not a town cat on pavement. He is always out, so not that he is a house cat. I see it as general maintenance like de-fleaing or worming.

GiantKitten · 21/10/2018 14:19

One of mine bites hers

The other 2 have long front claws, but the back ones get worn down going up & down tree/wall to get in & out of the backyard (claw-biter prefers a strategically placed step ladder)

We have multiple scratching posts but they still use carpets & upholstery too. Of course

The only time the sharp claws are a real problem is when a cat-on-lap is spooked & takes off at speed. That can draw blood!

Allergictoironing · 22/10/2018 09:57

I think it really depends on the cat, rather like nail growth & strength with people. I have 2 indoor only cats, litter brother & sister. Both make very good use of the scratching posts on their tree, and at least one sheds the outer layer regularly (very odd finding sort of ghost claws lying around!).

I get Girlcat's claws checked & maybe a trim at her annual MoT, plus I may get my DSis round once in between to help me check them again. I see her regularly giving them a manicure (should that be "pawicure"?), having a good old chomp on them.

Boycat, however, has massive claw growth and is always getting his caught in things, plus his dew claws curl right round and are in danger of ingrowing if I don't trim them. This is all made worse by a) him not doing his own like his sister does and b) he's so thick & clumsy that he gets them caught very easily. He's if anything more of a scratcher than his sister, evidenced by the state of my ex-wallpaper. I have to trim his probably every couple of months, doing a maximum of 1 paw at a time then giving him a couple of days to recover from the indignity.

Allergictoironing · 22/10/2018 10:01

Oh, and Toddler neither of mine have ever used claws in anger even when terrified. The only scratch injuries I have had is from them "pushing off" with their back paws trying to escape if I'm holding them

sirmione16 · 23/10/2018 08:20

Yes people clip claws! Jeez. It's not necessary generally for cats who go outdoors as the traction of wood and concrete will wear them down. However examples below of when it's entirely appropriate to clip claws

An indoor cat has no purpose for sharp claws and scratch posts are designed to help rid of dead nail but not dull them. She sticks to the carpet and when playing there's a risk they'll get caught and pull out (extremely painful)

Also cats who have arthritis for example - longer sharper nails put more pressure on their paws when walking which may be painful if they're painful in that leg already so clipping them down can help massively.

BertrandRussell · 23/10/2018 08:58

"much like human nails they never stop growing."

I'm pretty sure that's not true. Happy to be proved wrong, of course.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 23/10/2018 09:50

I'm another cat owner (30 years plus) who doesn't clip claws. Only ever had to do it for my old boy (20) in the last year or so of his life because he wasn't managing them any more so kept getting them snagged.
He was easy though - just used to do a paw at a time when he was asleep 😁.

SpoonBlender · 23/10/2018 09:57

We've almost never had to clip claws except shortly after getting a rescue who's been indoors too long.

Get a couple of good solid scratching barrels, they'll look after themselves.

Rikalaily · 23/10/2018 10:17

Their claws can catch on things when they are about to shed off the older outer layer, cats claws kind of de sheath and the new claw is underneath. When they are getting loose they are a bit longer, usually cats will claw things to pull the outer sheath off or will pull it off with their teeth if it's a stubborn one. Once it comes off the new shorter claw is there. My cats are old now and rarely go out. I find claw shells all over the place and their claws don't catch in the carpet etc unless they are pawing at it or having a stretch and their paws splay open. No need to clip most cats claws, if you have areas of damaged carpet/rugs they are probably using it as a scratch post.

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