Cutting claws?

[WhatNow40]

I've only ever had one car and got him when he was 4. He's now 13 and obviously getting on a bit. We've never had to cut his claws before, he always looked after them himself. Now he's getting caught on carpet and furniture multiple times a day.

Is it easy enough to cut them myself? If I was YouTube first?! He is not very easy to get to the vet and there doesn't seem to be a mobile groomer around here. TIA

I've got my cat's claws once but she was asleep. If yours allows you to touch his paw however you need to, it could be possible. You can get a special claw clipper and just cut the tip or you can get a normal nail clipper but make sure you cut straight. the former is a lot easier though.

However, if he goes outside, wouldn't he need his claws to support himself?

I cut my cats claws a a lot. However he is very docile so doesn't mind at all. I just use human nail clippers and take off the tip. You will see a pink bit in the nail near the top and you need to keep well.away from this.

He does for outside a lot. Should I not be trimming his claws then? I'm just worried because he keeps getting stuck. I don't know how long it takes him to free himself when I'm not around but I've found him in some very daft positions lately!

I'm in the same boat OP (my cat is 17). As they get older their claws thicken too and mine isn't shedding his claws as much and keeps getting stuck on things. I bought some clippers from the pet shop but he absolutely hates it!! Bites me. I am persevering though as I'm worried about them ingrowing. He immediately wakes up if I try when he's asleep!

I do mine as cheddar kneads a d it's really painful. But she is incredibly gentle and has never ever used her murder mittens in anger.

Ok, v daft question. What about a nail file?! DCat loves these and he would defo let me file them if I tried. Would that be ok?

As I have indoor cats, mine do need clipping occasionally as they don't get worn shorter by walking on rough hard surfaces. You need to get the cat used to you stroking his feet, then holding them, then getting him to spread & extend the claws by pressing gently on the top of the foot at the base of the toes.

Once he's used to that, and you've practiced enough so you are happy he will tolerate it, you can clip them with either special pet nail clipper, or I use very strong human nail clippers. If you look closely at the claw you will see part way down it has a sort of more opaque core to it - you need to ensure that you don't clip that far down the claw; I tend to do about halfway between the tip and that area.

You may find the first few times that he is startled or scared by the clipping. I had to start off with just a couple of claws as a time, then the next ones a few days later, so make sure you stop and take a break if he starts to get restless. Then feed him a treat afterwards as bribery!

Cheddar allows nail filing!

I did see in Clas Ohlson a special claw grinder a few months ago.

So cat claw filing is a thing then? I will try this first and report back!!

Yes mine like filing! They love the emery boards I've read before it's a cat thing

I thought I was being a bit eccentric when I filed Cheddar's claws! Didn't realise it's a thing!

I know it's a faff taking them to the vet but my surgery does this for under a fiver, it takes a few minutes with the vet nurse and he's back home with treats in no time.

When they're elderly and/or don't go outdoors much, they do need to get them trimmed. If they're not used to having it done it will be difficult for you to do it at home properly. They cannot retract their claws as well when they get older.

You can also get a sneaky weigh-in to check they're not becoming too heavy at the same time

I used to take mine to the vets for it. They now get it free. Cheddar cooperates beautifully. Magic is getting there!