Grooming cats question - trimming claws

[BaitandSwitch]

I am reading a book regarding bringing up kittens, and it states in the chapter on grooming that the nails need trimming weekly. I had hoped that the scratch poles would have taken care of the growing claws though? Any advice, thank you.

I wouldn't touch a cats claws myself, I wouldn't trust myself for a start and doesn't seem the right thing to do! I think indoor cats claws don't get naturally shortened by being outside or something but as you said you should provide things for them to scratch

That's the problem. No way do I want to do them myself - (my husband has had cats before and says he never did this). We have several scratching stations around the home for our fluffy bundle.

I have 2 cats, one goes out and one barely walks half way down the garden. I cut the claws of the one that doesn’t go out but mainly because she has a high tendency to randomly attack us for no reason. The other cat I leave his claws as they are.
It’s easily done and doesn’t hurt them even though you’d think I was fucking killing her while doing it

I don't clip mine. They all go out and have multiple scratchers.
One is very poor at retracting hers so I do get the vet to trim them when she is innoculated. I have a few weeks of less scratchy cuddles

I have a (mainly) indoor cat. She has play equipment/ scratchers/ climbing frame/ external run but I was advised by the breeder to trim her claws. I do it fortnightly- she gets a treat afterwards, and although it's not her favourite thing she's used to it.
I previously had an outdoor cat/ moggie and never trimmed her claws.

I have always had cats, and have 5 currently. They are all indoor cats. I have always trimmed all of my cat's nails, and start right away when they're kittens. None of them mind a bit and it only takes a max of 30 seconds per cat. I have several car scratchers but they aren't enough to keep an indoor cat's at a tolerable length.

You do not need to trim a kitten's claws.

I'd suggest you bin the book you are reading since it is talking bollocks

The only time I've needed to trim a cat's claws were with my 20 year old cat because he was no longer managing them himself and kept getting them caught.

As my cat got older she didn’t bother trimming her own claws the way she had previously done. With less exercise they weren’t wearing down either. One claw grew right round into her palm and I had to take her to the vet, swearing that I would never let it happen again as she was in pain. As was my wallet -£28. So I had to start cutting them.

Perhaps the book should advise you to introduce the kittens to the idea of having their paws held and you having clippers ready but not actually needing to do anything unless the claws were overgrown.

An early introduction is easier when they are young so they grow up accepting the situation.

My cat was a bugger as she’s never had me do her claws so it was quite hard!

I wouldn’t cut dark claws as I couldn’t see the quick. Mine has white ones so they are easy.

I do cheddars as she likes to knead and it really hurts if her flaws are long.

I’ve just clipped all three of mine tonight. Even though they have an outdoor enclosure they just don’t wear them down enough and it gets to the stage they are getting stuck to the scratching post or me.

One of mine also can’t be bothered to groom let alone bite his nails, he’s only 9 but if I don’t do his regularly they grow into his pads.

They are used to it, but still try and run from me and protest how much they hate it, then they kind of give up and let me do it.

I clip my boy's but he's 20, barely goes outside any more and was getting stuck to blankets and jumpers. Its only this last year that he's needed a little help with grooming. I would get your kitten used to their feet being handled though, all of ours have been handled a lot and are relaxed about it.

I've never trimmed a cat's claws. I've always had cats that go outside though, so they seem to sort out their claws themselves.

I have had cats all my life. I have never clipped their claws. They are all indoor/outdoor cats and so their claws have been kept in check by their natural behaviours.

My dog, on the other hand, I take the tips of his claws weekly.

*off

Although you don't really need to clip cats' claws if they go outdoors or have scratching posts etc, it is a good idea to get kittens used to having their paws handled anyway. All you do is put your thumb on top and your index finger underneath on the big pad and squeeze very gently. That makes their claws extend.

Kitten claws do not need trimming unless they overgrow - and if they overgrow, it's because they haven't got scratching posts/pads. Keep them well supplied with those! We use semicircular ones around a couple of the sofa corners as well as a freestanding post.

I would not trust the book that gave the advice.

Thanks everyone for your comments - clearly some divided opinions on the subject! I think next time we see the vet we'll take advice and if necessary get the vet/professional groomer to do them (show us how to do it properly).

The breeder I got my cats from told me to do it. I do as it is easy and makes it more comfortable for me when they knead me! I have heard that they can overgrow but I don't know if that is caused by lack of scratching. Ours use scratching posts but are indoors so may need it? They don't mind too much!

Our cat has a funny extra claw, which we do trim with a nail clipper. The others are taken care of by the big tree at the back of the garden.

My cats have scratching posts and one goes outdoors, the other one doesn't. Her won't use the scratching post very often either. He gets caught in the carpet and my jumper, I have to cut his claws every now and again. I've never had to do it before though with other cats, but they were all outdoors cats. So it's not as easy as saying you don't have to. Obviously some of us do have to!

I cut my older cat and kitten's claws periodically and it is easy to do and only takes a couple of minutes. They both only go into the garden for short bursts and have scratching poles and pads but the claws still get too sharp.

I didn't think scratching posts kept claws short at all, cats scratch to sharpen the claws. They are shortened by wear and tear on the surfaces they walk on, plus the outer layer is a sort of sheath which they shed regularly. You will often see cats giving themselves a very thorough pedicure, which includes sheath loosening/removal, and some trimming.

Plus every cat is different. My pair are litter indoor mates; Girlcat gets hers checked & maybe trimmed at their annual Mot, Boycat has to have his done every few weeks or he gets them caught in things

No I wouldn’t do that to a cat.

I can’t imagine trying to cut a cats claws, they aren’t co operative like dogs!

I've never, ever cut a cats' claws in my life and we've had cats for seven years, all indoor cats.