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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.

Original poster

Do you clip your cats claws?

44 replies

jugglingjobs · 01/02/2022 15:24

I've been looking online for tips on what to do to stop my cat scratching my furniture and saw somewhere that it said cut their claws.

I was just wondering if anyone does this and if it stops damage to furniture?

Also if you do how does your cat feel about it? I really think my cat wouldn't like have it done.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 01/02/2022 15:25

No I don't as my cats go outdoors

ofwarren · 01/02/2022 15:28

No way, I think it's cruel!

PollyGray · 01/02/2022 15:32

I do as they get very long. So does the Vet nurse when I take DCat in for her healthy pet check up appointments. I only do the front ones though.

ItsSnowJokes · 01/02/2022 15:32

I have just had my kittens claws trimmed as she was getting stuck on the carpet as she walked as they had got so long. She has just been spayed and will be going out soon so I shouldn't have any need to do them again but it was getting dangerous as she was getting stuck to everything when she walked.

She is the first cat I have ever had to do this to though. For some reasons her claws just grow so quickly!

Mufflette · 01/02/2022 15:32

We have to as ours is old and doesn't do anything to wear them down any more so they risk growing into her pads if not. She hates it, we have to take her to the vet as she'd lash out too much at us and we wouldn't want to risk cutting too much because she's wriggling!

SatinHeart · 01/02/2022 15:33

Never. Mine goes outdoors though. For scratching the furniture we got several scratching posts and put them by problem areas, then used catnip spray and played lots of games with string round the post to encourage the cat to claw the scratching posts instead. For the most part it worked!

zafferana · 01/02/2022 15:33

I don't, no. My cat has a scratching post and she goes outside several times every day. Her claws are her defense, so I don't want to leave her without weapons, if she needs them! She also scratches the furniture ...

MyGlassKeepsLeaking · 01/02/2022 15:33

It's always best to leave that to a vet. My cat goes outside, so he wears his claws down. Get a couple of scratching posts to try to stop yours from clawing the furniture.

addler · 01/02/2022 15:33

How can it be cruel?! Is cutting yours or your child's fingernails cruel?

We cut our cat's claws as he's an indoor cat and even with his love of scratching posts he still sometimes would get stuck on blankets/the sofa etc. He's never tried to scratch furniture though so not sure if that will help or not.

sofiathe2nd · 01/02/2022 15:34

We do but only because she hates going outside and they get uncomfortably (for her) long otherwise. She really doesn't mind it and it's just part of her normal groom

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 01/02/2022 15:38

of course it's not cruel....do you trim your own fingernails?? Are you muddled with declawing cats which is totally barbaric and involves major surgery?

Often the vet nurse will do it, depending on how your vets run. I always used to do my first cat's claws, he would give me his paw and I just nip the ends off with nail clippers.

I haven't bothered until recently with the current cats, but they are getting on a bit now and go out much much less, and just don't wear down their claws. Plus one of them has one set that grows soooooo quickly, the claw will tuck round and grow into her toebean in about 6 weeks, and then she minces about holding up her foot looking sad, it must be agony

Now we have realised she gets her front ones done about once a month, she's not keen, but is getting better about having it done. I have managed once on my own as she was in such a good mood!

Just be careful to only take the tip off...like you would your own nail, don't go really far back.
I have normal people nail clips that i use, but also have a slanted edge, and they have a much smaller cutting area so I try to use those just so it's less likely to catch anything if she wriggles.

CheshireChat · 01/02/2022 15:40

Yes, but she's an indoor cat that can't be bothered to use the scratching posts Hmm.

She doesn't normally care, only time she kicked off was when one of her claws was hurting.

SingingSands · 01/02/2022 15:46

Yes, I clip our cat's claws because she doesn't go out. Just front paws. If I haven't done it for a while they grow so long that she sticks to the carpets!

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 01/02/2022 15:51

I've only ever clipped the claws of one of my cats. He was old (20) and could no longer manage his own, so used to get them caught in carpets and fabric.
Never clipped any others.

AwkwardPaws27 · 01/02/2022 15:54

Scratching I'd a normal cat behaviour - does your cat have a suitable scratching post?
Unfortunately they are often too small or unstable - cats should be able to stretch out to scratch them and they need to be as non-wobbly as possible Smile
We have a barrel scratcher which doubles as a bed, as well as a big ceiling height tree, both of which are very well used & our furniture is untouched.
Previous small freestanding posts were ignored & our old sofas did bear scars from this! So I think a good scratcher is really worthwhile.

AltitudeCheck · 01/02/2022 15:55

One of our cats has hers clipped at home with nail clippers just enough to stop her getting stuck in the carpet when she's playing. The other one rarely/ never needs doing. We just take the tips off and usually whilst they are sleeping on our laps, they sometimes don't even wake up!

weliveinharmony · 01/02/2022 15:57

No I can only imagine it would be distressing for the cat 😢

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 01/02/2022 15:59

No I can only imagine it would be distressing for the cat
I used to a couple of feet at a time when my old boy was asleep. Never seemed to worry him.

Santahasjoinedww · 01/02/2022 16:00

Specsavers didn't advertise my specs as being dcat claw resistant...
And don't they go for the eyes???
Grin

Original poster
jugglingjobs · 01/02/2022 16:00

Wow I didn't realise that so many people cut their cats claws, I have had mine for 7 years and never cut them.

I should add she is an indoor cat, she does use her scratching post, but in the past has used a door frame, she love scratching my chairs and sofas.

@AwkwardPaws27 - would you mind sharing links for your scratching posts? My cat does like her one and it has ledges high up to sit on which she likes but when I am getting my new sofa I will buy some more I think.

OP posts:
ButWhereDidTheWindComeFrom · 01/02/2022 16:03

Ours have a favourite scratching tree outside. The older cat also likes to leave a fair bit of her claws and some of her teeth behind in the dogs' various legs and ears.

Original poster
jugglingjobs · 01/02/2022 16:03

does anyone have something like this for the sofa I'm not sure if it would protect my sofa or encourage sofa scratching Hmm

OP posts:
CraftyGin · 01/02/2022 16:07

Mine control their own claw length by climbing trees.

Sparklingbrook · 01/02/2022 16:09

Never done it myself but the vet nurse is happy too. Sometimes Sparklingcat gets to the stage where her claws get caught in the cushions or carpet.

AwkwardPaws27 · 01/02/2022 16:10

Sure!

www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/scratching_posts/scratch_barrels/194645
This is the barrel. We've had it about 7 years and it's looking a bit scruffy, but it's quite tall so even our younger cat can stretch out for a big scratch. It's v stable & they can drag themselves along it sideways (instead of using the bottom of the sofa!!).

www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/scratching_posts/large/large_cat_trees_height_180_cm_over_/186537
We also have the Rapunzel cat tree from Zooplus - it's v tall and they love it. I often find both cats snoozing on the top platforms. The sisal posts are holding up well after 18 months of use. It's a shame that not all the posts are sisal, as the fur covered posts have also been scratched & aren't doing as well! But overall I really like it and the wide base makes it v stable.

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