Dilemma: I can only trim one cats claw but this gives the other an unfair advantage, is this ethical?

[NutellaEllaElla]

One cat (Jimmy) is super chilled out and will allow me to trim his claws. He's been pawing my necklace (so adorable) and has been catching his claws on my top.

The other cat (Pepe) is a loveable bastard and won't let anyone near his prized murder mits. He's the apex predator in the house and while the brothers get on fine, Pepe does intimidate/ shadow box Jimmy off the most desirable spots like the bed or chair when he wants them.

Shall I trim one or none?

I don’t trim my cats’ claws but have a few scratching posts/areas around the house if that would work for you?

“Prized murder mitts.’ 🤣

I think you need to do Pepe’s claws when he is asleep. Fast asleep! Go in for just one claw at a time. You will need to be quick like a ninja. I do this with my cat. And try to touch Pepe’s paws a little more often when petting, to get him used to the feeling.

Good luck!

I didn't think you were supposed to trim cats' claws. Do they go outside?

They don't go outside (yet, cat proofing is underway but complicated).

They do have scratching posts and boxes.

I've tried to desensitise both of them since they were kittens but Jim has always been chill and Pep has always just taken his paws away thank you very much. No violence, but absolutely no permission and no access.

I'm not talking about the awful disfiguring practice of declawing.

It's always best to give your cat ways to wear their claws down naturally rather than clipping them. If they're given lots of opportunity to scratch you're unlikely to need to trim them.

I have to trim Cheddar as she likes to make biscuits and it hurts. Magics are really tricky to do as she has floofy feet, and she's less amenable to it. Never crossed my mind that they'd have claw rivalry!

Cat politics are often silent but deadly.

I am glass I do r have thus problem .
When my cats claws split, or get a bit long ( especially his back ones) he bites / trimes them himself 😆

My childhood cat did this - we gave him a blankie to knead, which stopped him putting holes in our thighs.

Sorry, that was a reply to Toddlerteaplease!

@SignOnTheWindow Unfortunately Ched's prefers my face!

Mine are all adult indoor cats and yes, their claws can be sharp sometimes but I wouldn't want to interfere and start clipping them unless it was causing them pain.

My cat has his trimmed regularly - he only has one tooth and can't bite down his back claws and so they get too long
The vet does them as he turns into the exorcist if I try to

My cat has always used his (multiple) scratching posts. He has access to the garden when I’m home (which is most of the time). He also does that (gross) thing of gnawing/pulling on a claw.

Turned out, on his latest health check-up, that one claw had hooked into one of his pads. Mortified isn’t the word!

Ask your vet to clip them. Zero stress for you. Less stress for cat as it’s not you doing it, plus vets and nurses know exactly what to do and have no emotional connection.

when catface qas you get and indoors only (because we had no outside space) the vet used to do her claws because despite having multiple scratching posts she was and still is an idiot and just used to sit on top of them.

now she goes outside she scratched on trees and our garden fence (much to dhs annoyance because he’s just repainted the fence…).