Vet refusing to trim claws

[Sakura7]

Has anyone come across this before?

We moved area recently and unfortunately had to move from our fantastic vet, who is now about and hour's drive away.

The new vet has been difficult about a few things already but this latest one takes the biscuit.

Our cat is a very anxious indoor cat and he will not let anyone trim his claws. He has a large scratching post and scratch pad that he does use but seemingly not enough.

Cat will be in for a tooth extraction tomorrow and I called to ask if they can trim his claws while he's sedated, as they are getting too long and really need to be done.

The answer was "we don't do that, cats need their claws" and "does he not have a scratching post?" You'd swear I asked them to declaw him or something 🙄

It's the latest in a series of issues so I definitely will be moving after this.

Surely trimming of claws is a standard thing that most vets will do?

Very odd. I've a pure bred cat that has claws that grow really long like talons and vet has no issues trimming them.

I don't know why your vet is being so weird. They could at least look at the claws and then decide, instead of saying no straight away.

When cats get older it often becomes necessary to trim their claws because they struggle to retract them and so they tend to nick themselves while scratching and get them more easily caught on things.

My vet asks if I want the claws trimmed whenever I have a cat in for a procedure, it’s a yes/no box on the pre op form. At mine I’m sure one of the nurses takes care of it while the cat is sleeping off the sedation, so it doesn’t even impact on the planned tests/op.

I’d be taken aback by them refusing without a good reason.

I trim all of my cats nails when they need it. They have endless scratching posts and garden access but they still need trimmed.
It’s on my vets permission slip when sedation is being used if you want it done while they recovering.
very strange a vet not wanting to do it

I've always trimmed Arthur's nails, and he's an outdoor cat. If I don't he gets caught in everything, and clicks around the house. Scratching posts don't wear down nails, they just strengthen them.

Cat's claws are retractable so outdoor cats won't be filing them down whilst walking on hard ground. In that respect they are the same as indoor cats with scratching posts. My cat is an outdoor cat and has 2 scratching posts to keep his claws in check and he also does his own manicures.

I rang back and explained again why they need to be done. I think I got a different person this time who was a bit more accommodating, but still said they don't normally do it as you have to be careful not to nick the claw at the quick. She said they would take a look at his claws and trim them during the procedure if they felt it was needed 🙄

I'm a bit concerned that a vet or vet nurse doesn't seem confident enough to do a basic maintenance job. You'd have to take off a lot of claw to hit the quick and its easy to see where it is.

Yes, very odd. As you say it's a basic job and seems the kindest way to do it with a nervy cat.

Yes they should do this . My cat has his claws trimmed every three months or so otherwise he gets them stuck in the sift furnishings and can get himself in a dangerous position . Get a different vet .