'Nail clipping'

Nail clipping

Turtle from Lily Pond -

What is the best way to clip your cat's nails. I can neither afford in dollars nor flesh to take the cats to the groomer every time they need their nails clipped. But they become bears when I try to do it. Turtle's been known to bite if you anger her too much. Torties aren't known for patience. ;-)

Comment #1 Goldie from Wisconsin -

I have had a lot of cats in my time and never clipped their nails? Do they need clipping? I know dogs do? I have never had a vet tell me I needed to clip them either?

Comment #2 Turtle from Lily Pond -

Yes, cats nails need to be clipped. Just as your nails grow so do your cats. And kitty isn't going to bite them or file them herself. ;-) Dogs run around outside and that files their nails down a lot. Cats don't have that advantage, especially since responsible cat owners keep their cats indoors.

Comment #3 najdoyza from the mountains -

Instead of clipping get her a post or a cat house that has wood, rope, and carpet. You won't have to clip her if you give her a place to work them down herself. Once she figures out what works to keep her nails at a comfortable length for her your worries will be over. If she goes after the furniture there are training aids that can be sprayed on the furniture to stop her. She will soon figure out that her house is for her to scratch all she wants and your furniure is not.

If she doesn't learn that herself, then you will have to train her to put up with it. Start by playing with her paws and get her used to you handling her feet and exposing her claws. Then when you clip you can wrap her in a towel and hold her while someone else clips them.

Be careful not to clip them too short and make sure you have a proper cliper so you don't crack them or they will split. That can be very painful and they can get infected.

Comment #4 Whiskers from Guest Room Bed -

My cats have always had appropriate places to scratch and they still need to get their nails clipped. The scratching posts removes the dead nail sheaths, but doesn't file down that very sharp point.

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