When I try to trim his claws he won't let me, even at the vet's. Any advice on what to do?
Translated from French
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It's honestly ridiculous to trim a cat's claws; just get them a cat tree or a scratching post instead.
You can definitely do both. Personally, I've got a little Siamese. She’s very dainty, but she has massive claws for her size. To be honest, I could probably do with trimming the tips every week and a half!
It’s not about the furniture or the carpets for me... her little "massages" are sweet, but they're really sharp (which spoils the relaxation and the pleasure of it a bit). Plus, when her claws get too long, I notice her toes start to curl.
I take her out for walks quite often and she climbs trees a bit, but it’s nothing compared to being in the wild where natural wear and tear would keep them down.
Just like brushing her (which she absolutely loves), I trim her claws.
My cat has a right temper, so it’s a two-man job with my dad—he holds the little beast while I trim or file her claws. She’s got a scratching post but she never uses it (which is a real pain). She prefers the sofa, but as it’s leather, we obviously don’t let her. Instead, she goes for my laptop case, but I don’t mind that as much... 😐
I trim their claws about once a month or so. The male is good as gold and lets me do it without any fuss, but the female isn't a fan, so I have to keep her still. I sit on the floor and tuck her between my legs; she miaows a bit while I'm at it, but it only takes five minutes and then it’s all sorted!! If I didn't trim them, they’d only end up hurting each other. Just this morning they were playing around and the little lad must have caught my girl because she’s got a scratch on her nose! Mind you, they're still only kittens, so they just muck about and don't really pay attention!! Last time, it was actually the male who ended up with a bloody nose!
Some cats really won't have any of it, especially if you're trying to handle them on your own – that's certainly the case with my two. Since there's a risk of the clippers slipping if the kitty wriggles too much, which could mean cutting the quick, it’s best to just go to the vet. Usually, this sort of thing is free of charge as the vet nurses are the ones who handle it.
But scratching posts, as essential as they are, aren't enough; they're mainly for sharpening claws (which cats find really satisfying), not for filing them down or shortening them. So, time for a paw-dicure at the vet’s! ;)
Oh no, poor Miss Fiby! (It’s a bit strange for me as she’s got the same name as mine.)
How has she been doing since?
With my one (my Fiby, lol), I do hers while she’s sleeping and she usually wakes up once I’ve finished five claws—basically one paw. I wait until the next nap to do the other one, and I only ever do the front paws. I only really trim the very tips, though, even if it means having to do it more often.
Whatever you do, make sure you avoid the quick, as the pain for the animal is equivalent to a human having a fingertip cut off. (If the claw is dark, you can see the limit by shining a torch through it; otherwise, it’s best to just take them to the vet.)
To keep them in good nick, cats keep their claws retracted until they actually need to use them. When claws grow too long or become overly curved, cats can no longer retract them fully. If this happens, it's highly recommended to trim their front claws. Clipping your cat's claws also prevents them from scratching at carpets, sofas, and other furniture—not to mention your own skin. This should be done at least once a month.
Before you start clipping, help your cat get used to having their paws handled and squeezed. You can do this by gently stroking their legs and paws while giving them a treat. This will help make it a much more positive experience. Gradually increase the pressure until the claws pop out. Keep up with this until your cat is happy to be handled and held without putting up a fight. It might take a bit longer if your cat isn't used to having their legs or paws touched.
Apply a little pressure to the paw—with your thumb on top and your index finger underneath—until a claw extends. You should be able to see the pink part, which is a small blood vessel called the quick. Whatever you do, don't cut into this pink part, as it's very painful for your cat and will cause bleeding. Just trimming the very tip of the claw, the 'hook', is enough to prevent any serious damage to your furniture or your skin. Until it becomes a routine for both you and your cat, just doing one claw or one paw a day is plenty of a challenge.
It’s a bit odd that the vet can’t manage it; he can’t be very good, to be honest. You’d be better off buying him a cat tree and a scratching post instead and just leaving his claws as they are... he’ll sort them out himself :)))
Hi Jonathan,
Two weeks ago, I noticed that Fiby was limping. Since she goes out into the garden every morning through the window (I’ve put a piece of furniture there so she doesn't have to jump from a height), I thought that despite this precaution, she’d landed badly. I booked an appointment with the vet straight away, of course. Her paw was slightly arched forward; I realised immediately that she was holding it in a way to ease the pain because when I looked under her paw, a claw had grown right into the pad—can you imagine the pain! I used to try and trim her claws every month (being very careful of the quick), but as she’s still a bit wild, she’d scratch my hands to pieces because she hates being handled. I’d leave her be and just clip one or two every now and then because the poor thing kept getting caught on the sofa throw.
The vet removed the claw from her pad and gave her an injection for the infection. It’s all healed up nicely now, which is why it’s so important to make sure their claws don’t get too long.
