Claw clipping

Why?

wrote:
Why?


If a cat does not have the means available to wear down the claws
naturally, the claw can grow curved around and pierce the pad. But
that's a worst case scenario. Mostly, trimming the claws is done to
save (somewhat) on the wear and tear (literally) on the slaves (and
sometimes furniture). There are alternatives, however the one I've
tried involved using a superglue-like product to adhere plastic claw
covers onto a squirming, uncooperative cat. I only do that when it is
necessary for the cat to not scratch a wound open, and trimming claws
only takes a couple of minutes once you have done it a few times.
Bribery with treats afterwards seems to help.

- Denise Brennasmeowmy

Pearl gets hooked on *everything* when her nails get to long. I just clip
the tips.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Why?

So that when Basho and I are engaged in a loving session, his claws
don't shred my face to pieces.
Or when Xoxo sits on my tummy and starts to knead.
Or when Fez climbs on my shoulder.

I must be lucky then, cos he's 16 and I've never done it. He did
destroy my old sofa, sneaky thing knew it was verboten and only did it
when I was out of the room, under the cover so I didn't realise til it
was too late. I have just bought new sofas and am now allowing him the
run of the house so he sleeps upstairs during the day and has less
temptation (hopefully) - I've also sprayed cat deterrent on the corners
of the sofas so here's hoping! He uses his scratching post too, and
the tree outside, but it doesn't seem enough. I would never clip him
though, I'd be too scared to injure him, and at his age I don't think
he'd stand for it!

in article ,
at wrote on 6/1/05 4:05 PM:

I must be lucky then, cos he's 16 and I've never done it. He did
destroy my old sofa, sneaky thing knew it was verboten and only did it
when I was out of the room, under the cover so I didn't realise til it
was too late. I have just bought new sofas and am now allowing him the
run of the house so he sleeps upstairs during the day and has less
temptation (hopefully) - I've also sprayed cat deterrent on the corners
of the sofas so here's hoping! He uses his scratching post too, and
the tree outside, but it doesn't seem enough. I would never clip him
though, I'd be too scared to injure him, and at his age I don't think
he'd stand for it!

You have to be careful when the become less active. I had one indoor/outdoor
cat that always did fine, until she got to be about 17. I noticed her
limping one day and checked her paw and I felt so awful! One of her claws
had grown clear around and was buried in her paw pad. I carefully clipped it
off and pulled it out, but I really kept tab on the older cats claws after
taht.

As well as all reasons given for cat's wellbeing re claws
let me add "expensive custom-made leather furniture"!
You have to have the patience to clip regularly and carefully, w/a regular
routine and though my cats don't really like it, they are quite used to me
clipping their claws. You could do it too and if you have new sofas I
really recommend getting the old boy used to being clipped. Declawing has
never, ever been an option for us
in many years of being owned by short furry bosses who seem to understand
that I know what's best for them in general. Give clipping a try: one
caution: do NOT try to do it w/either hoomin nail clippers/scissors OR dog
claw clippers - you will only fail and scare the s*** out of your cat. Buy
CAT claw clippers (constructed differently).


"Karen" wrote in message
...
in article ,
at wrote on 6/1/05 4:05 PM:

I must be lucky then, cos he's 16 and I've never done it. He did
destroy my old sofa, sneaky thing knew it was verboten and only did it
when I was out of the room, under the cover so I didn't realise til it
was too late. I have just bought new sofas and am now allowing him the
run of the house so he sleeps upstairs during the day and has less
temptation (hopefully) - I've also sprayed cat deterrent on the corners
of the sofas so here's hoping! He uses his scratching post too, and
the tree outside, but it doesn't seem enough. I would never clip him
though, I'd be too scared to injure him, and at his age I don't think
he'd stand for it!

You have to be careful when the become less active. I had one
indoor/outdoor
cat that always did fine, until she got to be about 17. I noticed her
limping one day and checked her paw and I felt so awful! One of her claws
had grown clear around and was buried in her paw pad. I carefully clipped
it
off and pulled it out, but I really kept tab on the older cats claws after
taht.

wrote:
Why?

I clip Vino's every few weeks because he tends to get long claws stuck
in the curtains or upholstery and stuff. I'd hate to have him get
stuck while I was out.
Also, I like nice dull claws. They hurt me less!
--
Britta
"There is no snooze button on a cat who wants breakfast." -- Unknown
Check out pictures of Vino at:
http://photos.yahoo.com/badwilson click on the Vino album

wrote:

Why?

Because cats claws grow more or less continuously, and if
they don't go outdoors where they wear them down on
pavement, etc., they grow so long they make the cat
uncomfortable. (Not to mention inadvertent punctures in
human flesh when they walk across you.) Ever since my
Melisande broke her left hind leg a few years ago, the claws
on that foot seem to grow much faster and are thicker and
heavier than the others. They obviously hurt her, too,
since she'll begin to limp if I delay having them clipped.

wrote:

I must be lucky then, cos he's 16 and I've never done it. He did
destroy my old sofa, sneaky thing knew it was verboten and only did it
when I was out of the room, under the cover so I didn't realise til it
was too late. I have just bought new sofas and am now allowing him the
run of the house so he sleeps upstairs during the day and has less
temptation (hopefully) - I've also sprayed cat deterrent on the corners
of the sofas so here's hoping! He uses his scratching post too, and
the tree outside, but it doesn't seem enough. I would never clip him
though, I'd be too scared to injure him, and at his age I don't think
he'd stand for it!

Some cats are more amenable than others. With Melly it's a
two-person job and there's only one of me, so unless I can
get a neighbor to help, I have the vet do it. (She doesn't
do it for free, of course, but the charge isn't too much,
and it's worth it to keep Melisande from limping.)