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Claw clipping question
I recently took in a stray or abandoned two year old cat and
need to trim his claws. He is very friendly and allows me to handle his paws and extend his claws, so I hope he is also accustomed to having his claws clipped. All that I have read cautions not to cut the "quick" since it contains nerves and blood vessels, but sources differ in describing it. Some say it is the pink part forming the base of the claw; others say it is a dark or pink crescent-shaped area within the claw. Which is it? Or are they the same? Both of these parts are visible in the photo: http://www.caws.org/extended.html It shows the quick as the pink base and the cut-line passing through the dark crescent. According to some sources this is exactly what not to do (?). A similar photo: http://www.maxshouse.com/anatomy/cla...im-quick-1.jpg These pages show the quick as the dark/pink crescent: http://www.cat-world.com.au/catclaws.htm http://tinyurl.com/43mcn I cannot see the crescent in my cat's paws, except for a small area next to the pink base. But I can see a fine line in the claw running from the base to almost the end. Perhaps I am mistaken, and the line is a crack or surface feature, but don't want to cut it in case it is the quick. Obviously I'm new at this and don't want to cause any pain or fear in the cat. Please help me identify the quick and where to clip. Thanks. |
#2
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"dk5213[remove-this]" wrote in message . com... I recently took in a stray or abandoned two year old cat and need to trim his claws. He is very friendly and allows me to handle his paws and extend his claws, so I hope he is also accustomed to having his claws clipped. All that I have read cautions not to cut the "quick" since it contains nerves and blood vessels, but sources differ in describing it. Some say it is the pink part forming the base of the claw; others say it is a dark or pink crescent-shaped area within the claw. Which is it? Or are they the same? I think they're probably one & the same - I just look for the pink part at the base. If your cat's claws are clear, you're in luck, cause at least you can *see* the quick! ;-) If the claws are dark, it's more of a guessing game. In that case, I just trim off the sharp, pointy end, not too far up, so that I'm sure I'm below the quick. I think the pic in the second link is the most clear. Cathy Both of these parts are visible in the photo: http://www.caws.org/extended.html It shows the quick as the pink base and the cut-line passing through the dark crescent. According to some sources this is exactly what not to do (?). A similar photo: http://www.maxshouse.com/anatomy/cla...im-quick-1.jpg These pages show the quick as the dark/pink crescent: http://www.cat-world.com.au/catclaws.htm http://tinyurl.com/43mcn I cannot see the crescent in my cat's paws, except for a small area next to the pink base. But I can see a fine line in the claw running from the base to almost the end. Perhaps I am mistaken, and the line is a crack or surface feature, but don't want to cut it in case it is the quick. Obviously I'm new at this and don't want to cause any pain or fear in the cat. Please help me identify the quick and where to clip. Thanks. |
#3
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"dk5213[remove-this]" wrote in message . com... I recently took in a stray or abandoned two year old cat and need to trim his claws. He is very friendly and allows me to handle his paws and extend his claws, so I hope he is also accustomed to having his claws clipped. All that I have read cautions not to cut the "quick" since it contains nerves and blood vessels, but sources differ in describing it. Some say it is the pink part forming the base of the claw; others say it is a dark or pink crescent-shaped area within the claw. Which is it? Or are they the same? I think they're probably one & the same - I just look for the pink part at the base. If your cat's claws are clear, you're in luck, cause at least you can *see* the quick! ;-) If the claws are dark, it's more of a guessing game. In that case, I just trim off the sharp, pointy end, not too far up, so that I'm sure I'm below the quick. I think the pic in the second link is the most clear. Cathy Both of these parts are visible in the photo: http://www.caws.org/extended.html It shows the quick as the pink base and the cut-line passing through the dark crescent. According to some sources this is exactly what not to do (?). A similar photo: http://www.maxshouse.com/anatomy/cla...im-quick-1.jpg These pages show the quick as the dark/pink crescent: http://www.cat-world.com.au/catclaws.htm http://tinyurl.com/43mcn I cannot see the crescent in my cat's paws, except for a small area next to the pink base. But I can see a fine line in the claw running from the base to almost the end. Perhaps I am mistaken, and the line is a crack or surface feature, but don't want to cut it in case it is the quick. Obviously I'm new at this and don't want to cause any pain or fear in the cat. Please help me identify the quick and where to clip. Thanks. |
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#6
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Mimi Forsyth wrote:
Just clip the very sharp tip off. It's not necessary to clip near the quick. I agree, just trim the point off. Does anyone have any suggestions about the occasional claw that looks like it hasn't shed a layer for a while and appears thickened, and not very pointy? Is there a way of coaxing the layer off that isn't too uncomfortable to the kitty? I think he used to chew them off when he was younger. The affected claws don't look like a fungal problem, and I've read this happens more in older cats. -- jamie ) "There's a seeker born every minute." |
#7
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Mimi Forsyth wrote:
Just clip the very sharp tip off. It's not necessary to clip near the quick. I agree, just trim the point off. Does anyone have any suggestions about the occasional claw that looks like it hasn't shed a layer for a while and appears thickened, and not very pointy? Is there a way of coaxing the layer off that isn't too uncomfortable to the kitty? I think he used to chew them off when he was younger. The affected claws don't look like a fungal problem, and I've read this happens more in older cats. -- jamie ) "There's a seeker born every minute." |
#8
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"jamie" wrote in message ... Mimi Forsyth wrote: Just clip the very sharp tip off. It's not necessary to clip near the quick. I agree, just trim the point off. Does anyone have any suggestions about the occasional claw that looks like it hasn't shed a layer for a while and appears thickened, and not very pointy? Is there a way of coaxing the layer off that isn't too uncomfortable to the kitty? I think he used to chew them off when he was younger. The affected claws don't look like a fungal problem, and I've read this happens more in older cats. -- jamie ) I'll be interested in this answer. Tigger's vet called them her "old lady claws" but had no suggestions what to do with them so I gather it's common with older cats. She eventually sheds the outside layer but it takes forever. W |
#9
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"jamie" wrote in message ... Mimi Forsyth wrote: Just clip the very sharp tip off. It's not necessary to clip near the quick. I agree, just trim the point off. Does anyone have any suggestions about the occasional claw that looks like it hasn't shed a layer for a while and appears thickened, and not very pointy? Is there a way of coaxing the layer off that isn't too uncomfortable to the kitty? I think he used to chew them off when he was younger. The affected claws don't look like a fungal problem, and I've read this happens more in older cats. -- jamie ) I'll be interested in this answer. Tigger's vet called them her "old lady claws" but had no suggestions what to do with them so I gather it's common with older cats. She eventually sheds the outside layer but it takes forever. W |
#10
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I think they're probably one & the same - I just look for the pink part at
the base. If your cat's claws are clear, you're in luck, cause at least you can *see* the quick! ;-) If the claws are dark, it's more of a guessing game. In that case, I just trim off the sharp, pointy end That's what I do. Just trim the hooky part at the end. |
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