Cat's Claws

[eash]

Do cats claws ever need cutting? If so, would the vet need to do it or would nail clippers be ok?

[blueregard]

It is extremely rare for a cat to need its nails cut they tend to take care of their nails themselves thru scratching on trees, your sofa, scratch post and anything else that takes their fancy quite often things you'd rather they didn't scratch on! Most cats would not tolerate very well someone trying to cut their nails (which they can retract) unless they had been trained to be accustomed to it. Also as with all animals and birds you would have to be extremely careful not to cut the quick!

[Eve]

I was going to say the same, unless there's a problem with the cat not being able to scratch and keep their claws in check then they should be left to do it themselves.

If there was a problem then they should be taken to a vets to have them done properly.

Have they got plenty of stuff available for scratching? I have a great front door mat which is perfect for it and HC loves to scratch his claws on it.

[puddycat]

One of mine regularly needs her nails cutting. She's 3 legged and loses here balance quite easily so can't stretch up far enough to scratch properly.

I cut them myself. You need to be careful not to cut too far down but it's not a probably.

My mums cat also needed hers cutting but that was down to old age. Some cats have problems scratching when they get a bit older I guess it's down to arthritis.

[Schutzengel]

My cat is 21 years old, and has to have her back feet claws clipped, by the vet. She's still quite active, but doesn't wear down the claws on her back feet. Climbing trees and fences tend to wear the back claws, but when the cat is too old to be bothered climbing, the back claws just keep growing, although the cat still wears the front claws down for itself. If the cat in question is getting quite old, its worth getting the vet to check it out.

[wildwood]

If you're gonna do it yourself make sure you use(get) a proper pair of animal nail cutters. Those which have a little hole at the end where you stick the nail through and a little guillotine blade that has a notch and cuts the nail type is the best. The cheaper ones often split the nail rather than make a clean cut and may lead to infection.

[eash]

Thanks for all your answers.
The only reason I ask is because my cat keeps scratching herself and sometimes she makes herself bleed and it scabs up so I just wondered if it's because her claws needed cutting. She is very active though and always out and about and I've never been concerned about her claws before. I mentioned it to a friend who also has a cat and she said "That reminds me I need to take Bob (her cat) to the vet to get her claws cut"
So it made me wonder. My friends cat is really fat though!

[dawndevil]

think you can buy the cat claw clippers at your local pet shop

[olf]

Ive had cats ever since i was little (30 years of cats) and ive always used human clippers. I just take the point off and thats it... as long as you dont cut them right back you should be fine...its what ever you feel comfortable with doing....and what makes your cat happy.