[catsgotmytongue]

my mom doesn't believe in declawing because it is cruel. I agree. But now there's this commercial on tv saying that cutting their nails is also cruel because it can hurt or cut the quick. IS cutting their nails cruel?? do I really need to buy that shaving tool their advertising?? I don't want to be cruel to my cats but I don't want to spend a lot of money on another unnecessary cat item!


HELP ME PLEASE!

[Advert]

---

[Janene]

I think if you know what you're doing then trimming their nails is not cruel. Thats my personal opinion. It would be like trimming our own nails. Of course cutting too low to the quick can hurt a great deal...But if you only trim off the sharp ends I personally don't feel there is any harm in that. All our furbabies have regular trims...

[fleabag]

It IS important not to cut too much ..but a pair of people nail clippers used carefully will do the job ..I only take the tip of the nail off...afterall they are gonna just sharpen them up again ..lol

[CatsRU]

If you are worried about cutting your cats' nails - ask your vet or vet nurse to show you how to do it properly. It does not hurt if you only cut the end - do not cut near to the vein which you can see in a good light.

[Marina]

i agree with others i don't see how it is being cruel if it is done correctly... i actually never used to clip the front claw nails on my guys but then i saw my oldest cat pippy walking across a blanket on my bed and her front nails were getting slightly caught in it while she was walking... so that changed my mind on it... and i have seen a couple of my cats trying to chew their own nails (just like ppl chew theirs i suppose) possibily when they get too long and it actually makes me sick seeing them do it so out come the clippers... so if they are trying to do it themselves then i can do it too... LOL.

[Trifon]

It is not cruel. It does not hurt them if you only cut a small amount off. It is no different to cutting our toe nails. If toe nails are left to grow and grow, it hurts to wear shoes so I'm sure for cats it feels better to have their toe nails trimmed too so they don't get them caught on carpet and furniture - now that would hurt.

If the ad on TV said it was cruel and then went on to market a NEW product - it is only a marketing strategy to get people to buy it. It doesn't mean it is necessary at all, just a money making scheme.

My 4 kitties all have their nails trimmed here - and no complaints and I have never trimmed it so that they bled.

[kirty]

Just cut the very tips off. I trim my cats claws every few weeks and they are fine. Even if you do accidentally cut the quick, it only stings for a second. You can use cornflour I think to stop the bleeding.

[Kicol]

I have always trimmed my birds nails myself, and now I trim Dee's. I never bought any expensive tools. For the birds, I bought a nail clipper at one of our pharmacies. It looked like #4 on this link, but it was not as expensive as this one which is $59.95. It was much less expensive and still a very good quality.

http://www.zamberg.c...OOG-MAN4-CND-45


For Dee I use just a regular nail clipper, a small one, the ones you can easily get from any pharmacy.

No, clipping your cat's nails is not cruel.

Yes, you have to know what you are doing, because you don't want to cut through the quick.

Use a good pair of magnifiers, something like this

http://www.shop.com/...e...16-p!.shtml

Here is a good explanation on how to trim your cat's claws. Start by cutting much less than it shows here until you get comfortable with the procedure. But first invest in a pair of magnifiers as you will be able to see what you are doing easily.

http://www.catscratc...mls/article.htm


ETA: Just in case, keep one of these on hand to stop bleeding if an accident occurs. I bought one bottle of these long ago, but never had to use it either with my birds or my cat.

http://www.petedge.c...0d8ca48441278c3

This post has been edited by Kicol: 07 September 2008 - 01:23 PM

[Sobriquet]

A cake of soap is handy too. If you cut a little too much push it fairly firmly into the soap to stop the bleeding.

[charleycat]

Trimming their claws is not cruel. In fact, if you don't trim their claws, the dew claw(?) can circle back and become embedded in the skin. This happened to Charley and the vet had to fix the problem - Charley was always sensitive about that claw after that....

[Miss Bronte]

Agree with everyone - it's not cruel but you do need to know what you are doing.....my little Bronte lays on her back on my lap, purring her self silly, while I take the very tip off her claws! In fact, when the clippers come out it's a race between her and the Dalmatian about who is going to have their nails done first Lilly tolerates having her nails clipped but it really is beneath her

As one of Bronte's favourite places to perch is on my shoulder, blunt claws make my life much easier!

[Elisabeth]

It is not cruel. Don't cut to wear you see the vein or it will bleed and hurt. Accidents happen, but just trim the sharp bit. I don't do it as I don't feel the need. But if I have done it and its so not cruel!

[catsgotmytongue]

Thank you all, you've eased my mind.



now if I could just get these two skittish cats to relax while we clipped them! Last time I wore gloves!! I still got clawed on my leg and hissed at!



Maggie (the calico) is just so skittish about everything. And Ziggy, who used to braver, is slowly becoming just as bad as her!

[bethers]

i clip my ellie's nails but i have to take missy to the vet to get it done as she HATES IT and has to get some happy gas to calm her down. ridiculous eh? and costs me about $25 each time too, so i try to only go 2 or 3 times a year. but her nails do get VERY long and sharp.

occasionally she'll let me do one nail... but never a whole foots worth.
i also only do their front claws.


however ellie is not too impressed with me today as i trimmed her yesterday and she can't climb up her tree atm till she sharpens them again (it's rather hilarious to watch).

[Lela n Mitz's Servant]

Miss Bronte,

Which I could get Mitzy to enjoy having his nails trimmed. He will tolerate the first couple if he's in a relaxed mood, and then he starts squirming an pushing me with his hind legs to get away, and general wont sit still.