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Caring For Your Cat's Claws
Trimming Claws...
All cats need their claws trimmed on a regular basis
unless they have been declawed, and, in fact, keeping
your cats nails trimmed on a regular basis may
eliminate the need for declawing. If your cat's claws
start snagging - on fabric or on you -it's a good
indication that they need clipping. A pair of clippers
designed especially for cats should be used and are
available at pet stores. Never use regular scissors as
they can crush and injure your cat's claw. Since most
cats will struggle when you clip their claws, it is
wise to wear long sleeves and pants and wait until the
cat is sleepy. If your cat is especially reluctant to
have its claws clipped, you might need someone to hold
it for you, while you do the clipping. Otherwise, begin
by holding your cat in your lap or on the floor between
your knees. Make sure there is sufficient lighting and
that you are familiar with the way the claws look. Pin
the cat to your side with your arm and hold one of its
front paws in your hand. Gently press on one toe until
the claw pops into full view. Clip it, being careful
not to cut into the quick, the slightly pinkish area
containing nerves and blood vessels. When in doubt,
trim less of the nail. Repeat with the next toe and so
on. Don't forget the dewclaws - found only on the front
paws - located right about where humans would have their
thumbs.
Declawing...
Careful consideration should be given to whether or not
you declaw your cat. Declawing is the surgical removal
of the claw and the surrounding tissue that it retracts
into. Usually, only the front claws are removed, but
sometimes the digits are removed as well. Declawing is
often the last resort for cats who have become veteran
scratchers of furnishings. Most cats can be trained
from kittenhood not to scratch the furniture or to
scratch a scratching post when they want exercise, but
all cats will continue to scratch, with or without claws,
as scratching is one way of marking their territory.
Before declawing, you might want to consider soft plas-
tic covers for your cat's paws. In general, these
should be put on by a vet and will last about a month,
despite your cat's efforts to remove them. Used in con-
junction with techniques to redirect clawing and scratch-
ing, covers for your cat's paws may serve as an alter-
native to declawing.
If your cat is consistently destroying your home fur-
nishings and all other efforts have failed, you might
want to have it declawed, but first there are a few
things of which you should be aware. Declawed cats
often compensate with their rear claws. They can still
climb well, but their ability to defend themselves will
be impaired. Declawed cats should not be allowed outside
without supervision. Some declawed cats will become
biters when they discover that their claws no longer
work. Others may begin to growl.
"A cat goes to a monastery, but she still remains a cat."
- Congolese Proverb
Outdoor cats are at increased risk of getting a disease call Feline Infectious Anemia or Hemobartonellosis. This is thought to be spread by insects, possibly mosquitoes and can cause debilitating anemia. See your vet if your outdoor cat is having decreased levels of energy.
