Clipping a cat's claws?

paddypaws101

Nellie is 16, and showing her age being rather doddery and creaky in her movements. She also seems to get her claws stuck in things ( silk cushion covers, my best cashmere sweater, ahh) and have difficulty pulling away. When she walks on the bedroom carpet I can hear the claws sticking as well and they do look to be curving right round.
I have never thought about clipping a cat's claws before, but I guess as she does not go outside much they have just overgrown somewhat.

She is due a vet check so I can ask the vet about the nails too...but is this a painless and fairly routine thing if done by the professionals?

shelly

When Coco got old her claws didn't get naturally worn down so got quite long. She got very stressed at going to the vets so I trimmed them myself.
I had an old pair of normal nail clippers and hubby would distract her whilst I clipped.
You do have to be very careful not to go too low and cut the quick (vein) because they bleed alot. I would rather take off a little at a time and trim more often than take off too much and hurt her.

tanith

I agree with shelly, our old girl is 20 and I wouldn't stress her out going to the vet, she lets me do it with toe clippers and its fine.. just be careful not to cut too low, as long as you do it bit at a time it will be fine..

ravernoloo

i would personally pay the money and get it done at the vets, just because i would worry too much that i would go too far! I think it is definately painless by proffessionals, but the cat may get stressed when they try and cut the claw if they arent used to it.

KVet

It's easy peasy to clip cats claws when you know how. MUCH easier than dogs ones ad the quicks are so obvious

Fire_Fox

Noah was catching on everything and mewing to get away so has his claws clipped during a check-up at the vets yesterday. They said he was as good as gold, bet he would try to bite an amateur like me!

Fivefootsix

Have you got someone to hold her while you clip them? I always find it easier if I wrap my cat in a blanket and get someone else to hold him while I clip them, he has got used to it now and the blanket seems to calm him down as it's covered in his scent and so he doesn't get too stressed.

The nurse told me the best way is to press their pads a bit and then the claws will be seen easier.

If you're not totally sure or confident in what you're doing and you're in the vets anyway you should just ask them to do it. They shouldn't charge and will be able to do it quickly so less stress on your cat.

paddypaws101

She is due to have blood tests, overdue in fact, so I am afraid it will be a stressful visit anyway! It has just occurrd to me that the overgrowth might actually be causing her discomfort and contributing to her rather disjointed gait...I can hear her nails click across the floor when she walks.
Ok time to bite the bullet and call the vet.

cyberbob

Its very easy to do yourself just don't cut into the pink bit. As ours are indoor cats we cut the quite often. The Ragdolls just let us do it but the moggies and the Wegie are a bit more of a challenge. Its worth investing in some decent cutters

Fire_Fox

Recommendation for decent clippers please!

Februarycat

My cat is 19 and same problem as you. I can cut the back ones when she is asleep but the front she will not let me, would be better if I could as she gets very distressed going to the vets. She has had them cut in the summer at the vets and they had a job to do them, as I was waiting for ages, and they were sore for a day or so, but they badly need doing again as they are curling round. I keep having a go but no luck yet.