Read the cat article, "Caring For Your Cat's Claws".
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 plastic 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 conjunction with
techniques to redirect clawing and scratching, covers for your cat’s paws may
serve as an alternative to declawing.
If your cat is consistently destroying your home furnishings 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.
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