Member

Posts: 52
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-20-2003 05:19 PM         

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How often should cats claws be trimmed?

My kittens are 6 months old, so they've been going to the vets regularly every 3 weeks for their shots, and she was trimming them each visit. But now that they have all their shots and have been fixed, they're not going to the vets on a regular basis anymore.

I'm afraid to cut them myself, so I'll be taking them to a groomer to trim them, and was wondering if anyone knows how often they should be cut. Thanks.

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Posts: 1591
From:NY, USA
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 09-20-2003 07:52 PM         

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I only cut my cats nails every couple of months. I guess it would depend on whether you need or prefer the nails to be kept short....then I'd say every 3 - 4 wks. or just watch for them to get sharp and pointy again...then you'll know its time.
When my vet cut 2 of my cats nails when they were altered she cut them as short as she could and I did'nt have to cut them again for several months...so if your groomer does a really good job you may not have to have them cut that often.

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Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-20-2003 09:35 PM         

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Its really not hard to trim them yourself. Just get the right kind of trimmers and a helper to hold the cat.

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Posts: 123
From:Vancouver, WA USA
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-21-2003 02:36 AM         

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I trim my kitten's nails ever two weeks or so. I try to keep them short because he's still so young that he scratches quite a bit.

I just wait for him to fall asleep in my lap. He doesn't even wake up. Its really easier than I expected. By the second paw its not scary anymore.

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Posts: 73
From:
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 09-21-2003 06:59 AM         

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i trim my cats nails also.
once you get use to it, its not that hard....when i girst started doing it, it was a little hard but now....i just wait till they fall asleep too.....
i only do it maybe once a month...but then again my cats used to be outdoor cats and we just had to move them from my moms house to my dads....so im going to try to make them indoor....
anyway.....after a while it gets easier......
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hope i helped,
sarah

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Posts: 52
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-21-2003 08:40 AM         

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Thank you all for your replies! Since you all made it sound so easy, I decided to get brave and went ahead and cut their nails. I have a kitten care book, they shows pictures step by step on how to cut them, I followed that and all went well. I did it while they were sleeping, and they didn't give me any problems at all, it was pretty easy and only took a couple minutes. Thanks again!

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Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-21-2003 11:53 AM         

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The only thing I would add is to use the right clippers. This kind is the best:
http://www.petsmart.com/products/product_19480.shtml

The guillotine kind can splinter their nails. These clip them very nicely and don't splinter them.

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Posts: 52
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-21-2003 12:06 PM         

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Thanks fleafly.... that is the exact same pair of clippers that I have and used on them today. I do also have a pair of the guillotine kind that I bought from their vet, but I found those to be too big and awkward to use. The little scissor kind like you posted worked out alot better for us.

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Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-21-2003 03:33 PM         

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No problem, I went through alot splintered nails before I found these. Not to mention the guillotine ones are had to position. It was my vet that turned me on to the scissor kind, so I have to give them the credit.

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Posts: 22
From:
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 09-22-2003 03:40 PM         

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I use the "guillotine" claw trimmers because they work for both the dog and the cat. Is there any way of using them to avoid the splintered nails? or at least to minimize them?

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