posted 05-26-2003 12:19 AM         

When clipping you can only take off up to the blood vessel inside the claws. It can be seen as a tiny red line if your cat has white claws. If your cat has brown claws then it makes it more difficult for the novice.

Normally you only cut off the very tip, but for older cats that haven't been able to maintain their claw length themselves, they may need quite a lot trimmed to get close to the blood vessel.

I recommend you let your vet trim them this time round. Your vet can teach you how, and it is very quick to do and will need no drugs. Also with an impacted claw you should definatly have the vet do that one because something else may need to be done. You certainly can't just clip a claw off!

posted 05-26-2003 12:52 AM         

Thanks for your really helpful advice - it is strange that the claw doesn't seem to be distressing Richard at all - maybe he has some geriatric peripheral neuropathy going on too!

I think you're right re seeing a vet as there may be infection etc ... but it is clear as you say that he really can't keep the length of the claws down too much now.

Thanks so much for replying!!

Very best regards

posted 05-26-2003 02:00 PM         

It isn't a procedure I would normally recommend for a healthy young cat, as quite frankly it would be cruel to to remove the claws of a cat when they are still of use, but since your cat will find it more and more difficult and will begin to get himself stuck in materials it may well be the best option.

My Aunt's cat had it done when he was 14 and was no worse off for having no claws and certainly a lot happier for not finding himself stuck to the couch!

posted 05-26-2003 04:56 PM         

Thanks for your advice - declawing would be a sensible thing to do; does declawing mean a general anaesthetic or can it be done under local? I imagine it would be a general so the cat remains still. Richard may not tolerate a general procedure too well given his age.

Very best regards

posted 05-26-2003 10:30 PM         

I had a cat that had his little toe sideways for about a year. It didn't distress him, but then I had another cat (his brother) that smashed both forearm bones had he didn't appear to be in much pain considering. Its amazing how unfazed they can be!

As for declawing, he might need that on the one claw, but the rest should be fine with clipping. All old cats start sticking to things, and clipping saves them a lot of stress.

posted 05-27-2003 03:27 AM         

Thanks for the website address - its excellent. I dno't think Richard would tolerate the general anaesthetic for a total de-clawing.

Best regards