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What are the benefits of clipping your cats claw? I have heard that it can make the nail split. Also, what are the bad things about clipping your cats claws? Thank you.

Hi. The benefits of clipping a cat's nails are substantial. They can't scratch you or the furniture as easily, yet they can groom themselves without any difficulty. Plus, they won't get their claws caught in things like sweaters or other clothes.

You just clip off the sharp hook on the tip. If you clip the nail too far down, it can bleed, which may hurt. If it's done properly, the nails don't split. Just ask your vet to show you how -- and be sure to use a sharp clipper, not a dull one.

It doesn't take very long, yet it's extremely beneficial to you and the cat -- and it's SO much more humane than declawing.

Good luck! Aurora d'

I clip my kitty's claws at home. His don't split because I trim only the sharp part. One reason that I do it is that his sometimes grow to curled under very easily which makes it difficult for him to walk or groom himself. The other reason to keep him from detroying furniture.

Thank you all for your input, you have been very helpful.

I am unable to trim my cats' claws with out splitting them. I have new clippers and do everything the vet showed me.
So I just bring mine to the vet to have them clipped. They charge me $5 a cat. But if I bring two cats in they still only charge me 5 dollars.
Good luck
Jaime

>>I am unable to trim my cats' claws with out splitting them. I have new clippers and do everything the vet showed me.
>>So I just bring mine to the vet to have them clipped. They charge me $5 a cat. But if I bring two cats in they still only charge me 5 dollars.
>>Good luck
>>Jaime

Are you using human nail clippers or the special clipper specifically for cats claws? Human clippers will definitely split the nail. The clipper has to be very sharp too. If you happen to get the cat at a certain time when his claws are ready to start shedding the sheath, you are probably splitting the sheath rather than the nail itself.
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Dottie
Proudly owned by The Catnip Crew...Munchkin,Casey,Maddie,Harley,Meadow,Ashley,Nicky and Mushka

Posted by: Mordecai at Thu Aug 14 15:05:20 2003 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

What are the benefits of clipping your cats claw? I have heard that it can make the nail split. Also, what are the bad things about clipping your cats claws? Thank you.
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Really can't think of any bad things except if your cat goes outside it makes it hard for him to climb trees.
I used to take some fingernail clippers and clip the sharp point off the nail.It worked well and he seamed to be happy with it.When there young there nails are like needles and they need clipped.
Lou