Do you trim your cat’s nails? If so, why? If not, why not? Those are questions I asked online friends recently. I added, “Keep in mind that the information you share will be read by novice pet guardians without a great deal of experience. I’d like them to hear from experienced cat guardians and “cat professionals” (no, not cats with degrees—humans with formal education about cats!) who can give insights about what might be best for feline family members and their humans.”
Here are some of their answers and insights!
Amy Suggars (Ohio) Yes, I do. I do it because otherwise the nails become very long and sharp. I use regular people nail clippers to do it. It’s quite easy. I wish clipping my dog’s nails was that easy.
Anna Abney (South Carolina) Cat claws are supposed to be sharp. They use the hook shape to grasp prey. And they groom their own nails by clawing vertical surfaces. The old sheaths hook onto the surface and are pulled off. You may damage this action by cutting them too much and the result can be nails that now overgrow because the cat can’t properly groom them itself.
Amy Suggars My cat’s nails are fine with me trimming them. They grow back normally and do an excellent job of tearing up my furniture. The nails will start to curl and may actually get caught on stuff if I don’t trim them. Regular nail trimming is an important part of keeping a cat healthy [in my opinion].
From Pet MD | Why It’s Important to Trim Cat Nails Regularly
Overgrown nails become curved and don’t retract completely. You will know if your cat’s nails have grown too long if your cat gets their nails stuck in carpets or other soft surfaces, or if your cat can no longer retract her nails.
Severely overgrown and curved nails can grow into the footpad, causing significant pain and mobility problems. Therefore, it is very important to keep your cat’s nails short. Cats should have their nails trimmed every 10 days to 2 weeks so that they do not get to this point.
Olivia McCollum (Washington) I trim our three babies’ nails every two weeks. Mostly to keep them from doing a ton of damage to my furniture, but also because my youngest, Fern, is polydactyl, with six toes on each paw. Cats who are polydactyl oftentimes have nails that can become ingrown/grow into their paw pads if not looked after properly. She gets hers trimmed on a strict schedule for that reason and she has no problems! Here is a pic of her right before her nail trim!
Photo by Olivia McCollum
Amy Cowley (United Kingdom) Never done it with my cats as they are outdoor cats, but we had an elderly cat who lived to 18 years old and wasn’t going outside as much. The vets advised us it would be best to trim them, which they did there and then.
Anna Abney I trim the tips of kittens’ nails until they learn proper claw manners. Then I stop. Unless the cat has a health condition that prevents proper nail shedding, they do not need their nails trimmed. They will not grow continuously like dog nails and they are supposed to grow into a sharp point. Excessive trimming interferes with this process making it difficult for the cat to shed its old nail sheaths. This can result in thickened, overgrown nails.
Q: Would you outline what you consider proper claw manners?
Anna Abney Only clawing on approved items and being gentle when playing with me. Same as teaching a puppy what to chew and how to use its teeth gently with people.
Photo by Anna Abney
Anna Abney Cats sheath their claws when not in use specifically to prevent wear so they stay sharp. The nails are supposed to look like this. This is the claw of a healthy 100% indoor cat who has never had her claws trimmed and who has ready access to multiple appropriate clawing surfaces with varying angles and textures. They are supposed to be this length and this pointy. They will not get longer than this.
Manolito Daniel (Washington) We have plenty of scratching beds, posts and the like to let my girls do most of their grooming, but I have a professional come in and trim their nails regularly. My guy is great with them and is in and out in about 10–15 minutes. It’s best for my skin, my couch, and my carpet. If I don’t do it, they grow back into my oldest’s paw!
Annie Zeck (Washington) I did. I put her in a pillowcase and pulled a paw at a time out and clipped. She traveled to the vet in a pillowcase also. Best cat ever, lived to be 19. Looked both ways before she crossed the street!
Victoria Day (Washington) I have trimmed my cats’ nails and even a friend’s cat’s nails. Indoor cats don’t get a chance to let their little sharp claws get dull. It helps save your skin and furniture from getting too scratched up.
Miranda Hebert Cpat-ka (Quebec) I sure do. She purrs.
Teri Stripes (Washington) Yes. Indoor cat nails can overgrow and grow into the paw pads. They also can snag me while I’m petting them or they are kneading.
Deb Hunt (Washington) Yes, I tip them when they’re very sharp. Prevents the sharp hook of the nail catching on something and maybe breaking a toe.
Michel Berner (Wisconsin) I trim kitten nails every other week until they learn how to control them. I do the adult nails only if they’ve become so long that I’m getting poked while the cat is just walking across me, which is maybe once or twice a year in adults.
Isabel Alvarez Arata (Texas) Absolutely! I have small children and nice upholstered furniture, so nail trims are a must!
Your best bet for advice about your cat’s nails—to trim or not to trim—is, of course, your veterinarian.
