Older cats

[shirleyp01]

Thanks Mary I think she deserves a treat

[maryas]

Glad it went well for her 

She might need a few Dreamies 

Mary

[shirleyp01]

Well Samantha got through having her nails cut last night, she was mostly calm while this was going on, even when she had to have an injection, I was very proud of her, I was a mess as I thought they might be hurting her, but the vet was very kind, if when she was hissed at.  Samantha sulked with us last night but she is fine this morning, purring away and giving us what for.

[Tiggy's Mum]

I have young mainly indoor cats whose claws need trimming every few weeks - they're like razors! Their predecessor, my childhood cat, lived to almost 19 and she needed her claws trimming in the later years of life too.

Would you feel confident doing them yourself? I tried to aclimatise my two by doing it since they were kittens but it didn't work and one of them will tolerate it with no probs but the other one squeals, whines and thrashes around.... until I discovered that if I piled a very large pile of treats on a plate on the settee for him he was at the right height for me to easily do all four feet without him so much as blinking while he inhales the treats - simples!

The clippers I have are similar to these but link to ebay item but I know some people just use regular nail clippers for humans. If she has light nails then all you need to do is just take the edges off being careful to avoid the pinky coloured quick.

[clarenmax]

I do Poot's claws every couple of months just to keep them from catching, as he doesn't really scratch much, and is an indoor only cat.  They do seem to grow pretty fast!!  He's not too bad with it, but more often than not its a 2 person job, one to distract, and them me to do the 'deed'!! 

[maryas]

Bonnie's indoor and 13 and I do hers ( i do it very slyly when rubbing her belly sprawled out on my bed) 

Smudge was outdoor and 12 and I never had to do his.

Tibby was 26 and outdoor and I never had to do hers.

My friend takes her cat to the vet regularly to get Molly's nails trimmed - easy peasy.

Hope it goes well for you.

Mary

[jezebel]

I find nail husks quite often, but given how much they claw the sofa ( ), I think they're all front ones. I've trimmed Drum's back claws with an ordinary nail clipper - very easy (as long as there's another person around to hold her!).

[Gill (sneakiefeline)]

My birmans nails grow very long and very quickly and although sometimes I can trim the front ones, the vet has to do the back ones.

As I cant touch Sasa I have to assume she looks safter her nails and Misa ...well Misa just doesnt like being groomed period!

If you are doubtful or worried the vet is the best person to do this.

[Janeyk]

I always trim my oldies claws now, it started with Schui and he used to panic on certain fabrics if his claws got caught.  We had to take him to the vets for it doing though and she had to use dog clippers on them as they grew very thick and he used to yell out (he was very dramatic bless him!).  I did Byrons though - hers were very dainty and do Peppers now.

[Rosella moggy]

I had to help Tom out with nail clipping every few months or so in his final years but never had to with either Gandolf (RIP aged 19) or Dingle (RIP aged almost 21) so I guess some do some don't 

Hope Samantha isn't stressed at vet visit.  The claw clipping shouldn't be a problem at all 

I wonder if Persians are prone to this Gill?  A pal of mine had this problem recently with one of her Persians.  The claw had actually grown into the pad.  My mate was mortified.  Thankfully it healed up very quickly ....

[bunglycat]

I find the shells around too , but in particular Smartie (14 years) and Sophie (17 years) have had claws that if i hadn''t checked were on the verge of going into their pads ! So now they get checked every week or two .

[Rafflesmoore]

I have never had mine done. Having said that I have just checked them just to be sure I hadn't missed anything.

They do go in and out, not so much out these days, spend most of their time sleeping!!!!!

Mine are 8, 13, 16, 17, 18 and 20 years old.

I do find nails on the floor quite often, well the shell of the nail, if you know what I mean.

[bunglycat]

Yes, i have a friend that does rescue and she calls round every few months and trims all mines nails -they are usually good , unless they don''t like their feet being touched -Winston doesn't , but the others are ok.
I am sure she will be fine.

[shirleyp01]

Taking my beautiful Samantha to the vets tonight, to have her nails trimmed, is it the same for everyone with older cats that they dont chew their nails off as they used to?
I am not looking forward to it, so I am sure it is worse for her
Love her lots