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View Full Version : Claws - and not retracting


dinahsmum
20-02-2005, 12:15 PM
My two are old ladies now, and neither of them retract their claws fully and tightly now. They hitch on clothes etc and get tangled. Any hints for helping? Tizz's are very bad, and she doesn't sharpen them now, so I tend to just snip the very ends off with clippers, otherwise they curl into her pads.

Is it just another age thing - I don't really think there's anything I can do but if anyone has any tips..........

Mags
20-02-2005, 12:38 PM
DM Cassie is the same and she is just over 7. She gets her claws caught in the carpet and is really pulling to get free. She won't let me help her and I get frightened that she will pull her claws out.

As for clothes, 5 mins on your lap and they are ruined with pulled threads!!

She uses her scratching post regularly but that doesn't help....and also the fact that she doesn't go out much this time of the year.

As for clipping her claws....she doesn't like to be cuddled so there is no way she would let me do that to her.

So....I'm afraid I'm not much help to you DM, just got the same problem. :roll: Do you think the vet could offer any advice other than clipping their claws?

shonedek
20-02-2005, 01:29 PM
theres not a lot you can do about this.Its an age thing and it wont get better.Its to do with the muscles that help retract the nails back.Its actually very common.The best thing to do is just keep clipping them so they dont get caught.This is something we do with the Persians all the time.They have to have nails clipped otherwise they pull out chunks of hair.

dinahsmum
20-02-2005, 04:23 PM
Thanks both!

I thought it had to be an age thing. So, either put up with it or pull their claws out with pliers then? :shock: Guess we'll put up with it :)

The clipping (just the tiniest bit, to take off the really sharp end) seems to work quite well.

Mags
20-02-2005, 04:25 PM
I wish I could clip Cassies claws but she just doesn't like being held still :(

I'll just have to get her some little pussy boots! :lol:

dinahsmum
20-02-2005, 04:26 PM
oooh yes - little suede ones with satin bows :D

Abbi
20-02-2005, 04:30 PM
I am due to clip my little ones claws today, I can tell they need doing as the are catching on everything! They don't like it but I have to do it as they are indoor cats.

Mags
20-02-2005, 04:37 PM
I think I'll get the vet to do it when she next has her jabs! :(

Abbi
20-02-2005, 04:40 PM
My mums has a lady come to her and cut her cats claws once a month - she is a pet beautician! She has a years waiting list she is that good!!! She does birds, cats, dogs the lot!

Mags
20-02-2005, 04:42 PM
What a good idea! I wonder how much they charge?

Abbi
20-02-2005, 04:44 PM
I think my mums pays about £10 she comes once a month.

Mags
20-02-2005, 05:19 PM
That's not bad!

shonedek
20-02-2005, 05:42 PM
the best thing to do if you can is to start them young.another way is 1 to use nail clippers for humans as these are nicer to get round nail.2 Try when cat is asleep,some will let you clip but not all.3 when i do mine once a week we start with a treat and finish with a treat.They soon learn that its somthing good.Mine sit waiting to be done

Mags
20-02-2005, 06:07 PM
:roll: I wish I'd known that 7 years ago Sam :(

dinahsmum
20-02-2005, 07:10 PM
Glad Tizz is a biddable little girl who lets me clip.

My Siamese madam is not so 'hitchy' except in bed (Oh :shock: did I tell you she cuddles into me, under the duvet????? Sure none of you have such ill-brought up pets :D ) She cuddles into me and often gets her claws caught in my PJ top. I turn over, she's hooked, we turn together, with her swearing at me and me sleepily trying to find the hitch and disentangle her...... oh, it's all drama in our house! :D

Abbi
20-02-2005, 07:12 PM
LOL DM :lol: :lol:

Mags
20-02-2005, 07:16 PM
:smt081 @ DM
What a picture I have of you!! :lol:

dinahsmum
20-02-2005, 07:23 PM
She lies under the duvet, head on the pillow - sort of 'wot you looking at, don't all cats do this?). My OH calls us his two blondies.
I never give her sardines for tea!

It is lovely and cosy though, having a fur collar :)

Mags
20-02-2005, 07:33 PM
:lol: Cassie always comes up and nestles into me (don't share my pillow with her tho :lol: ) and I notice she never goes on OH's side :roll:

Abbi
20-02-2005, 07:38 PM
Our babies are not allowed in the bedroom :O( OH has ashtma and eczema, it would make him ill if they were to lay on the bedding, I really miss not having a cat at the end of my bed - before I got Amber and Archie - Daisy would always sleep at the foot of the bed or beside me.

Mags
20-02-2005, 07:40 PM
You've got them trained well the Abs!

Abbi
20-02-2005, 07:44 PM
The door is closed all the time to the bedroom :O( At the weekend Archie cries outside the beroom door if we are not up by about 9am! I have to get up and give him a cuddle!

Mags
20-02-2005, 07:55 PM
Awwww lickle softie Archie!!
We did try closing the door but I'm afraid Cassie scratches so much at it that she rips the carpet up :evil:

Abbi
20-02-2005, 08:07 PM
Yes Archie does do that too if we ignore him - naughtie little sod !

Fran
20-02-2005, 08:11 PM
Lucky my eldest cat who is eighteen also has this problems with her claws, I had put it down to the fact that she never ventures outside anymore. Sometimes she gets really panicky if she gets very stuck in something :(

dinahsmum
23-02-2005, 09:06 PM
Thanks for the chat everyone. Didn't think there was any remedy - I'll just keep snipping and hoping not to get hooked! :)

Mags
23-02-2005, 09:27 PM
How about using an emery board just on the pointy bits? :wink:

shonedek
23-02-2005, 10:56 PM
We have one called Toots(should of called her breeze block).She and wazzy come to bed with us.Wazzy always lays by my head but toots has a play first then she gets up on the wardrobe.She waits for you to get under the duvet,snuggle down and turn the light off.A few mins will passed then you get one flying cat who always seems to land on your tummy.She does it every time,you lay there waiting for the pain(in more ways then one)Oh dont we love our cats

Mags
23-02-2005, 11:09 PM
:lol: :lol: that would frighten the life out of me in the dark!!! :shock:

shonedek
23-02-2005, 11:24 PM
cant say it does me a lot of good and i know its coming

Mags
24-02-2005, 09:30 AM
:lol: what you'd miss out on if you didn't have your cats!!! :lol:

Abbi
24-02-2005, 10:04 AM
LOL!

shonedek
24-02-2005, 08:29 PM
no more tummy aches,now theres a thought

Mags
24-02-2005, 09:13 PM
Yes but it strengthens your tummy muscles waiting for her to land! :lol:

shonedek
24-02-2005, 10:31 PM
well all i can say is im glad its her (she only weighs 7lb) and not Bluggs who weighs in at 19lb.He would sure strenghen those stomach muscles

Mags
24-02-2005, 10:41 PM
19lbs! :shock:

Abbi
24-02-2005, 10:46 PM
I thought Archie was big at 17LB!!

Mags
24-02-2005, 10:54 PM
Gosh Cassie's a tiddler up to your two! :shock:

shonedek
25-02-2005, 08:06 PM
Hes no light weight thats for sure,but neither is he fat.He is all muscle as a persian should be ,not like these light weights that are popular.

Mags
25-02-2005, 08:15 PM
:lol: He makes quite a dent in you then Sam when he jumps!

shonedek
25-02-2005, 11:14 PM
Understatment,but hes a lovely boy with a very loving temperment.Most people that have met him cant get over how large he is.The most handsom cream persian with large copper eyes