Oppinions on Nail Caps?

**Cubby'sMom** · 03-14-2006, 10:17 PM

I was just curious...... what does everyone think about nail caps? I'm against them to be honest. All of our cats are outdoor, and there are several other cats around the neighborhood, and fights are inevitably gonna occur. The caps would prevent a cat from defending himself. I also think there just plain ole awkward on a cat

**Uabassoon** · 03-15-2006, 01:04 AM

I'm a big fan of nail caps, but I'm also a big fan of indoor only cats! When the cats were kittens I used them while I was training them how to use their scratching posts, and even more important I had to teach them that I was not a scratching post. They didn't even notice them at all. Then once they learned that climbing up my leg was a bad thing to do I stopped putting them on and now just trim their nails once a week.

**Kfamr** · 03-15-2006, 06:04 AM

I do not agree with outdoor cats, either - so if an indoor cat is at the risk of being declawed, nail caps are the best thing in the world to me.

**Cubby'sMom** · 03-15-2006, 09:42 AM

Yeah, nail caps are definitely better than being declawed, that's true. Wow, I think I just changed my thoughts on nail caps

I guess my mind is easily changeable or something

**Tollers-n-Dobes** · 03-15-2006, 10:31 AM

They're better than getting a cat declawed but if I had a cat I'd just cut it's nails so I'd have no need for nail caps.

**Uabassoon** · 03-15-2006, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by Orangutango

They're better than getting a cat declawed but if I had a cat I'd just cut it's nails so I'd have no need for nail caps.

Have you ever had a kitten before? They like to climb, it doesn't matter how often you trim their nails they will still climb. Climbing on curtains, tugging on bedsheets.. ehh whatever I'll get new ones. I swear they wait until the seconds your pants come off or your wearing shorts and they climb up your leg like a tree. This is something they have to be trained not to do. They also like to climb high places then wait until you walk past them then jump off and use you as a landing post. I've had enough claw marks up my legs, shoulders, face, neck.. Some people don't care, but I think it hurts!

What's strange is that the people who I know that have had indoor cats don't seem to have problems with the nail caps. They do not hurt, they can still scratch the way they normally do, the only difference is that their nails can't actually dig into something. I've used them on Tibby as well as Alexa's kittens and they never even noticed or seemed bothered by them. Now that they are older and don't use me as their scratching post they don't need them anymore.

I'm not saying that every cat needs to wear them, I'm just confused as to how people can be against something that doesn't in any way harm your pet. It's like me saying I'm against putting outfits on dogs because I don't think they need them.

**CagneyDog** · 03-15-2006, 05:56 PM

I should of voted for both, I like them but have not used them.

I feel the same way as Uabasson

**Crazy-Cat-Lover** · 04-02-2006, 05:28 PM

I used them on some of my cats years ago and they always managed to remove them. They would just bite the cap and tug on it until it popped off. It wasn't worth the money for my past cats, but I would probably use them again if need be. My cats are not scratchers, they will occasionally scratch the chair, but I don't mind. Mine are all grown up now, so they are out of their climb the curtain stages. (*thanks gawd*)!