Soft paws or nail trim

[Freedom]

I don't use soft paws, I just trim. It is a Saturday morning chore. Very easy to do. I have a set of these:
http://www.petedge.com/product/Groom.../501/44495.uts

Cat nails are quite easy, unlike dog nails. I sit in a recliner (any upholstered chair will work) and hold the cat on my left side, wedged in between me and the arm of the chair. Snip, snip, all done! TREAT and off kitty goes.

I'm right handed; if you are left handed, you will want the cat on your right.

I have scratching posts. Periodically I will rub some catnip on them. If the cats go for furniture (a newbie in the house might), get a spray bottle. Put in equal parts white vinegar and water, and spray where the cat has been scratching. The mixture is weak enough that you won't smell it. Strong enough that the cat will. The white vinegar is what deters the cat. AT the same time, the catnip attracts the cat to the posts.

BTW, I don't recommend those short posts, they are a waste. Cats want to be able to stand and stretch out their entire body, so get a tall one or two!

[katladyd]

I don't trim or use Soft Paws. My kitties use all the scratching posts in the house (tall and short, I have lots of them) and that seems to do the trick. The water and amonia thing does work for keeping them from scratching the furniture.

[happylabs]

I trim the nails when I can get them to hold still. Mama cat religiously uses her scratchy box.

A cat's nail is sharp and pointy. When you trim the pointy part off of he end, they can scratch but it doesn't do as much damage.

You can train them to not scratch furniture and carpets. My brother has successfully done this with his cat Max. When Max was a young cat my brother would take him to the scratching post and show him what to do with his paws, actually go through the motion.

Hope this helps.

[Taz_Zoee]

We trim nails. And there are some items of furniture that Jax took a liking to and began to scratch on. I got some double sided sticky papers at the pet store (I can't remember exactly what they are called) and placed those on the corners of the items he was shredding. Works like a charm! And the sheets are clear so they aren't that noticable.
Luckily these are the only items he was scratching. He tends to scratch on the carpet as well. But since we keep his nails trimmed the carpet is just fine.

Keep in mind, cats have different preferences of how they like to scratch. My Taz was a horizontal scratcher. I have a carpet in the bedroom that he always used. Jax is actually both, horizontal and vertical. He does the carpet and the sides of the speakers. Paizly is mostly vertical. I have two cat trees and two posts (one tall and one short) that she prefers to use.

They do sell some scratching things that accomodate both ways. We sell one at the shelter I volunteer with. So getting one that would work both ways, at least until you know what the cat prefers, would be a good idea.

Also, for the trimming of the nails, start doing it early on so the kitten gets used to it. I could do Taz's nails all by myself without a problem. The two I currently have are a different story. My boyfriend has to hold/scruff them for me while I trim.

They also sell those scratchers that are supposed to file down the cats nails when they scratch on them. Not sure if those really work or not. Anyone have any experience with these?

Good luck!

[krazyaboutkatz]

I only trim nails probably about once amonth or so. I found that toe nail clippers work great. I have large cat trees that have scratching posts, and both vertical and horizontal smaller scratching posts too. They use all of them. Sometimes Ziggy and Sky will start scratching my carpet so I have to tell them no. I also put covers on my couch and recliner so if they decide to scratch those they can't really do any damage.

Some cats are very easy when it comes to nail trims. Pearl is actually my easiest cat. Sky and Ziggy are my most difficult and I have to put a muzzle on Sky or else he'll bite me. Good luck.

[happylabs]

We trim nails. And there are some items of furniture that Jax took a liking to and began to scratch on. I got some double sided sticky papers at the pet store (I can't remember exactly what they are called) and placed those on the corners of the items he was shredding. Works like a charm! And the sheets are clear so they aren't that noticable.
Luckily these are the only items he was scratching. He tends to scratch on the carpet as well. But since we keep his nails trimmed the carpet is just fine.

Keep in mind, cats have different preferences of how they like to scratch. My Taz was a horizontal scratcher. I have a carpet in the bedroom that he always used. Jax is actually both, horizontal and vertical. He does the carpet and the sides of the speakers. Paizly is mostly vertical. I have two cat trees and two posts (one tall and one short) that she prefers to use.

They do sell some scratching things that accomodate both ways. We sell one at the shelter I volunteer with. So getting one that would work both ways, at least until you know what the cat prefers, would be a good idea.

Also, for the trimming of the nails, start doing it early on so the kitten gets used to it. I could do Taz's nails all by myself without a problem. The two I currently have are a different story. My boyfriend has to hold/scruff them for me while I trim.

They also sell those scratchers that are supposed to file down the cats nails when they scratch on them. Not sure if those really work or not. Anyone have any experience with these?

Good luck!

Excellent advice on getting them used to it when they are kittens. I cannot do Mama's nails. She will NOT allow it. Luckily she loves her cardboard scratchy thing and does not scratch anything else.

I have one of those Emery Cat nail scratcher things. The cats never really got onto using it but I have left it in the one corner of my living room hoping that some day they will come to love it.

Buddy is really bad. I won't get into it.

[catnapper]

Trimming is soooo much easier. By the time you grab a soft paw, squeeze in glue, place on nail.... you could have had all the nails trimmed on one paw.

The sooner you start trimming, the faster they get used to it. They also learn after a while that struggling only makes the whole procedure harder. They learn to sit still and just let you trim. Even my Divas will sit quietly on nail trims because they noticed its a lot easier if they just sit still.

[catmandu]

I dont think that I could put these on My Cats , except My Josephine of many names ^^ and Tubster Panther ^^.

[aTailOf2Kitties]

My guys their scratching posts once I found the kind of carpet they preferred. I don't have problems with them scratching on the furniture but I still trim their claws every month or so. I can trim Toby's if he's already relaxing in my lap and I go slow. Havoc acts like you're lopping off his toes with a chainsaw, but his nails grow funny anyway. They seem sensitive, so I only trim them when they get really long.

Toby bites his nails, another reason I can't do soft paws on him. Anybody else have a cat that does that?