• stoy@lemmy.zip
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    5 months ago

    When cats sharpen their claws on wood it keeps them at the right length.

    The only time we needed to clip our cat’s claws was when she was getting old and couldn’t sharpen them herself.

    We noticed it when she was getting more and more passive, and on a whim we looked ar her claws, they had grown into her pads on her paws, we started cliping them regularly, but only slightly, and she was soon feeling much better.

    This happened after and accident when she was out and we thought she got lost, but after a few days she was back in our garden, she was clearly in pain so we took her to the vet and one of her rear legs had been dislocated, it took weeks to get it to heal, and after that event she started having trouble with her claws.

      • VinnyDaCat@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Yeah, I just snip the tips on the front ones usually. I’ve been doing it since he was little and while he doesn’t appreciate it he has never fought or clawed me in the process of it.

    • Psythik@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      What do you do when the cat refuses to use scratching posts? No matter the material—cardboard, carpet, rope—she will only scratch the furniture and folded towels. (We even tried wrapping a scratching post in towel material and she still won’t scratch it.)

      Obviously we don’t want her destroying the furniture, so we don’t* let her scratch long enough to shorten her nails… wat do?

      • Lightfire228
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        5 months ago

        Try one of these: https://a.co/d/08I5FYeD

        Cats really only like to scratch on tall and sturdy things like trees or heavy couches

        If their post isn’t tall enough, they can’t get a good stretch out of it

        If the post tips over easily, they just won’t want to use it (you can also use a heavy weight to keep the base steady, but I find that solution rather cumbersome )

        • therealzordon@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          Good choice, I bought something like this and within about 2 minutes of having it set up I had 2 cats scratching it. I was worried they wouldn’t touch it.

      • stoy@lemmy.zip
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        5 months ago

        We never really had this issue, but I would try putting the folded towels in a cupboard with a door. As for furniture you could try and fit some hard plastic over the favourite scratching area so she won’t get a grip with her claws.

        We had our cat when we were doing a remodel (still going on at my parents, I still remember when the front porch was ripped out and the big job was starting back in 2000, but even before then the house was being remoddeled.

        She loved to scrach against wodden posts so much so that over the years she had scratched away about a third of the equivalent of a twobyfour post.

        We let her do that since the post would hold little weight, and it is relatively easy to swap if needed.

        • Psythik@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          I’ll try the plastic idea; thanks.

          Though it still doesn’t solve the issue of her refusing to scratch a designated post. She’ll just find something else. I’ve thought about buying a cheap yoga mat, cutting off a bit and taping it to the floor, cause she seems to enjoy scratching those too when we’re working out and step away for a break.

      • thorbot@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Well you double down and assert that your cat and training is superior, and therefore applies to all cats and anyone should be able to do what you do with your cats! Just kidding! accept the reality that everyone’s situation and cats are different!