Will my indoor cat need her claws clipping?

personally i cut my cats front claws but not the back just for safety if he gets out he can climb a tree without to much trouble

Cats' claws are different from dogs' claws in that they shed them - when they get old, blunt, or broken, the cat will use whatever's handy to hook the offending claw and rip off the outer shell. Under it is a fresh, new, razor-sharp claw! So yes, as the poster above recommended, it's a good idea to clip your cat's claws if you are concerned about your furniture, and the best way to see that they don't start ripping at your couch is to get a cat tree. I bought mine on eBay for half the price of Petsmart and Petco! Sure, I had to assemble it, but my cats love it. The sisal "tree trunks" are their favorite claw sharpener.

I have an indoor cat, and she uses her scratching post all the time, but her nails still need clipping. I find the post just makes them sharper ;)

Here in the UK .. many vets will clip nails for free .. When my cats were getting older I used to clip their nails for them every week .. the muscles in their feet get weaker and they couldn't retract their nails as fully as they did as youngsters .. I used a little guillotine cutter .. and only nibbled very short lengths .. just the points really .. they have a quick in the nail just like dogs and if you cut it too short you cause them pain and infection can set it .. Why not ask your vets advice .. and if they do need trimming maybe they will do it for you or show you how to do it yourself .. When anyone gets a new pet I always advise them to make grooming a part of the daily routine .. that way when anything has to be done the animal is used to being handled and having nails, teeth and fur inspected .. it really does make things easier ...

I know of a few people that clip their cats' claws, even on the back feet. Me...I am not brave enough to try it with my cats. LOL I always make sure to keep a few scratching posts around the house. Those help a lot with keeping the length of the claws down.

I think it is a good idea as if they get too long they can cause problems for your cat and also for you if your cat starts scratching your furniture in order to shorten its nails and also to sharpen them. If you do not already have a scratching post then maybe now is the time to buy one and see how it goes.

Well I admit that all my cats are outdoor cats, but I've never had any of their nails clipped - I tend to let things happen as nature intended, as cats need their claws for defence. However, I think if you got a scratching post/tree it would be a good idea, because she could keep them trimmed naturaly. I have a wonderful one with tunnels and barrels, and some cat-nip balls hanging from it. It's part of that tree, that my Sasha is sitting on so proudly in my avatar. One word of advice from me though others may say differently - and that is PLEASE don't try and clip them yourself if you decide to have them done. I once saw a dog in a Vets' surgery with horrendous injuries to his paw because his owner had tried to save a bit of money by clipping his claws himself, and cats are much more likely to struggle and move quickly in those stuations, so you could really hurt her. If you really feel the need to get them cipped - please go to a Vet and get it done professionaly.

We always keep our cats' claws clipped, since they are stuck up kitties and have never used a scratching post (so we stopped getting them) They choose to scratch up anything cardboard or dig at the carpet. Their claws get very sharp and start getting stuck in everything including my skin! So, when that happens, I know it's time to trim their claws again. Just be careful not to trim them too short and cut the vein that is inside the lower half.