Advice needed on how close you can clip a cat's claws...

[joeybee12]

I have a new kitten and he's a terror...a sweet, loving terror...and claws at everything...he lets me clips his claws because he is very trusting, doesn't fight it at all, but I'm wondering how far down I can go since even with clipping he still can claw pretty hard at furniture...thanks,

[onestepforward]

1. Here's a photo

"Notice the pink tissue (the quick) on the inside of the claw.
Avoid the quick when you trim the claw; cutting into it will
cause pain and bleeding Remove the sharp tip below the
quick (away from the toe), clipping about halfway between
the end of the quick and the tip of claw."

http://www.catscratching.com/htmls/article.htm

Hope this helps. Trimming claws will not prevent clawing at furniture, but you can train your cat not to do it. I clapped my hands and said "NO!" when my kittens did it and praised them when they used their cat scratch post. It has worked well for me. I'm sure others will have advice too.

Good luck!

[joeybee12]

2. Thanks! I'm trying that...saying no when he does it...

And praising him when he uses the scratching posts...not sticking yet!

[onestepforward]

4. You're welcome!

Some people have had good success putting double stick tape to scratching areas on furniture. Cats don't like to touch it. You can also try aluminum foil. It's not pretty, but it would be temporary

[CountAllVotes]

6. I managed to train my cat not to claw

She knows what the words "no clawing" mean. She'll stop immediately if you catch her.

I also have a few of these cardboard cat treadmills I call them. She gives herself a great workout on these several times a day. When I see her using it, I also praise her by saying "Good kitty!".

It is possible to train a cat.

[madinmaryland]

5. That's how my wife and daughter trim our cats' nails!

Once a month or so.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. The first post is excellent to tell you how far you can cut.

And when I was first doing this, and was not sure if I would cut too far, I always had a small cup of flour at hand. If you do make the mistake of cutting too close and it bleeds, you push flour into the claw to stop the bleeding. (I know, you do not want to think about cutting to where it bleeds, but better safe than sorry.) I learned this when I had a bird who needed claws cut all the time.

I was never able to stop a cat from scratching furniture, so I will not pretend that I have answers for that, but I do know that all cats seem to have preferences for the type of scratching posts they like. My baby loves sisal wrapped posts. I had another cat who preferred the flat cardboard ones. Some like the carpet covered ones, but I have been warned not to encourage them scratching carpet---or you may be sorry. (Say hello to sorry ) I have holes in carpet from one cat. Also, try rubbing catnip on the scratching posts to encourage the kitteh.

Good luck.