Do you need to trim your cat’s nails?
Many pet owners are torn as to whether or not they should trim their cat’s nails. They don’t want their furniture to get torn up, nor do they want to leave their cat defenseless.
If you’re not sure if it’s a good idea or not keep reading for the top reasons why you should trim your cat’s nails.
Protects You and Your Family
Have you ever been scratched by a cat? It can be very painful, especially if they have sharp claws. If a child gets scratched by a cat, it can be a traumatic experience if it’s very painful.
A cat scratch that draws blood, even a little bit, could lead to infection. Yes, cat scratch fever isn’t just a song, it’s an actual disease that can linger for about 2 weeks.
That’s because cats use a litter box, which can be full of bacteria. Outdoor cats can pick up bacteria as well.
Save Your Furniture
You may already know how you can manage your cat’s shedding to protect your furniture.
Yet, you may not have been able to save your furniture from cat scratching. That’s true even if you have a number of scratching posts for the cat to play with.
Scratching is normal behavior for cats, so it would be hard to get them to stop. You can protect your furniture and your carpets by trimming their nails.
Claw Trimming Can Protect Your Cat
Since cats normally have their claws retracted, it can be difficult for you to spot issues like ingrown nails or a torn nail. These and other nail and paw issues can be the result of a more serious disease.
Infections, cancer, and congenital defects can also cause nail and paw issues in cats.
Regularly trimming your cat’s nails, you can spot potential issues and have your veterinarian address them.
Not only that but if your cat is arthritic or older, you should have your cat’s nails trimmed.
Arthritic cats aren’t as active, and their claws can get overgrown. As cats get older, their nails can become brittle and break.
These conditions could lead to health issues such as nail and paw problems for your cat.
Alternative to Declawing
It used to be that many people would turn to declawing their cats if they were scratching too much, even though it’s normal cat behavior. The problem with declawing is that there could be pain and complications for the cat.
Instead of resorting to a painful procedure, you can just have your cat’s nails trimmed.
Ready to Trim Your Cat’s Nails?
There are several reasons why it’s a good idea to trim your cat’s nails. You can protect yourself, your family and most importantly, your cat from harm.
If trimming your cat’s nails makes you nervous, we’re here to help. We provide mobile grooming services, or you can stop by our salon to have a professional take care of your cat.
Contact us today to schedule your appointment.