Hi all,

My Bengal is a rescue 4 year old and she is settling in now. I've had her for a few months now and she is getting a lot more relaxed. She still occasionally scratches if you're playing or caught off guard but the problem is her claws are like talons and slice your fingers open!

She is an indoor cat but I still don't want to declaw her because she really loves her scratching post. Has anyone got any tips?

Cutting claws? Declawing? What do people think?


She's my first Bengal by the way.


Thanks,


Chris

Just take the tips off with a pair of clippers, it makes a lot of difference! Even if you only do her front ones.

It helps if she is a bit sleepy too! (just do a couple at a time)



Heather

Silly question, but how do you cut them? She has them retracted most of the time ...

Thanks.

It's easy, when she's sleepy, kind of press against the tops with a finger under it too and they'll come right out. Just clip the very very tip and I think you'll notice a huge difference :)

Be sure to get a pair of cat trimming scissors too as human/dog clippers won't do it right.

Also, please don't even let declawing be a last resort. That's really, really inhumane. Good luck!

Agree with above.

Declawing is illegal in most parts of the world as it's barbaric to amputate toes!

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Lollo

I just don't like the thought of declawing; it's a very extreme measure I think and she can't help scratching - she's an ex-breeding queen so never really had much human contact.

In the few weeks I've had her she's really started to come out of her shell. The only difficulty with cutting her claws will be getting her to stay still!!

If luck is on my side and I manage to cut them, how often do you think it'll need doing?

Do them while she is sleepy and you should be ok.

They will probably need tipping every week/10 days, like fingernails really!

Don't cut too much at a time, just the very ends of them.


Heather

We find it easier if two of us do it. I hold the sleepy cat (or at least, not in full play mode) on my lap, one hand holding the tummy, the other by the side of the head. The cat is facing out, and my husband sits opposite and takes just the very tip off all claws, back and front. We have done it every week since we got them at 12 weeks old, and they are very good at it. They know now that it doesn't hurt, it is pretty quick. And they get lots of praise, strokes, and cooked chicken treat at the end.

There are special clippers you can use to do this. You just have to make sure you don't cut too deep. If you draw blood, you've gone too far. My cat's claws are like talons, too, but he never uses them on humans. I used to trim a female kitty that we had and she sat still for it. Just know, the claws sharpen back up and you'll be doing this again and again. Vets will also trim their claws, too. Raiden has had his claws trimmed at the vets ... but I don't have a problem with his sharp claws. Please do not declaw a cat! It's extremely painful and usually ends up with problems using their litter box due to the fact it's painful for them to dig in the litter. If you'd like to know how it feels to a cat, tear off your entire finger nail -- all the way down to the cuticle.