Frugal cat tips---CAT OWNERS
BD
Lots of cats never get out.. Mine haven't in 4-5 yrs.. so that doesn't mean
anything....
Besides.. Don't all cats 'shed' their claws every so often?
Mine do. The old 'skin' gets pulled off to reveal a brand new needle-sharp
claw.. I guess the new one grows inside the old, or sumthin...
I've found quite a few of 'em around here.. Do some cats not shed claws? Do
I have a martian-cat?
Melanie Piper wrote in message <34E1D607...@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>...
>IIRC, those folks lived in a classy high-rise apt and I doubt their cats
ever
>got out. We didn't ask a lot of questions about how it happened, just made
sure
>they got a lesson in how to trim their cats' claws, for after the paws had
>healed. Melanie
>
>BD wrote:
>
>> "It does happen" in normal indoor-cat situations, though?...
>> I'd bet that the poor things were being stored in small kennels, or
>> SOMETHING 'out of the ordinary'....
>>
>> I wrote...
>> >Hi, BD! Well, I don't know quite how it happens, but I can back Mari up
>> that it
>> >does happen.
>> >When I worked in a vet clinic years back, we had a couple of cats
brought
>> in
>> >that had feet in just deplorable condition from this; the owners didn't
>> know
>> >about clipping their claws and said they didn't realize there was a
problem
>> till
>> >they saw blood on their carpets. I kind of didn't buy that--the poor
cats
>> could
>> >hardly walk and were clearly in pain when they did. But it does happen.
>> >
>> >Melanie
>
>
>
Hackman
BD wrote:
>
> Lots of cats never get out.. Mine haven't in 4-5 yrs.. so that doesn't mean
> anything....
> Besides.. Don't all cats 'shed' their claws every so often?
> Mine do. The old 'skin' gets pulled off to reveal a brand new needle-sharp
> claw.. I guess the new one grows inside the old, or sumthin...
> I've found quite a few of 'em around here.. Do some cats not shed claws? Do
> I have a martian-cat?
>
well...they don't really "shed" them...you can think of them in
layers...the act of scratching removes
a layer or so, reviealing a sharp point...
next time you find one, pintch it...you'll find it's hollow!
(oh...yes, you DO have a martian cat...they're all from mars!)
Chelsea Christenson
BD wrote:
> Besides.. Don't all cats 'shed' their claws every so often?
> Mine do. The old 'skin' gets pulled off to reveal a brand new
> needle-sharp claw.. I guess the new one grows inside the old, or
> sumthin... I've found quite a few of 'em around here..
It's kind of like a snake molting. The claws grow from the inside out
(as opposed human "claws" just getting longer). The outer layer
eventually splits and sheds. This is why cats need scratching posts, to
help shed the outer layers. (BTW, it's not a good idea to "assist" the
shedding process.)
Michelle
Oh thank god. I just found one of those "claw sheaths" in my sofa a few
days after I had trimmed my cat's nails. He must have thought I was very
odd, for so closely examining all his piggies to make sure he wasn't
injured. I've owned cats for several years, and have never heard of or seen
that happening. I was so afraid he was injured, and was about to call the
vet at home until I realized he really wasn't injured. Boy would I have
looked silly!
Chelsea Christenson wrote in message <34E230...@xusx.oracle.com>...
Ronn Blankenship
Hackman wrote:
>
>
> (oh...yes, you DO have a martian cat...they're all from mars!)
>
Like all dogs are from Pluto? Or is that just cartoon dogs?
-- Ronn! :)
Remove "NOSPAM." from address to reply.
Jo Anne Slaven
Chelsea Christenson wrote:
>
> BD wrote:
> > Besides.. Don't all cats 'shed' their claws every so often?
> > Mine do. The old 'skin' gets pulled off to reveal a brand new
> > needle-sharp claw.. I guess the new one grows inside the old, or
> > sumthin... I've found quite a few of 'em around here..
>
> (as opposed human "claws" just getting longer). The outer layer
> eventually splits and sheds. This is why cats need scratching posts, to
> help shed the outer layers. (BTW, it's not a good idea to "assist" the
> shedding process.)
The last time I had Fluffy at the vet, she had her nails done. I'd been
having a great deal of difficulty cutting them because they were growing
in very thick.
The vet told me that older cats (Fluffy is 17) have trouble shedding
their nail sheaths, mainly because they don't scratch too much. She then
sort of picked at a couple of nails, and the outer covering came off.
She told me to watch for this problem when I'm clipping Fluffy's nails,
and if I can pick off bits of the sheath easily, it's OK to do it.
I'll probably end up just doing maintenance trimming, and taking her in
once a year for a professional job.
Poor old Fluffy. Her arthritis is so bad now that I have to "give her a
ride" EVERY time she wants to go up or down the stairs. I'm hoping
she'll have one more summer of sleeping in the garden and enjoying the
sunshine.
Jo Anne
Chelsea Christenson
Jo Anne Slaven wrote:
> She told me to watch for this problem when I'm clipping Fluffy's
> nails, and if I can pick off bits of the sheath easily, it's OK to do
> it.
If you don't have to apply any pressure to flick the sliver away from
the claw, it's okay. The sliver would still be attached at the base,
but not along the length of the claw. If it's still attached along the
length of the claw, it's like you're splitting the cat's nail.
Bob Hale
Jo Anne Slaven wrote:
>
> Chelsea Christenson wrote:
> >
> > BD wrote:
> > > Besides.. Don't all cats 'shed' their claws every so often?
> > > Mine do. The old 'skin' gets pulled off to reveal a brand new
> > > needle-sharp claw.. I guess the new one grows inside the old, or
> > > sumthin... I've found quite a few of 'em around here..
> >
> > It's kind of like a snake molting. The claws grow from the inside out
> > (as opposed human "claws" just getting longer). The outer layer
> > eventually splits and sheds. This is why cats need scratching posts, to
> > help shed the outer layers. (BTW, it's not a good idea to "assist" the
> > shedding process.)
>
> The last time I had Fluffy at the vet, she had her nails done. I'd been
> having a great deal of difficulty cutting them because they were growing
> in very thick.
>
> The vet told me that older cats (Fluffy is 17) have trouble shedding
> their nail sheaths, mainly because they don't scratch too much. She then
> sort of picked at a couple of nails, and the outer covering came off.
> and if I can pick off bits of the sheath easily, it's OK to do it.
>
> once a year for a professional job.
>
> Poor old Fluffy. Her arthritis is so bad now that I have to "give her a
> ride" EVERY time she wants to go up or down the stairs. I'm hoping
> she'll have one more summer of sleeping in the garden and enjoying the
> sunshine.
>
> Jo Anne
Jo Anne,
I was just reading your post and Tuxedo jumped up in my lap. That's
twice this morning he's jumped up when a cat post was displayed.
Here's my kindess thoughts for you and Fluffy. May she enjoy the sun.
A news group to write down and keep in the back of you mind is
news:alt.support.grief.pet-loss
This group is very carring and may help anyone who is grieving over the
loss of a loved pet. Don't go now unless you want to cry. It's a very
touching and caring group dealing with pet death.
For those without pets, a pet is as much a member of a family as a child
and often grief lasts as long and if just as strong as losing a child.
When you can't understand someones loss, "It's just a dog", it's not
it's a member of the family. Treat friends pet loss with respect and
compassion.
--
Bob
Mac-N-Stuff Used Macintosh Computers, Monitors, Peripherals.
Use our links to pricing used Apple/Macintosh computers and monitors.
http://www.macnstuff.com E-mail b...@macnstuff.com
o...@gci-net.com
On Wed, 11 Feb 1998 12:40:48 -0600, Hackman <hac...@nospam.jump.net>
wrote:
>BD wrote:
>>
>> Lots of cats never get out.. Mine haven't in 4-5 yrs.. so that doesn't mean
>> anything....
>> Besides.. Don't all cats 'shed' their claws every so often?
>> Mine do. The old 'skin' gets pulled off to reveal a brand new needle-sharp
>> claw.. I guess the new one grows inside the old, or sumthin...
>> I've found quite a few of 'em around here.. Do some cats not shed claws? Do
>> I have a martian-cat?
>>
>
>well...they don't really "shed" them...you can think of them in
>layers...the act of scratching removes
>a layer or so, reviealing a sharp point...
Most cats remove the old sheath layer of their claws with their teeth.
Clawing behavior is now believed to be more related to scent marking.
>
>next time you find one, pintch it...you'll find it's hollow!
>
>(oh...yes, you DO have a martian cat...they're all from mars!)
>
>
Tina M Noyes
4DF1494....@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca> <6bnegk$7...@lepton.startext.net>
<34E1D607...@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca> <6bsn52$1...@lepton.startext.net>:
Distribution:
BD (bo...@juno.com) wrote:
: Lots of cats never get out.. Mine haven't in 4-5 yrs.. so that doesn't mean
: anything....
: Besides.. Don't all cats 'shed' their claws every so often?
: Mine do. The old 'skin' gets pulled off to reveal a brand new needle-sharp
: claw.. I guess the new one grows inside the old, or sumthin...
: I've found quite a few of 'em around here.. Do some cats not shed claws? Do
: I have a martian-cat?
They shed the claw sheaths (outer covering made of keratin and other
stuff). It is not neccessary to trim your cats' claws other than to
reduce furniture clawing or accidental scratching. (I have worked in a
vet clinic too - for 3 years, and I am now a graduate student at Ontario
Veterinary College's Biomedical Sciences department.)Long claws may
become caught on carpet though, which could cause bleeding or tearing.
Usually this only happens in older cats, whose claws tend to get tougher
and less flexible.
--
Tina Noyes
http://tdg.uoguelph.ca/~peak/peaksters/tina/
L.I. Endell
Tina M Noyes (tno...@uoguelph.ca) wrote:
: They shed the claw sheaths (outer covering made of keratin and other
: stuff). It is not neccessary to trim your cats' claws other than to
: reduce furniture clawing or accidental scratching. (I have worked in a
: vet clinic too - for 3 years, and I am now a graduate student at Ontario
: Veterinary College's Biomedical Sciences department.)Long claws may
: become caught on carpet though, which could cause bleeding or tearing.
: Usually this only happens in older cats, whose claws tend to get tougher
: and less flexible.
Felix allows us to trim his claws at two-weekly intervals without a
problem. This means that when he jumps up my leg to be cuddled he tends to
slide down again but no harm is done.
We want to clip Pepper's claws because she gets hooked onto the duvet
cover, pillow cases, cushions, sofa, carpet, towels and occasionally
skin... Unfortunately her claws are very long and *sharp* so every time we
try to clip to prevent scratches we get scratched... Wrapping her in a
towel has thus far caused her to run out of various rooms backwards, still
attached to the towel :-(
Linz
--
Lindsay Endell li...@cam.ac.uk & li...@earthling.net
Conference Administrator, Trinity Hall, Cambridge CB2 1TJ
BD
More total lack of discipline, I see.... Just a little is all it takes to
take care of something like clawing...
Cats DO have brains, ya know?
They can even be taught to not use 'em when "rough-housing"...
But I guess disciplining does take some, doesn't it?... Easier just to cut
their fingers off.
L.I. Endell wrote in
Tom E Arnold
L.I. Endell wrote:
>
> We want to clip Pepper's claws because she gets hooked onto the duvet
> cover, pillow cases, cushions, sofa, carpet, towels and occasionally
> skin... Unfortunately her claws are very long and *sharp* so every time we
> try to clip to prevent scratches we get scratched... Wrapping her in a
> towel has thus far caused her to run out of various rooms backwards, still
> attached to the towel :-(
>
trimming, or stitch removal, always got t-shirted rather than toweled.
We had one heavy t-shirt with a sleeve just the right size for their
heads to pass thru, whch meant that it was possible, with the right wrap
and enough hands, to hold the cloth and still control the cat.
TEA/
L.I. Endell
BD (bo...@juno.com) wrote:
: More total lack of discipline, I see.... Just a little is all it takes to
: take care of something like clawing...
: Cats DO have brains, ya know?
: They can even be taught to not use 'em when "rough-housing"...
: But I guess disciplining does take some, doesn't it?... Easier just to cut
: their fingers off.
Did I say she was undisciplined? When she kneads, her claws go in and out
spasmodically and she gets hooked on the duvet or whatever. The only time
either of us (me and hubby) have been *scratched* have invariably been
when she's frightened due to medical treatment or attempts to trim her
claws. I'm hardly going to discipline her for being *frightened*. And as
for cutting off their fingers, well, even if it wasn't illegal in this
country we wouldn't see it as an option.
Perhaps you're a troll.
Linz
PS, Someone mentioned using a t-shirt intead of a towel. *Brilliant*
suggestion - I will give this a try...
: L.I. Endell wrote in
: >
: >Felix allows us to trim his claws at two-weekly intervals without a
: >problem. This means that when he jumps up my leg to be cuddled he tends to
: >slide down again but no harm is done.
: >
: >We want to clip Pepper's claws because she gets hooked onto the duvet
: >cover, pillow cases, cushions, sofa, carpet, towels and occasionally
: >skin... Unfortunately her claws are very long and *sharp* so every time we
: >try to clip to prevent scratches we get scratched... Wrapping her in a
: >towel has thus far caused her to run out of various rooms backwards, still
: >attached to the towel :-(
: >
Cheryl L Perkins
BD (bo...@juno.com) wrote:
: More total lack of discipline, I see.... Just a little is all it takes to
: take care of something like clawing...
: Cats DO have brains, ya know?
: They can even be taught to not use 'em when "rough-housing"...
: But I guess disciplining does take some, doesn't it?... Easier just to cut
: their fingers off.
<snip>
The amount of disciplining desired in a cat is really up to the cat and
the owner. Cats can be trained, although not to the same extent or in the
same way as dogs.
It also seems like you are confusing claw clipping with claw removal.
Cheryl
--
Cheryl Perkins
cper...@calvin.stemnet.nf.ca
Jackie Nichol
Hi there,
The breeder that I got my last two kitties form suggested waiting untill
they are sleeping on my lap and then gently clipping claws, I only ever
manage to get one paw at a time done this way but it does work.
By the way, I started to notice that my girl was getting her claws
sharpe again rather quickly, I asked the breeder and she said watch her,
see if she chews them back to points, and sure enough she does. so
clipping her claws is a bit of a waste of time, they are just as sharpe,
just shorter.
I learned to live with snags in the furnature and in my clothes a long
time ago. Long before we got our two newest additions.
Jackie
L.I. Endell
Jackie Nichol ("ganichol"@bradfordac.uk) wrote:
: Hi there,
: The breeder that I got my last two kitties form suggested waiting untill
: they are sleeping on my lap and then gently clipping claws, I only ever
: manage to get one paw at a time done this way but it does work.
This would work if she slept on my lap. It might work if she ever *got* on
my lap. The closest we manage is when she collapses against my thighs on
the bed in the morning. She's still remarkably nervous...
Matt's been showing her the clippers every day to sniff and check over. He
very proudly announced last night "She nearly let me clip a claw" so who
knows, in about 2 months time we might get somewhere :-)
Linz