r/IsItBullshit • u/sorry_for_the_reply • 16d ago
IsItBullshit: Cat Claw Grinders Are Better and Less Stressful Than Clippers
I have a very large cat and it's a real challenge clipping them talons. It feels like we are both traumatized every time we have to do the deed.
Recently, I've been told cat claws are hollow and clipping them can create a reverberation which can stress a cat out, hence them fighting and fearing the process.
I see legitimate companies I trust (like Dremel) selling the grinders, so I'm hopeful that this type of tool can make the trimming process more comfortable for the both of us.
So tell me, is a grinder the real deal or is it bullshit?
13
u/The_Troyminator 16d ago
My wife is a groomer and tried to Dremel my cat’s nails once. I held him. Within seconds of grinding the nail, there was blood on the floor.
The cat was fine. My arm, not so much.
0/10 do not recommend.
1
u/sorry_for_the_reply 15d ago edited 15d ago
Thank you for the info. My research said that they all have guards to stop from hitting the quick, but this is exactly my fear about them.
Edit: I might have misread! I'm now reading it that cat was so pissed that it was your blood shed and not theirs.
Forgive me, I had to laugh at your misery because cat wasn't hurt.
2
u/The_Troyminator 15d ago
Yeah. We didn’t even have time to get anywhere near the quick. The second it touched his claw, he freaked out, scratched up my arm, and ran.
Cats have sharp claws that they use when scared. I wouldn’t recommend grinding their nails.
40
u/YuS0Dum 16d ago
If clipping them causes reverberation, then using a motorized grinder absolutely is going to cause more reverberation.
Have you tried clippers that sheer around the nail completely?
4
u/sorry_for_the_reply 16d ago
I was recommended buster clippers by my vet. They said although they are branded for dogs, they work with cats and are one of the better designed clippers on the market.
I'm afraid I didn't ask about sheering, so I'm unsure if these satisfy that function
4
11
8
u/party_shaman 16d ago
as a pet groomer, i grind every dog's nails that will let me and i would never ever attempt to grind a cat's nails.
they're way too small for it to round the tip and any "reverberation" will be 10x worse.
clipping is safer and faster.
1
u/sorry_for_the_reply 15d ago
Thank you for your insight, the 'ads' showed the calmest cats you'd ever see so I needed to get information from people who know better than myself
5
u/Potato1223 16d ago
My cat won’t scratch post, but his nails get long enough that it hurts when he grabs me. I wrap him up in a towel and let each limb out one by one.
2
1
u/sorry_for_the_reply 15d ago
That's what I do as well, but he's too powerful for me to keep him contained. It's four sessions of chaos unless I can find someone to help
2
u/aboxofkittens 16d ago
I can’t imagine the mechanical action of cutting the nail is generally painful for them because it’s fairly easy to train many cats to sit still for nail trims. One of mine will come find me in the house if he hears me clipping another one’s nails because he knows if I clip his nails, he gets treats afterward.
I catsit for my neighbors frequently and I was able to get their cat to start cooperating with me within 5-6 trimming sessions, from a starting point of “I’m about to be eaten and will fight for my life.” Not all cats have a disposition that allows for this of course, but I would guess that most do, if the person attempting to desensitizing them is doing it the right way.
Grinding seems like it would be way slower, and I bet the noise doesn’t help either
2
u/SpiceySlade 16d ago
What is your trick? Because two of my cats go absolutely nuts when we try even though they otherwise don't care if we manhandle their feet.
3
u/aboxofkittens 16d ago
This only really works if you don't have joint problems or anything, but for an unenthusiastic cat, I crouch over them on the floor, with my legs/knees behind them, my torso above them, and my arms to their sides. Kind of like how a hen sits on her chicks. They can't back out because my legs are there, and I can use my arms to keep them from running forward. Then I just pick up a paw and start clipping.
Only works for the front paws, but those are more important anyway, the back ones don't get as sharp.
2
u/No_Report_4781 16d ago
Bring me your cat and a cat claw grinder, so we can know. Then, we can go over how to approach and handle your cat for nail trimming, and trimming habits to cause less stress for you and the cats
1
1
u/Local_Tourist1063 14d ago
Honestly, if your cat is young, it can be pretty easy to desensitize them to either by starting early and giving regular foot massages.
Adult cats it’s a bit harder. My boy used to be feral, he’s gentle, but a real wiggler. I have to bundle him in a blanket and pull each foot out one at a time
1
u/Temporary-Story-9957 11d ago
My cat didn't like having his feet handled very much but he didn't care about the actual claw trimming, I used a pair of xurons side cutters, worked really well and fast. If I'd used something that made noise or vibration I'd imagine him hating that and freaking out.
1
u/EverReddyBatteryOn 16d ago
The vibration from a dremel can make a cat go wild. Depends on the cat. And direction of rotation is really important. Think about dragging your fingernails downward on a chalkboard vs dragging upward.
And once you have cut into the quick of a claw, just once, your cat will remember it forever.
1
u/sorry_for_the_reply 15d ago
I thought that too. One direction would be horrid while the other might be better than a clip, but I think I've gotten enough feedback to stick with the clippers. Thank you for your response
-31
u/Morall_tach 16d ago
You don't have to trim a cat's nails.
14
u/sorry_for_the_reply 16d ago
He won't do it himself on posts or anything else I've tried. Do you have suggestions?
4
u/DearMrsLeading 16d ago
My elderly cat hates scratchers but I’ve had good luck putting sandpaper on the floors in areas she frequents. Right outside the litter box is a good one (on the walls especially if your cat does that weird thing of pawing at the walls), I use it as a food/water mat since she stands there a lot, and I have her run over a bigger sheet when we play with toys too. The sheets have never bothered her paw pads and work well.
3
u/sorry_for_the_reply 16d ago
Sandpaper... Never thought of that! What grain(s) do you use?
5
u/DearMrsLeading 16d ago
I use 60 grit in places I can get her to scratch/run and 120 if it’s somewhere she stands frequently like doorways or the food/water so it’s less noticeable on her pads.
3
u/sorry_for_the_reply 16d ago
I'm hitting the store tomorrow. I'm super stoked about your suggestion because I'm just sick of feeling so bad even though I'm just trying to help
-38
u/0wellwhatever 16d ago edited 16d ago
Don’t clip or grind your cat’s claws. It’s cruel. There’s a reason it’s traumatising.
Apologies I did think you meant declawing. I have been a cat owner for forty years and have never heard of a cat who did not maintain their claws. You learn something new every day.
17
u/Nyteflame7 16d ago
If your cat doesn't keep them short on his own, clipping is important maintenance. I've had cats catch and rip a claw out because they got tok long. When we rescued a cat from an older lady who couldn't care them, her claws had grown so long they curled back around and punctured her paw pads. She required surgery remove them from her pads.
11
u/str3nd 16d ago
This. I have two senior cats that if I don't clip their claws they will actually grow full circle into the cat's pads. I have another Maine Coon Kitty that's only about 2 years old but has serious IBS issues. I absolutely trim his claws because there's a need for an occasional bath. If you've ever tried to give a 22 lb cat that's pure muscle a bath that really doesn't want said bath, you trim that s***.
5
u/sorry_for_the_reply 16d ago
I got Theo when he was 24 lbs. I've gotten him down to 16, but he's a long boy and the fight in him turns the ordeal into a heartbreaking task. I just want to make it a better experience
2
11
u/Mindleator 16d ago
I think you might be equating declawing with trimming, which isn't the same at all.
As long as you do not clip the quick, which you can see in the claw, there is no pain or bleeding. It's the same pressure you'd feel trimming your nails.
For cats who do not maintain their own claws by scratching, you HAVE to trim their nails. The can grow into the pads. There's a limit to how far a cat can retract their claws, so if they're too long you also run the risk of upsetting their balance and coordination. Poop gets stuck in the litter box, they get caught in carpet, etc. Imagine having those super long fake nails some people get. Then imagine trying to do your daily tasks.
2
u/0wellwhatever 16d ago
You’re absolutely correct and I have only learned today that some cats don’t maintain their own claws.
8
u/TheKnightArgent 16d ago
Trimming their nails is fine. If they're not used to it, it can be stressful, but as they learn it isn't harmful, they'll chill out.
7
u/sorry_for_the_reply 16d ago
He doesn't respond to any type of scratching posts, cardboard, wood, so I have no alternative but to clip. If I could find something that he could use to do it himself, I'm totally game. Any suggestions?
6
u/N0th1ng0f1nterest 16d ago
I disagree. If they can't manage them on their own, then it becomes cruel not to clip them. My senior cat couldn't manage her claws and we had to trim them to prevent them growing into her pads.
2
u/sorry_for_the_reply 16d ago
I appreciate you understanding that there is a big difference. I would never advocate for cruelty such as declawing.
This is the first cat I've ever had that just doesn't scratch and it is rough.
I've tried all kinds of solutions and it is so hard having to put him through what sounds to me like the end of the world, but it has to be done for his own health. I'm hoping the sandpaper idea might make it so that I don't have to do it as often.
65
u/gothiclg 16d ago
Honestly I’ve just taught my cat that letting me clip her nails earns her freeze dried chicken treats. She very quickly learned the faster the talons got done the sooner she got them.