Claw Sharpening

Question
I have a cat, general ally mixed, that I spent a couple of years gaining her trust after she showed up in my yard and stayed put for months.  We haven't had any major issues converting from hobo to beloved pet and her health is generally good.  A recent move dictated by circumstances has converted her from an indoor / outdoor cat to just indoors.  The conversion has gone well for the most part and she has learned my limits well.  The problem is that she has NOT sharpened her claws against anything substantial inside.  She will work them against a piece of kitchen carpet that was far beyond help before she began attacking it, but this doesn't seem to be wearing her claws down as usual.  When she had access to the great outdoors she often climbed trees and telephone poles in a spirited chase with other neighborhood cats.  Now I'm afraid that her claws may become a health issue for her if they don't get worn down a bit.  They are extremely sharp at this point and occasionally she leaves a bit of blood or a scratch on herself if she has an itch.  Is this a real problem about to happen, or am I paranoid?

Answer
Dan,

No you are not being paranoid and it is good that you are concerned. I've seen cats get hung up because their claws were too long and they couldn't release them. Her claws may be too long to scratch without getting them caught in something that is not solid.

The first order of business is to trim her claws. If you can afford it you can have a vet do it, have someone with cat experience do it for you, OR do it yourself. I don't know how she is at being held or touched because that will depend on how easy it is.

The important thing is not to NEVER cut the claw too shor so you clip the blood vessel in the claw...VERY painful and bloody! If you  gently squeeze the paw the claw will extend. With a bright light to work under, the claw is transparent and you can see the blood vessel. To be on the safe side and to make it easy just trim a little bit just past the curve of the claw.

Some cats don't mind. Just talk 'baby talk' to them and make it a game. But some cats hate it and will fight you. I had one that I had been trimming her claws for 17 years and every time she would throw a fit and act like she was being killed! Most cats are impatient and won't sit still very long so sometimes you have to take it slow and just do a claw or two at the time. The easiest time is when they are sleeping and relaxed. You can usually do a claw or more before they realize what you are doing.

Sit the cat on your lap butt down, facing forward and you behind her. Put your arm around her and get the paw, extend a claw and with the other hand...clip. If she fights, keep her pinned. But don't get her upset about it or she will never get used to it.  If she does get upset try to do one claw then let her go. Get her again in a little bit and try to get another claw done. Eventually she will see that there is nothing to be afraid of (as long as you don't get the vessel), and if you talk to her the whole time she may get to like the attention. You get quicker with practice and you eventually can get a least one paw done before they realize what is going on. And don't forget the claw on the side....and that one is the hardest to do.

I hope I didn't totally confuse you!

Next, get a scratching post with sisel rope (spelling?) (or sometimes it's called hemp rope)  on it, not carpet.  Some cat trees that they climb on have both.

Some cats like vertical posts and some like flat scratching things. PetSmart, Petco (or similar big pet stores have both).  I have one that is flat and  covered in sisel rope, that I screwed onto a wall about the stretching height of the cat and they like that. Rub some catnip on anything you get her so she knows it is OK to scratch on it and not get into trouble for it. Also a 2-3 foot high scratching post with a square base laid down works for some cats because they can walk up it and scratch.

You can also leash/halter train her and take her to some trees outside.  Get a 'fishing pole' type dangle toy and play with her around a tree where she has to go up the tree slightly to catch the toy. That may get her scratching instinct going again if she actually has a tree to use. Of course that would take her a while to get used to the leash and the area.
Here is an excellent article on how to leash train a cat:
http://www.hdw-inc.com/leashtraining.htm

Hope this helps.

Tabbi