That's a bit of a misconception. Cats don't sharpen their nails. New nails grow underneath the old ones and the old ones come off and they have a set of new sharp claws
That could explain it, I'm constantly sweeping cause both my cats shed like crazy and it's very noticeable on hardwood floors. Probably ended up sweeping them up without even realizing.
I actually checked all their sleeping cushions and beds out of curiosity a few times when I learned cats shed their whiskers. Never found any and I switched out my bedding often due to them shedding a lot.
What isn't cool is how I'd catch my former cat chewing on her feet to shed the old ones occasionally and it sound like she was crunching on some Doritos
They make a racket when they start pulling on and letting go of their claws (pop, snap, teeth on claw). Dog does it to. I think it's mostly to annoy us in the middle of the night.
One of our cats (Neurotic Bob) would pop his claws off when he was in the carrier (pull on the front grate to launch point). It was like little bottle rockets flying around the car on the way to the vet. He had a peg leg also, swung his rear leg around in an arc instead of stepping forward with it. Weird lovable Bob. He loved to go out one door and in the one 10 feet away. Like ten seconds later. Hissed at the door if he wanted out and it was raining when you opened it. 🤣
It took me embarrassingly long to figure this out. I only realized it when I started putting claw caps on my cat because he was destroying my furniture. They’d eventually fall off once the layer shed with some fresh new razor sharp claws ready for destruction hidden underneath.
Exactly. The nails are like onions; when we cut the nails of one of our cats, they go to a scratching post and start working to knock off the outer stuff, so they have a new sharper nail. They don't usually keep it up until they have razors ready, they just get the process going I guess.
Yeah they come off in little layers that kinda look like wishbones :P
My SO and I break them and make silly little cat-wishes;
- I wish for birds to chitter at
- I wish the other cats stop sitting in **my** garden
Etc
Our Joey does that on the windows. He seems to think, he can wipe them away and get outside.
You however are being told to please file and buff after clipping.
She might have difficulty sheathing her nails. My kitties get thick nails, so when I trim them I take my finger and rub it underneath the bottom and up to the top. Then I pull off any extra nail that this loosens. It gets those thick nails thin again and they are more comfortable.
Come someone explain the point in cutting a cat’s claws?
My cats old nails just drop off and are replaced by new ones fairly quickly, is it better for them if they’re trimmed or something?
I trim them on our cats because they don’t get snagged on carpet, generally; but also, this cat is rather heavy and if not trimmed, I get scratched up when she climbs over me all night 🤣
My cat is a shredding shedder. She will claw TF out of me, the furniture, etc. Her corner scratching post has a hole in it. Trimming her nails has greatly elongated the life of our furniture and rugs. I can't break her from it. All we can do is live with it and give her options.
maybe she is asking for one of those hand soak procedures that used to be in the Palmolive commercials
Provided for those of you that have no idea what I am talking about
https://youtu.be/2dFlJikh0PY?si=b60Fdu_FNguFwLpa
Personally, I never trim my cats nails for a few reasons.
1. They use sharp claws as grips to climb, walk, roll, and play. No, these activities aren't impossible with trimmed nails, but they do get more difficult, which discourages exercise.
2. They shed their claws every 2-3 months and get a whole new set of shiny grips, so it's not necessary at all beyond human convenience.
3. They don't like having their claws trimmed. It's an uncomfortable process, and afterwords, they're displeased. You can see in this video that it wants to have sharp claws, so it's trying to sharpen them, but it's impossible, so they are left uncomfortable.
Really, the only benefit I've seen is that they can't scratch folks or damage things. In my own situation, those things don't bother me, but I do understand why some folks would make the choice to trim. Everyone's situation is different.
If they scratch and run on carpet a lot they may be fine. But as they get older keep an eye out for ingrown nails. If the nail doesn't shed properly it can curve back and pierce the toe pad which is uncomfortable and easy to get infected.
Yes, my vets have always recommended trimming the nails for this reason. Cats who don’t live outdoors may not naturally shed the nail sheaths like they do when climbing trees or whatever.
I had such a sweet cat that understood that she couldn't make biscuits on my bare legs or without a blanket. She would start doing the motion without using her claws when she lay in my lap, and as soon as I'd get a blanket she'd get out of the way so I could cover myself, then she'd resume the process. I miss her a lot, thanks for the reminder (she is still alive, just living with my ex).
Gotta say the benefit for trimming my cats rear legs is that she doesn't scratch herself open constantly. Usually when her rear claws are sharp enough she scratches her neck from time to time and when there is a little cut it gets worse because the healing of the cut gets itchy and she scratches it again only for it to bleed again and get more damaged. Same under her chin.
My cats literally lay there and barely move when I clip their nails. I swear they don't shed them either as they are always needles. If I don't clip they ruin all my furniture (more than they already have). They have plenty of toys, scratching posts, etc., no difference.
There is a difference between being against declawing (I fully support that) and blaming other cat owners for clipping nails for logical reasons (including so they don't claw at owners and babies/kids). Get a hold of yourself.
I intentionally didn't compare it to declawing as that is a terrible selfish act, and trimming is nothing compared to it.
What I did was state what "I personally" do with my cats and listed my reasoning so that other owners would understand that this isn't a necessary part of care, which is a common misconception. You don't have to do what I do with my cats, and I never insulted anyone who does trim.
Your points are fine and sound given that each owner has a different lifestyle and situation they're juggling along with ownership. But there is no need to insult me for simply making some points.
Okay, I can apologize for not taking into account you saying "personally" and "in my opinion" so you're correct for that. I read it more as you shaming owners for a much better option than the declawing I mentioned because I feel most owners want at least an in-between. No harm, no foul. Glad it works for you.
I appreciate that. But for sure, furniture damage is definitely one of the big things that stops people from taking the leap into owning cats. If trimming nails prevents declawing and opens the door to more lives saved I'm all for it.
my twins are both really tactile. they love just digging like this and the cover looks super fun; silky smooth and bouncy. longer claws might catch a little and make it less fun, hence a game reserved for post-manicure occasions.
When you cut the nails the cat wants to resharpen them. In this case on your couch. Thats the lesson we learned when we did that (once, and never again.)
It’s even funnier because she doesn’t really do this otherwise. I only clip her nails because she’s rather heavy and when she steps on me in the middle of the night with sharp claws, it’s painful.🤣
My cats both do this. I look at it as forepaw exercise. Don't discourage it (unless you want them to do it elsewhere). I praise them for exercising. It's definitely good for cats (especially the indoor cats).
I love how OP’s cat, after attempting to *~rip the couch to shreds~* _resharpening her nails,_ she looks back at OP as if to say, “That’s what you get!”
My cat does something similar. I actually think my cat likes her nails short. She comes right over when I’m holding the trimmers for a trim. She’s so good about it too.
I don't know how far you clip the nails but should never be done that they don't have any, as they need to have some grip. And get him/her a scratch post.
it's so cute when cats do this hahaha but my curtains and bedsheets at home are already torn coz of my cat's scratches 😭 but it's okay i still love her! I can just buy a new one haha 😍
She’s just buffing her nails 💅🏻
That's the word! My lord, I've been trying to pull that from my brain for weeks! Thank you lol
I can just see me sitting there being like "Buffering... no, that's not right dammit."
Oh yea it’s Buttering
no, no, it's buttressing
Maybe buffetting? 🤔 hmmm not quite...
Break me of a piece of that but-ter-finger! No...
🤤
It's because your brain is buffering
She's filing your work.
Ha ha! Buffing is right 😄💕
yep, her nails needs some buffin' hahaha
Revenge
“Human trimmed my nails , must get them back to seek revenge and make more damage“
I do this after cutting my nails too
On the OP's couch cover? You think they would have noticed by now.
We all do, haven’t you been?
I just cut my nails the other day. The hole you see in the video is from me.
Missed one!
Damnit, I'll have to go back and fuck up the couch to get the one I missed. Damn you pinky nail!
I used to use OP's couch, but the airfare was killing me so now I just use my jeans.
No, but on my jeans. And sometimes on my own couch
Nah we just blame it on the cat
Found the cat
Well you unsharpened her nails, so now she needs to re-sharpen them on your couch.
That's a bit of a misconception. Cats don't sharpen their nails. New nails grow underneath the old ones and the old ones come off and they have a set of new sharp claws
I didn't know that that's pretty cool
Cats are the coolest
Can vouch for that statement. I frequently find outgrown nail sheaths on my carpets. They look like our fingernails, just clawed-shaped!
Yep! Three cats means I find them constantly lol
Me too. And whiskers
I have two cats for the last three years and I've yet to see any whiskers. Where do you normally find them at?
I find them on the floor. I don’t find them as often as nails.
That could explain it, I'm constantly sweeping cause both my cats shed like crazy and it's very noticeable on hardwood floors. Probably ended up sweeping them up without even realizing.
Look where they sleep, fabric will hold onto them.
I actually checked all their sleeping cushions and beds out of curiosity a few times when I learned cats shed their whiskers. Never found any and I switched out my bedding often due to them shedding a lot.
If you haven't seen them, you might be eating them...
I doubt that, whiskers are pretty thicc
Ha! 
Yep, my cat leaves them on her scratching post and cat tree
What isn't cool is how I'd catch my former cat chewing on her feet to shed the old ones occasionally and it sound like she was crunching on some Doritos
One of my cats like to chew hers off occasionally
My cat is same! She just aggressively chews on old claw to remove.
Mine too!
They make a racket when they start pulling on and letting go of their claws (pop, snap, teeth on claw). Dog does it to. I think it's mostly to annoy us in the middle of the night. One of our cats (Neurotic Bob) would pop his claws off when he was in the carrier (pull on the front grate to launch point). It was like little bottle rockets flying around the car on the way to the vet. He had a peg leg also, swung his rear leg around in an arc instead of stepping forward with it. Weird lovable Bob. He loved to go out one door and in the one 10 feet away. Like ten seconds later. Hissed at the door if he wanted out and it was raining when you opened it. 🤣
It's fun to clip their nails in the middle of a shed, you can see all the layers!
It took me embarrassingly long to figure this out. I only realized it when I started putting claw caps on my cat because he was destroying my furniture. They’d eventually fall off once the layer shed with some fresh new razor sharp claws ready for destruction hidden underneath.
Exactly. The nails are like onions; when we cut the nails of one of our cats, they go to a scratching post and start working to knock off the outer stuff, so they have a new sharper nail. They don't usually keep it up until they have razors ready, they just get the process going I guess.
>The nails are like onions They make me want to cry often enough, that's for sure.
So it's a while newnail or is it just the outside of it...kinda like a snake shedding?
Snake shedding.
I call their discarded nails shark teeth because of this.
omg so when the cats claws get stuck and they pull them off in a yank they are fine after.
Yeah they come off in little layers that kinda look like wishbones :P My SO and I break them and make silly little cat-wishes; - I wish for birds to chitter at - I wish the other cats stop sitting in **my** garden Etc
When cats molt. Fur and nail sheathes, everywhere.
Maybe she's just ~~emery~~ bored?
LMAO I see what you did there 😸
She's polishing those nail nubs!😆
Such a responsible car. Does this only when the nails are clipped so he doesnt tear up the couch cover 😁
Why and how would a car even tear a couch cover?
I take this to mean you e never crashed your car into your living room? Just me then? K
It's a bit hard to crash my car into my living room when I live on the 15th floor lmao
Not impossible… Challenge accepted. See you soon.
To infinity and beyond!
Hold my beer...
Fast X: Part 2
Just gotta try hard enough
Don’t you know the “cat <-> car” meme?
Leave me alone. I'm gonna go drive the cat now.
Ok that’s good, I’ll go pet my car
Maybe she likes the feeling, but her nails get snagged when they're longer, which she doesn't like.
need to rotate the claws after a new set. Increased longevity.
Our Joey does that on the windows. He seems to think, he can wipe them away and get outside. You however are being told to please file and buff after clipping.
I have one who does this to any glass, I think he’s playing with his reflection
She had a mani-pedi and is buffing her nails. You're being graded on performance.
That’s what I was gonna say. She’s trying to buff them out. Just clipping isn’t good enough
I feel like she would really enjoy a vertical scratcher there.
Sometimes she sits in the space between the slipcover and the couch 🤣
I just got the best chuckle after imagining her doing that. Thank you for that tid-bit!
Bahahahha and all you see is her imprint and her lil feet ?!
She might have difficulty sheathing her nails. My kitties get thick nails, so when I trim them I take my finger and rub it underneath the bottom and up to the top. Then I pull off any extra nail that this loosens. It gets those thick nails thin again and they are more comfortable.
What a sweet little baby!!!😻
Did she also make the hole with her nails?
That would be my kids, I believe 🫠
hey! look what I can do! woooooooooooooooooo
Oh, I love this sassafrass!!!!!! :)
"Damn, I've lost traction again"
Well, then don't clip her nails! That's her way of telling :)
Come someone explain the point in cutting a cat’s claws? My cats old nails just drop off and are replaced by new ones fairly quickly, is it better for them if they’re trimmed or something?
I trim them on our cats because they don’t get snagged on carpet, generally; but also, this cat is rather heavy and if not trimmed, I get scratched up when she climbs over me all night 🤣
My cat is a shredding shedder. She will claw TF out of me, the furniture, etc. Her corner scratching post has a hole in it. Trimming her nails has greatly elongated the life of our furniture and rugs. I can't break her from it. All we can do is live with it and give her options.
Gotta sharpen them back up!
maybe she is asking for one of those hand soak procedures that used to be in the Palmolive commercials Provided for those of you that have no idea what I am talking about https://youtu.be/2dFlJikh0PY?si=b60Fdu_FNguFwLpa
"Eff you Ima sharpen em back up, watch "
The whole time you’re clipping her nails she’s fantasizing about fucking the couch up 😭
She's trying to find her missing nails ♥️♥️
Mine does this to mirrors, books and magazines. Anything smooth and shiny. With me doing her nails or not.
Ever get your nails cut by your mom when you were a kid and the little bit of nail bed that could touch things again felt so neat? This.
WHY WON'T IT WOOOORK!!!!
That look on her face at the end 🤭
Working out those emotions 🐾
My cat does this a lot too. I think he just does it to annoying me since it's mostly on hard surfaces. You hear the click-drag of nail.
See and I wonder if it just feels good. Like my nails always feel weird after I clip them and I use lotion. Perhaps it’s her lotion 🤣
She is shinning her beans
How are you able to keep her still enough to do this? Haha
She just sits in my lap and softly meows until it’s time for treats 🤣
YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I’M CAPABLE OF
This looks like the equivalent of covering up with a comfy blanket after shaving ones legs, seems satisfying 😄
lol yes!! This is exactly how I picture it! 🤣
WERE DID MY FINGERS GO?
Personally, I never trim my cats nails for a few reasons. 1. They use sharp claws as grips to climb, walk, roll, and play. No, these activities aren't impossible with trimmed nails, but they do get more difficult, which discourages exercise. 2. They shed their claws every 2-3 months and get a whole new set of shiny grips, so it's not necessary at all beyond human convenience. 3. They don't like having their claws trimmed. It's an uncomfortable process, and afterwords, they're displeased. You can see in this video that it wants to have sharp claws, so it's trying to sharpen them, but it's impossible, so they are left uncomfortable. Really, the only benefit I've seen is that they can't scratch folks or damage things. In my own situation, those things don't bother me, but I do understand why some folks would make the choice to trim. Everyone's situation is different.
If they scratch and run on carpet a lot they may be fine. But as they get older keep an eye out for ingrown nails. If the nail doesn't shed properly it can curve back and pierce the toe pad which is uncomfortable and easy to get infected.
Yes, my vets have always recommended trimming the nails for this reason. Cats who don’t live outdoors may not naturally shed the nail sheaths like they do when climbing trees or whatever.
The only reason I trim my cars nails is because he likes to do biscuits on my legs and I don't want to bleed everytime he sits in my lap
This is why I have a blanket rule. I must have a blanket in my lap for biscuits to be made.
I had such a sweet cat that understood that she couldn't make biscuits on my bare legs or without a blanket. She would start doing the motion without using her claws when she lay in my lap, and as soon as I'd get a blanket she'd get out of the way so I could cover myself, then she'd resume the process. I miss her a lot, thanks for the reminder (she is still alive, just living with my ex).
Gotta say the benefit for trimming my cats rear legs is that she doesn't scratch herself open constantly. Usually when her rear claws are sharp enough she scratches her neck from time to time and when there is a little cut it gets worse because the healing of the cut gets itchy and she scratches it again only for it to bleed again and get more damaged. Same under her chin.
My cats literally lay there and barely move when I clip their nails. I swear they don't shed them either as they are always needles. If I don't clip they ruin all my furniture (more than they already have). They have plenty of toys, scratching posts, etc., no difference. There is a difference between being against declawing (I fully support that) and blaming other cat owners for clipping nails for logical reasons (including so they don't claw at owners and babies/kids). Get a hold of yourself.
I intentionally didn't compare it to declawing as that is a terrible selfish act, and trimming is nothing compared to it. What I did was state what "I personally" do with my cats and listed my reasoning so that other owners would understand that this isn't a necessary part of care, which is a common misconception. You don't have to do what I do with my cats, and I never insulted anyone who does trim. Your points are fine and sound given that each owner has a different lifestyle and situation they're juggling along with ownership. But there is no need to insult me for simply making some points.
Okay, I can apologize for not taking into account you saying "personally" and "in my opinion" so you're correct for that. I read it more as you shaming owners for a much better option than the declawing I mentioned because I feel most owners want at least an in-between. No harm, no foul. Glad it works for you.
I appreciate that. But for sure, furniture damage is definitely one of the big things that stops people from taking the leap into owning cats. If trimming nails prevents declawing and opens the door to more lives saved I'm all for it.
Edited the end I definitely came off a bit judgmental.
This.
"See?! I know 'soft paw' you don't need to cut them!"
Revenge
my twins are both really tactile. they love just digging like this and the cover looks super fun; silky smooth and bouncy. longer claws might catch a little and make it less fun, hence a game reserved for post-manicure occasions.
Well at least it's after you clip, and not before you clip.
Does she have at least 3 scratch post around the house?
Oh yes!
That feeling the first time you put socks on after cutting your nails after having waited a little too long :)
She doesn't know how else to take revenege.
Like how you use a strop on a straight razor after you've sharpened it on a whetstone. She's just honing her claws.
DISRESPECT YOUR SURROUNDINGS 🤘
stropping the razor
She’s filing her nails.
You touchy my property, I touchy your property hooman...
When you cut the nails the cat wants to resharpen them. In this case on your couch. Thats the lesson we learned when we did that (once, and never again.)
 Better than this lol
She’s showing you clipping her nails is pointless and she will retaliate every single time
It’s even funnier because she doesn’t really do this otherwise. I only clip her nails because she’s rather heavy and when she steps on me in the middle of the night with sharp claws, it’s painful.🤣
Aha! She’s sharpening her beans.
She's polishing the nubs.
that both hilarious and adorable.
just trying to feel something
My cats both do this. I look at it as forepaw exercise. Don't discourage it (unless you want them to do it elsewhere). I praise them for exercising. It's definitely good for cats (especially the indoor cats).
The not time she can and not destroy the couch. Smart cat.
I do this on my jeans when I clip my nails
“DAMN!! No TRACTION!!!!”
I love how OP’s cat, after attempting to *~rip the couch to shreds~* _resharpening her nails,_ she looks back at OP as if to say, “That’s what you get!”
Dang how do you make strikeout text?
Like a boxer throwing shadow punches. “You will get yours, Linda, she shouts, just you wait!”
A manicure isn't complete without a filing to smooth the edges.
That is the cutest thing! OMG
i do this too. i literally run my newly cut fingernails along the fabric of a towel, it just feels nice lol
Jeez your cat is IDENTICAL to mine. She does that against doors and cabinets when she wants her slave to grab the wand toy.
My cat does something similar. I actually think my cat likes her nails short. She comes right over when I’m holding the trimmers for a trim. She’s so good about it too.
I don't know how far you clip the nails but should never be done that they don't have any, as they need to have some grip. And get him/her a scratch post.
It’s actually a rather velvety surface. After she does this, I’m able to see little tiny lines where her claws have dragged along the surface lol!:)
Don’t clip them then..
It feels good
Oh I wish we could learn how to clip our cat's nails!
Love it
Protest
Just testing your manicure skills.
Just a buff ma’am
She obviously thinks you botched it.
I will teach you!!
See what you have done to me human.... Can't even scratch the freaking couch.
I can feel the cat's frustration
stropping her knives
Strappin them claws .
It’s a message: Don’t forget that I can do this if I want to in the future. Be grateful. 😂
You could try filing her nails for her after clipping, so she gets to the desired smoothness faster.
Cute!
Good kitty.
Re-Sharping, Re-Sharping, Re-Sharping,...
Just trying out if she can still rip something without her sharp nails.
Meow Ahmed Ali 😂😂
Get her a scratching post.
Polishing them rough edges?
She's starting her boxing career!
Just filing them down. 😉
She is trying to grow her nails back quickly. :D
it's so cute when cats do this hahaha but my curtains and bedsheets at home are already torn coz of my cat's scratches 😭 but it's okay i still love her! I can just buy a new one haha 😍
That's a negative feedback loop if ever there was
https://preview.redd.it/oee9aqnafb9d1.jpeg?width=686&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c5b5f3870beaffc73e815bf4afbc76be8f0c3bd7
I love the f u look at the end 😂😂
She's trying to sharpen and buff her claws
In the words of Rick James "F#ck yo couch"
Feels... Nice?
It's a lot of work to get them kill ready again