The nail clipping is necessary in my house because I have wood floors and because my tootsies are sensitive. It really hurts when I get 95 pounds of PYR feet with long nails standing on me. Doesn't seem to bother Bailey Bear though - I sorta look at him w/ eyes watering and gasping,"foot -- foot -- off foot pleeeese." He just looks at me like I'm a silly funny looking hairless fool.