Choose The Right Place
Youd think that the place doesnt matter when youre trimming a cats nails, but it actually makes a huge difference. As long as your cat is comfortable with the place, shell be more willing to let you cut her nails.
You can also improve the atmosphere by setting some gentle music. Itll help the cat relax and be at ease.
Introduce Your Cat To The Nail Clippers
Slowly introduce your cat to the nail clippers. First, set them on the ground and let your cat sniff them. Then try clipping other items from time to time to help your cat get used to the sound.
As for which nail clippers you should use, pick whatever is most comfortable for you and your cat. Some people use human nail clippers. Others may choose a type of nail clipper designed especially for cats.1
How To Cut Your Cat’s Nails
While holding your cat’s paw, gently squeeze one toe until the retractable claw is exposed. Don’t squeeze the sides, but rather the top and bottom, coaxing the claw out by pressing slightly behind it.
Note where the pink part at the base of the claw is.2 This is the “quick” and should not be cut. It’s full of nerve endings and could bleed and hurt if clipped.
Instead, clip the pointy edge of the nail, leaving plenty of room between your nail clipper and the quick.3 Most people only trim their cat’s front paws. They’re easier to clip, and these are the claws that tend to do the most damage. You may need to clip them once every six to eight weeks.
If clipping your cat’s nails is too difficult, ask your veterinarian for help. Some people even use cat groomers. In most situations, cat owners will choose to do it themselves. Just follow this simple guide, and you should be fine. Make sure to end the clipping session with a yummy treat, congratulatory pets, and praise to build your cat’s e-meow-tional health.
1. The Humane Society of the United States. “Trimming a Cat’s Claws.” HumaneSociety.org, .
2. Washington State University. “Clipping a Cat’s Claws.” VetMed.WSU.edu, .
3. Lichtenberg, Debora. “Trimming Your Cat’s Nails: An Expert Guide.” Petful, 2 April 2019, .
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Kitty Claw Control: How And When To Cut Your Cats Nails
Cutting your cats nails may not be on your favorite list of pastimes. The good news is that taking the time to train your furry friend and a little patience on your part will pay off and allow for successful and maybe even enjoyable nail trims! Heres all you need to know about how and when to exercise kitty claw control!
Old Cats Or Deformed Nails
Older cats tend to end up with longer, thicker nails and often a greasy exudate around the nail bed. This can be cleaned off with a dilute chlorhexidine solution or gentle pet shampoo if it is difficult to remove. Older cats are also more likely to have problems with the nails growing into the pad. Thickened nails or deformed nails can also be a sign of underlying health problems, so if your cat has started growing unusually thick nails, particularly if this is combined with an increase in thirst, please get your feline friend to the vet for a check-up. Nails can also grow back a bit deformed if there has been some sort of trauma to the nail bed, such as when the dew claw has been caught in something and torn.
Whenever you trim your cats nails remember to make the whole experience rewarding by having treats at the ready. Always take a little bit at a time if you cant clearly see the quick beneath the nail. And if you have a determined couch-shredder on your hands, why not consider some soft paws to protect the furniture.
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How To Cut Overgrown Cat Claws
When you’re ready for a trimming session, find a position that’s comfortable for you and safe for her. Many cats do great if allowed to lie on their side or in their owner’s lap. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals tells cat owners the best time for nail clipping is when your cat is relaxed, maybe even sleepy after she’s eaten. That way, you won’t have to figure out how to trim a squirmy’s cat’s nails.
Before doing any clipping, examine your cat’s nails and find the quick, the pink, fleshy section that runs through the center of clear or light-color nails. It’s where all the nerves and blood vessels are so it’s important to NOT cut into the quick to avoid causing pain and risking infection.
Clip one nail , give her a treat, and take a break. If you do accidentally clip through the quick. dab with some styptic powder to stop the bleeding.
As she gets more comfortable with the process, you’ll be able to trim more than one nail at a time. Follow each snip with a tasty snack. If she gets restless, let her leave, and plan to finish the job another day.
Choose the right tools to cut your kitty’s claws. If her claws are long enough to curl into a circle, use a scissors-type clippers for the job. Otherwise, you’ll find it easier to use guillotine-type clippers. In a pinch, you can can cut cat nails with human nail clippers, too.
Should I Cut The Nails Of My Cat
Cats use their claws and nails for hunting and climbing trees. The nails of an outdoor cats usually wearing out on their own. But an indoor cat is less likely to wear out its nails. For most cat owners cutting cats nails is something theyve never done. However, some people cut the nails of their cats.
It is usually not necessary to cut your cats nails, but you can cut the nails of a cat. Cats keep their nails short by scratching on a scratching post and trees. Does your cat come outside regularly? Then the nails usually remain the right length, and cutting is often not necessary. If you have an indoor or older cat, the nails can be too long. Then you should cut the nails of your cat.
In this post you can read more about should I cut the nails of my cat? Also I explain more about a cat claw, how often you should cut the nails of your cat and how to cut the nails of your cat.
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Why Its Important To Trim Cat Nails Regularly
Overgrown nails become curved and dont retract completely. You will know if your cats nails have grown too long if your cat gets their nails stuck in carpets or other soft surfaces, or if your cat can no longer retract her nails.
Severely overgrown and curved nails can grow into the footpad, causing significant pain and mobility problems. Therefore, it is very important to keep your cats nails short. Cat should have their nails trimmed every 10 days to 2 weeks so that they do not get to this point.
Make Your Cat More Comfortable
Overgrown nails will poke into the cats pad instead of retracting as short nails do. This will cause pain to your cat, and it may cause skin infections. Older cats are more prone to this because theyre less mobile, so their nails will be left to stick into their pads for long.
Outdoor cats wont need nail-trimming because they need the sharpness to climb and such. However, indoor cats are a different story. Make sure to trim your cats nails regularly to avoid unnecessary health risks.
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Use The Right Equipment And Use Good Technique
One person should gently restrain and reassure the cat. The other person should quickly extend each nail and use an appropriate nail trimmer to remove the tip of each nail. Move smoothly through the nails on each foot. When in doubt, it is better to remove too little nail than too much. The sharpest part of the nail is at the very end, so only a bit needs to be removed anyway. If you accidentally hit a quick, apply corn starch or a commercial powder such as Kwik Stop to control the bleeding.
Remember that with nail trimming, as with so many things in life, practice makes a big difference. If you set your mind to regularly handling and trimming your cats nails, you will most likely get good at it.
Tell us: What are your tips on how to trim cat nails?
Make Friends With The Paw
Some cats dislike having their feet played with more than they mind the trim itself. Taking the time to make them comfortable with having their paws touched will pay off in the long run.
Carefully hold one paw between your fingers and rub it gently for two to three seconds. If your cat moves during the process, gently follow their gesture. Then squeeze the paw so one nail extends. Release immediately and give your cat a treat. If you can, do this two or three times every day until your cat gets used to it and doesnt seem to resist as much.
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What To Do If You Overcut Your Cats Nails
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How Often Should You Cut The Nails Of Your Cat
The frequency of cut the nails of your cat depends on the cat and your situation. If you have a kitten, you can give it a trim frequently so that your kitten is getting used to the process.
On average, the nails need to cut two to three times a year. Check your cats nails regularly. In some cats, it is necessary to cut the nails much more often the nails must cut every ten days to 2 weeks so that they do not get too long. Some people cut the nails of their cat every 4 to 6 weeks, but is also depending on how much time the cat is playing outside.
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Isolate The Nail To Cut
When youve found a position thats comfortable for you and your cat, pick up one of their paws. Do your best to hold the paw in a natural position for your cat, without folding it too far back or forward or bending their leg in an awkward way.
Choose a nail to start withany of them will do! Because cats have retractable claws, youll have to apply pressure to the paw pad to extend their nail. Using your non-dominant hand, place your forefinger on your kittys paw pad and your thumb on the top of the toe. Squeeze gently to extend the nail, and take note of where the quick is .
Habituate The Cat To Holding Still And Having Her Feet Handled
Another important point in how to trim cat nails is learning how to handle your cats paws in the first place. Cats very rarely resent nail trims unless the quick is struck. However, many cats do not like to hold still and have their feet handled. I recommend that cat parents handle their cats feet every day. If your cat is used to having her feet handled, the job will be much easier. Kittens are especially amenable to this habituation, but it works for many mature cats as well. You can practice extending the nails while you are handling the feet.
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Teach Your Kitten To Relax
Prepare your kitten for nail trims by teaching her to lie on her back, Dr. Yin recommends. While your cat lies on her back, reward her continually with easily consumed treats like canned cat foodor small pieces of tuna on the end of a spoon. Deliver the treats right to the cats face so she doesnt have to move to eat the treat. As your cat gets more comfortable lying on her back, phase out the treats.
Once your cat enjoys lying on her back, Dr. Yin recommends that you get her used to having her paws and claws handled. Gently squeeze her paws, offering treats at the same time,” Dr. Yin says. Time the treats right. When the paws are handled, treats should be given continuously at first so the cat is just thinking about food. When paws are not being handled, stop any rewards. This approach, Dr. Yin says, builds a clear positive association between paws being handled and good things happening.
Progressively increase how vigorously you handle your cats paws, but only as long as she stays relaxed. Work toward squeezing more vigorously and then tapping the claws with trimmers without trimming. Dr. Yin also recommends having two people participate in the training, one rewarding with treats and the other handling the paws and trimmer.
Cut The Nails Of A Kitten
Cutting your kittens nails is an important part of cat grooming. When kittens grow, they discover al their fighting tools, so also their nails.
When your kitten learns early that nail trimming can be a positive and rewarding experience, your kitten will find it okay later on its life. Its also important to give your kitten scratching posts or platforms so that it learns to sharpen the nails there, rather than on your furniture.
For the first time to train your kitten cutting the nails, you are focussing on making your kitten comfortable.
Start by holding the paw and touching the toes and nails while you talk to your kitten. It may seem like a slow start, but the goal is to familiarize your kitten with having the paws handled. When you are right coming with clippers, it could frighten your kitten or make it feel threatened.
It is important to reward your kitten after the training. Your kitten will then remember the positive.
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Q Does Clipping My Cats Nail Tips Keep Him From Scratching The Furniture If Not Whats The Point
A. The point is to get rid of those sharp points. There are actually a handful of reasons why its a good idea to clip your cat’s nails, and reducing your cats ability to shred your furniture is just one of them. Really, though, I wouldnt rate that at number one, especially since redirecting your cats natural desire to scratch isnt that hard. With so many incredible choices in cat trees, and scratching pads, posts, trays and more, your furniture is unlikely to be your cats first choice.
So why nip the tips? It makes life more comfortable for both you and your cat. If you have one of those cats who needs to knead you and who pokes those sharp tips into your skin you know what Im talking about. Taking off the very end of those claws will make this loving gesture something you can enjoy, rather than dread. For your cat, clipping his tips can prevent painful broken claws that can result when a sharp tip gets caught in the carpet. And yes, having those claws a little less lethal will reduce the damage should your fashion-conscious cat decide to give the corner of your sofa a hip new distressed look.
Wouldnt It Be Easier To Just Get My Cat Declawed
The Meow Place is STRONGLY AGAINST declawing. Despite what your veterinarian may tell you, declawing is their big money-maker. They dont promote it because its healthy for your cat its all about profit.
Declawing is more than just removing the nail. Veterinarians amputate everything at and below the first knuckle. Its like a human having the tips of their fingers chopped off. Remember in the movie Roots when Kunta Kinte had his toes chopped off so that he couldnt run away? Thats what declawing does to your cat.
This can cause numerous health problems for your cat. Having their nails trimmed wont save your furniture, but there are a variety of alternatives that help with this problem. Here is a quick list of just a few of them:
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Cut The Tips Of The Claws
The next thing you should do is to get your cats paws ready for the cutting. To do this, take it into your hand and press down gently on the joint. If you have long nails, make sure not to scratch the cats pads, so she doesnt feel threatened. Youll notice that the nails will extend once you put pressure on the pad.
Afterward, cut the thin tip off, and youre done. Dont get anywhere near to the pink base of the nail. This part is called the quick, and its the ending of many nerves and blood vessels. Itll hurt the cat immensely if you cut it, just like youd feel if you accidentally cut your cuticles.
If you happen to cut a cats quick by accident, dip the cats nail in cornstarch or a styptic solution. This will stop the bleeding.
How To Trim A Resistant Cats Nails The Easy Way
Flickr: Chris Gin
Though some cats are very cooperative when it comes to nail clipping, others maybe very resistant. I have three cats, they give three different responses to nail trimming. Shadow lets you clip his nails with ease. Flip may flinch once in a while, but he is mostly calm and does not move around too much if the person who cuts his nails is gentle and someone he can trust. Jackie, our fluffy kitty does not like nail clipping with a passion. He would resist so hard that we almost never get to do it while he is awake.
So that got us thinking maybe we shouldn’t do it when he is awake. He just would not let us touch his paws. Then a light bulb went on in our head. Here is how it went when we attempted to trim his nails when he was asleep 🙂
Play the video below:
When cats are in a state of stress, the best way to calm them down is distraction. Besides trimming their nails while they are asleep, you can also try to feed them treats such as mayonnaise , they’d be too busy licking off the treats to worry about having their nails trimmed. However, if your cat is as resistant as my kitty Jackie, the nail trimming while asleep technique should work the best. Here is a clip of a stray kitten who is still in the process of learning to trust people, getting his nails trimmed:
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