Human Nail Clippers Versus Pet Clippers
My main reason for writing this post is to weigh in on the nail clipper debate. What should you use to trim their nails in the first place? If youre wondering how to cut cat nails with human clippers, my personal recommendation is: dont. Get nail cutters designed for pets.
Ive generally been a little wary of gimmicky-looking pet products that seem unnecessary and overpriced. But I do not think that pet nail clippers fall into this unnecessary and overpriced category. In fact, cat nail clippers are a complete necessity, in my experience. Getting the proper tools can really help prevent cat nail splintering.
Think about it this way: human nails are shaped very differently than cat nails. Ours are flat and fairly thin. Cat nails are rounded and can be quite thick. Have you tried to trim flower stems with kitchen scissors and had a tough time at it? Now, relate that to trimming a round cat nail with nail trimmers designed for flat human nails.
Splitting nails can be painful for your cat think about a nasty hang nail or a broken nail youve had! Plus, it can make it difficult for you to tell when and if the nail needs to be trimmed later on and, if it does, how far to cut.
Do Cats Cut Or Keep Their Own Nails Trimmed
Most felines can do a decent job at their own nail care, such as by using a scratching post or biting or chewing at their claws. Outdoor cats also have the benefit of walking on rough surfaces like sand, gravel, and asphalt to help naturally file down their nails.
But cat nails can be notoriously sharp, and they tend to grow in layers, too. This means that cats aren’t always able to get all the layers of nails off, even with regular nail-biting or scratching on posts.
If these older layers don’t come off fully, your kitty may become prone to ingrown nails, damaged nails, or infections. So, it may be best for your kitty to trim her nails every once in a while.
Do All Cats Need Nail Trims
- Indoor cats should have their nails inspected occasionally to make sure they are healthy and trimmed as necessary.
- Outdoor cats usually take care of their own nail trimming and should have natural claws for climbing and defense purposes.
Scratching posts and non-approved scratching surfaces help to keep an indoor cats nails in shape, but most indoor cats have quite sharp nails.
So, how often should you trim your cats nails?
- While many people never trim their cats nails, those who want a duller nail without that incredibly sharp hook at the end need to trim nails every 68 weeks.
- Arthritic or older cats should have their cats inspected every 2 months and trimmed if necessary.
To get started, you will need:
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Wahl Arco Professional Clippers
The Wahl ACRO Professional Clipper is the priciest option. In this case, you really are getting what you pay for. While Wahl offers several different models, the ACRO is more highly recommended for shaving a cat. This model is lightweight and easy to use.
The kit comes with two battery packs, 4guide combs, a storage case, charging stand and charger, a cleaning brush, and oil for the blade.
There is also a convenient instruction book included. If you feel that you need more substantial guide combs, Wahl does offer a stainless steel comb option that you can buy separately.
Pros
- The Wahl brand has been around for many years. They are of high quality and are quite quiet as well.
- Replacement parts are easy to find.
- They have a patented 5-in-1 blade that adjusts between its sizes with a simple flick of the switch. These are the clippers that are preferred by groomers specializing in cat shaving.
Cons
- Drawbacks of the Wahl are the fact that the head of the clipper heats up in short order. By taking breaks every hour, you can avoid this problem. While there are two batteries, there does seem to be a shorter battery life than some of the other cordless options.
The Nicewell Low Noise Electric Grooming and Trimming Kit boast a low price option for the novice home groomer. It comes with 4 guides, combs, oil, and a USB charging cord.
Pros
Cons
Staying On The Cutting Edge
There are plenty of tools available to trim a cat’s claws use the one that works best for you and your pet.
Some people prefer a special pair of scissors modified to hold a cat’s claw in place, others prefer human nail clippers and still others choose pliers-like clippers or those with a sliding “guillotine” blade. Whatever your tool, be sure the blade remains sharp the blunt pressure from dull blades may hurt an animal and cause a nail to split or bleed. Keep something on hand to stop bleeding, such as styptic powder, cornstarch or a dry bar of soap .
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Sminiker Professional Cordless Clippers
Sminiker Professional Rechargeable Cordless Clipper Set is another low-price option that offers a complete set of tools for your grooming needs.
Each set includes the electric clipper, nail clipper, nail file, stainless steel scissor, stainless steel comb, cleaning brush, 3 guide comb attachments, an AC power adapter, and instruction manual.
Pros
- This model is very low noise and is known to stay cool to the touch.
- It also boasts 5 to 6 hours of use per charge.
Cons
- This product will jam when the guide combs are changed, and the level of power does not always allow for consistency.
- There is no blade oil included with the kit and will need to be purchased separately.
My Cats Claws Are Too Long How Can I Cut Them
You should only trim your cats nails if they are too long, not because they are sharp. Its best to speak to your vet if youre unsure. If your vet has advised you to cut your cats claws, you need to do so slowly and carefully. Youll need some cat nail clippers or cat nail scissors, and your cats favourite treats. We wouldnt recommend using human nail clippers, as these can cause your cats claws to split. You can buy cat nail clippers from the PDSA Pet Store online.
Its also important to remember that once youve trimmed your cats nails they will want to sharpen them again so be prepared for them to scratch more to get their nails back to their normal pointed shape.
For a good few days before, youll want to get your cat used to having their paws touched. Start to build them up by gently touching their paws and giving them a treat if they stay calm, but stop if they start to look uncomfortable or stressed.
When theyre happy to have their paws touched, you can start clipping:
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Is It Safe To Use Human Clippers To Cut My Munchkin Cats Nails
Oh, yeah! its total safe using human clippers to cut your munchkin cats claws as it is one of the standard tools to use and advisable by e vet doctor. There are different types of nail clippers which you can use to cut their nails. You have the scissors type of clippers, guillotine type and the standard human nail clippers which you can use but the best and most used clippers for cats is the human finger nail clippers. These are by far the safest and best clippers to use . They serve different purposes when cutting their nails. For long nails or claws its advisable to use the scissor type clippers to cut bend claws.
To use human clippers for your munchkin kitten, first you need to hold down your kitten in a comfortable position so you can safely cut their nails. Some kittens are aggressive or turn to run away when trying to cut their nails. If you had trained your kitten to be calm and responsive then you have no problems cutting their nails.
Using clippers requires some safety measures , Cats/kittens have tentacles nails/claws ,in order to see that you need to press their toes that is between their forefinger and thumb in order to see their claws.
Some cats nails are colored so it becomes easy to see to see their blood nerves and vessels that supply blood . You need to cut their nails with care about 2mm and not any further because doing that will cause the cat to bleed and will experience a great deal of pain.
Can I Shave My Cat To Stop Shedding
Shedding will happen no matter what you do. The best way to keep shedding at a minimum is to brush your kitty regularly.
Once they become accustomed to being brushed, this can become a loving daily ritual enjoyed by both of you.
While the experts do not recommend shaving in general, if the shedding issue is making it so that your kitty is developing mats, then shaving the cat can become a medically necessary option.
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Prepare Your Cat For Nail Trims
If you’re bringing home a kitten, get her used to the nail trimming process as soon as possible. Establish those good habits early on and your life will be much easier.
Regardless of your cat’s age, begin by getting her used to having her paws handled. Massage her feet and play with her paws regularly, speaking softy and rewarding her with treats to reinforce just how enjoyable the experience is.
You also want to get her used to the sight and sound of the nail clippers, before you ever attempt a trim. Take the clippers out of the drawer where you keep them and let her sniff and explore, rewarding with treats to create a positive association.
The biggest difference between trimming a dog’s nails and trimming a cat’s is that cats possess retractable claws. When trimming a cat’s nails, you’ll need to gently squeeze the top and bottom of each foot to extend the claws for trimming. If she flinches or pulls away, don’t fight her. Just gently stroke and continue to soothe until she’s relaxed enough for another try. Pros suggest pressing down to extend one nail each day in preparation for the eventual trimming. Extend the nail, and then reward her with a treat. That way, she’ll be ready when the time to actually cut the nails comes.
Best Cat Nail Clippers And Claw Trimmers Reviews For Your Feline
Being a cat parent is one of the best jobs out there. But like any job, feline ownership comes with a few duties that are necessary but not exactlyenjoyable.
Take the process of nail trimming. Lots of kitties don’t like this chore, and we can’t really blame you if you don’t either!
But here’s the thing:
Trimming your cat’s nails regularly is important for several reasonsnot the least of which is her health and safety.
This article is all about the process of trimming your cat’s nails. We’ll begin by discussing what cat and kitten nail clippers are how to use them properly.
We’ll share some tips on how to find the best cat nail clippers in your household, and clarify exactly why it’s so important to pay attention to your cat’s claw length.
Lastly, we’ll take you through a thorough best cat nail clippers review and introduce you to the top products for cat nails.
Our review is based off customer reviews, quality and price, and the overall ease, comfort, and effectiveness that these top tools offer.
Here at FelineLiving.Net we have a dedicated mission to provide cat owners like you with well-researched information so they can provide the best care and nutrition to their cat.
Our readers rely upon the cat food reviews, articles and recall alerts that we research and publish. We also routinely update and review our own reviews ensuring that any changes by manufacturers are brought to your attention.
at a glance: our top 5 picks for cat nail clipper
Pros:
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Do Cats Like Being Shaved
If your cat is accustomed to visits to the groomer, then it is possible that some may enjoy the shaving experience.
You could consider yourself quite lucky to have your cat enjoy the experience if your home attempt is his first shave as well.
The level of their enjoyment will come from you as much as from them. If approached right, you just might get lucky.
How To Trim Your Cat’s Nails
This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 16 testimonials and 95% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,098,932 times.
A cat may need its nails trimmed to keep them from splitting or breaking, and you may find it productive to trim off the sharp points of your cats nails if the cat is prone to kneading, scratching, etc. Trimming a cats nails is fairly easy once you get your cat accustomed to it. Read on for detailed instructions.
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When To Use Nail Clippers
Human nail clippers weren’t designed for use on dogs, but sometimes they make life easier for you and your puppy. Puppies’ nails are shorter and thinner than those of adult dogs, often feeling like little needles on your skin when your pup jumps up to welcome you home. Depending on the size of the puppy, nail clippers might be the best option to trim his nails. Large breeds might have nails that are too thick by the time they hit six weeks old, but smaller breeds, such as those less than 20 pounds when full grown, can benefit from the use of human nail clippers when they are puppies. The nail clippers are shorter than trimmers made specifically for dogs, giving you more control over the cut. They are also designed to cut only a small amount, making it more difficult for you to cut your dog’s nail down to the quick.
Why Would You Shave A Cat
Shaving a cat is normally done in very few scenarios. The growing trend towards styling kitty with a lion cut might look strange to some and adorable to others.
In some cases, shaving could be rescuing the animal from painfully matted fur that might occur with long-hair breeds as a result of poor grooming or lack of grooming.
Skin conditions and injuries would also warrant shaving however, those situations would best be done by a veterinarian.
Most groomers do offer services related to grooming cats, and there is no accreditation available for those groomers who choose to specialize in grooming cats.
There are some legitimate health reasons to shave a cat. You just need to be prepared for anything that might transpire during the home grooming process.
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Should I Trim My Kittens Back Claws
It must NOT be cut as it will bleed a lot and cause the cat a lot of pain. It is possible to trim both the front and back claws of a cat, especially if she is prone to latching on or climbing, but in most cases trimming just the front every three or four weeks is all that is necessary to save the furniture.
Shaving Your Cat At Home
At first glance, this could bring several things to mind. It could bring the cute lion cut on the Persian down the street. Or maybe it awakens your worst nightmare as you envision yourself covered in blood from being scratched by the freaked out feline you are considering shaving.
While this practice has become more popular over the years, experts advise that cat shaving should only be done to address health issues. With that said, lets address the factors involved in your decision to attempt this feat at home.
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What Kind Of Nail Trimmers Should You Use On Your Cat
You can choose from among several kinds of pet nail trimmers and human nail clippers. Five options appear below.
Personally, I prefer human nail clippers for cat nails. They are less cumbersome and give you a good visual of where you are cutting.
1. Scissor-Type Trimmers
These nail trimmers look like a pair of scissors made specifically to cut nails on small animals. You might find these easy to use.
Quality matters, however, and the cheap ones can be dull and not give you a nice cut.
2. Nail Clippers for Dogs and Cats
Professional nail clippers like your veterinarian uses on your dog and possibly your cat are a good investment.
Check out Millers Forge, for example. These strong clippers will usually last a lifetime, and they have user-friendly handles, surgical steel blades and a safety lock.
Some people find these too big for cat nails, but I like them.
They come in various sizes. Again, quality matters.
3. Guillotine-Style Clippers
This type of clipper is also considered professional grade, but I dont think the guillotine design is as easy to use as some other devices are. I think it is easier to hurt your cat with these.