Nail Trimming
For many cats, regular scratching will wear down their nails down naturally. However, other cats will require periodic trimming to keep their nails at a safe and comfortable length. Keeping your cat’s nails trimmed will help decrease the damage from scratches as well as make their friendly kneading less painful. If a cat doesn’t wear down their nails on her own, they must be trimmed regularly so that her nails do not grow into her paw. Making a visit to the vet or to a groomer are options, but trimming your cat’s nails at home is less stressful for your cat and less costly and easier for you.
Begin Gradually
Most likely, your biggest challenge with trimming nails won’t be the actual trimming itself, but getting your cat used to having her paws handled. If she is already comfortable with having her paws touched, the trimming process will be easier. However, if she is not, then that will be your starting point. When petting your cat, start by occasionally running your hand down each of her legs and ending with her paw. Initially she will probably pull away, but just keep petting her as usual then try again a little later.
Eventually, she will come to understand that you aren’t trying to hurt or harm her paw and she will allow you to touch it. Then you can slowly start to hold each of her paws for short periods at a time. To reinforce this behavior, you can reward her with treats or playtime.
Begin Gradually
Most likely, your biggest challenge with trimming nails won’t be the actual trimming itself, but getting your cat used to having her paws handled. If she is already comfortable with having her paws touched, the trimming process will be easier. However, if she is not, then that will be your starting point. When petting your cat, start by occasionally running your hand down each of her legs and ending with her paw. Initially she will probably pull away, but just keep petting her as usual then try again a little later.
Eventually, she will come to understand that you aren’t trying to hurt or harm her paw and she will allow you to touch it. Then you can slowly start to hold each of her paws for short periods at a time. To reinforce this behavior, you can reward her with treats or playtime.
The Trimming Process
There are a few options of nail clippers for your cat. There are commercial nail clippers in both a guillotine style and a scissor style, or you can just use human nail clippers. Pick whichever feels most comfortable for you.
First, softly squeeze your cat’s paw to expose the nail you want to trim. There are two main parts to your cat’s nail – the white hook at the end and the wider pink section, known as the quick, in the middle. The hook is the part that you want to trim and has no feelings. The pink hook contains blood vessels and nerve endings, and cutting this section will be painful and draw blood.
After your cat’s nail is visible and you can see the quick, use the clippers to trim the hook. Help your cat stay comfortable and calm by petting her throughout the process and giving her treats when finished.
Take Your Time
Most cats, especially those having their nails trimmed for the first time, won’t sit still long enough for you to finish all of their paws. Start by clipping a couple nails then giving your cat some time to recover and continue later. Based on your cat’s personality and tolerance, it could take an hour to trim all her nails, or a couple of days. However, as she gets used to the process, you will be able to trim more nails at a time.
While trimming her nails, be sure to pay attention to her signals and body language. If she pulls her foot away or hides it under her body, give her a small break or try to work on another paw and return to the other one later. She also may express her displeasure by swishing her tail, narrowing her eyes, or growling. These actions are good indicators that your cat may attack, so your best bet is to stop the trimming for the time being and resume when she is in better spirits. Patience and persistence are both key in successfully trimming your cat’s nails.
Helpful Tips and Tricks
Trimming Schedule
Regular trims are important so that you cat’s nails don’t grow too long. Most cats can have their nails trimmed every several weeks. However, older cats with thick, brittle nails or cats who aren’t wearing their nails down on their own, may require more frequent trims.
Overgrown nails are dangerous to your cat. They can loop around and puncture your cat’s foot, which is not only painful but also causes a high rate of infection. Starting your trimming schedule about once every two weeks and adjust it as necessary.
References
Givin, Debra. “Nail Trimming | The Cat Community.” Cat Friendly Homes, catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/routine-caregrooming/nail-trimming/.
“Trim Those Nails.” Catster.com, reply.catster.com/dm?id=578A7E786F25759C4C50BD8200D8D51D523D27C25ED356B9
There are a few options of nail clippers for your cat. There are commercial nail clippers in both a guillotine style and a scissor style, or you can just use human nail clippers. Pick whichever feels most comfortable for you.
First, softly squeeze your cat’s paw to expose the nail you want to trim. There are two main parts to your cat’s nail – the white hook at the end and the wider pink section, known as the quick, in the middle. The hook is the part that you want to trim and has no feelings. The pink hook contains blood vessels and nerve endings, and cutting this section will be painful and draw blood.
After your cat’s nail is visible and you can see the quick, use the clippers to trim the hook. Help your cat stay comfortable and calm by petting her throughout the process and giving her treats when finished.
Take Your Time
Most cats, especially those having their nails trimmed for the first time, won’t sit still long enough for you to finish all of their paws. Start by clipping a couple nails then giving your cat some time to recover and continue later. Based on your cat’s personality and tolerance, it could take an hour to trim all her nails, or a couple of days. However, as she gets used to the process, you will be able to trim more nails at a time.
While trimming her nails, be sure to pay attention to her signals and body language. If she pulls her foot away or hides it under her body, give her a small break or try to work on another paw and return to the other one later. She also may express her displeasure by swishing her tail, narrowing her eyes, or growling. These actions are good indicators that your cat may attack, so your best bet is to stop the trimming for the time being and resume when she is in better spirits. Patience and persistence are both key in successfully trimming your cat’s nails.
Helpful Tips and Tricks
- Make sure your cat is comfortable when trimming. Different cats like to be held in different ways, so keep your cat in as natural a position as possible when clipping her nails. If needed, wrap your cat in a towel to softly restrain her.
- Remember to stay patient. Even if the trimming session takes a long time to finish, it is better than your cat having a bad experience and making future trims more difficult.
- If possible, start trimming your cat’s nails when she is a kitten. This will help her become used to and comfortable with the process.
- Don’t forget to trim all the nails. Some cats – polydactyls - have extra toes and extra nails. These extra nails often grow longer because they are not always in contact with the ground.
Trimming Schedule
Regular trims are important so that you cat’s nails don’t grow too long. Most cats can have their nails trimmed every several weeks. However, older cats with thick, brittle nails or cats who aren’t wearing their nails down on their own, may require more frequent trims.
Overgrown nails are dangerous to your cat. They can loop around and puncture your cat’s foot, which is not only painful but also causes a high rate of infection. Starting your trimming schedule about once every two weeks and adjust it as necessary.
References
Givin, Debra. “Nail Trimming | The Cat Community.” Cat Friendly Homes, catfriendly.com/cat-care-at-home/routine-caregrooming/nail-trimming/.
“Trim Those Nails.” Catster.com, reply.catster.com/dm?id=578A7E786F25759C4C50BD8200D8D51D523D27C25ED356B9