Trimming Cat Claws 101
We know that some of us are the biggest scaredy cats when it comes to nail trimming. Here are a few “rules of paws” to help you help your cat keep well groomed nails~
Pet your cat’s paws Most cats are skittish about having their paws handled, so start by helping your cat get accustomed to it:
- Wait for a time when your cat is chillin’ and relaxed.
- Gently pet or hold paws while simultaneously petting the cat in its favorite spots (neck, under chin, back, etc.).
- The cat might pull its paw away, or even get up, let them go. Try again later so you don’t stress them out and make nail trimming a terrible experience.
- Whenever you handle your cat’s paw, reward with treats or catnip and praise for positive associations.
Inspect cat’s nails. Eventually, you should be able to “gently” squeeze the paws, applying pressure on the pads, to push individual claws out:
- When your cat’s claws are extended, you’ll see the thick part of the nail, towards the cat’s toe, a pinkish area inside the nail, this is called the quick.
- The quick is a living part of the nail that contains blood vessels and nerves, so cutting a cat’s nail to the quick is quite painful. Aim to clip off only the sharp point.
- Look carefully at where and how large each quick is. A clear nail will look like a small pink triangle. Each of your cat’s nails will be similar, so if the cat has dark nails, look to find one clear nail as a reference point for the others.
Comfort your cat with a nail-trimming position. If your cat is already comfortable sitting in the position to have its nails cut, it will put up less of a fight during the actual trimming:
- If trimming your cat's nails by yourself, the cat will need to sit on its rear on your lap, facing away from you, while you hold its paw with one hand and the clippers with the other.
- Practice having your cat sit this way and holding each of the paws. Gently press on each nail to extend it. Again, reward the cat with treats, catnip & praise. Use a low, calm voice.
- If someone is helping you, they can hold the cat facing you, or they can cradle it, while you hold each paw with one hand and clip with the other.
Check your cat's nails regularly. Each cat's nails grow at different rates, it's good to trim your cat's nails somewhere between every two weeks and every month so that the nails don't get too long, split, or break:
- Though your cat will be sharpening its claws and keeping them in good shape on its own, keeping an eye on their nails can prevent your cat from walking around with a broken or split nails that could be made worse if your cat chews them off.
- Paw~lease don’t use the electronic files! They’re big and noisy and scare most cats. The idea here is to keep your cat comfortable with nail grooming for better health.
LINKS TO HELP CALM YOUR CAT:
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