How to Clip Your Cat’s Claws
What happens if I don’t clip my cat’s nails?
We get it. You're busy. And sometimes you may forget to do coat and claw inspection on your cat. But a regular check of the paws and nails can prevent pain and discomfort...and might save your furniture, your legs, and in extreme cases, prevent the claws from growing into your cat’s sensitive foot pads. Overgrown nails can also affect your cat’s ability to retract them, walk and climb.
How often should I clip my cat’s nails?
Just like the number of times a cat likes to have his belly scratched, how often they need their nails clipped is different for each cat. You should clip your cat’s nails every two to three weeks, depending on how fast they grow.
What supplies do I need?
You’ll need clippers of course. There are a variety of clippers available. Some are like little scissors designed to fit your little guy’s claws. Some are more like tiny guillotines. It’s also ok to use human nail clippers. The important thing is that you and your cat are comfortable with them. Whichever nail clippers you choose, make sure they are sharp. Dull clippers can hurt your cat and split his nails. You’ll also need styptic powder or cornstarch and many cat treats. We enjoy the squeezable pouch variety!
How in the world am I supposed to clip my cat's nails?
If you have someone to help you, this may be best as a team activity. The idea is to make it easy and not stressful for you or your cat. You first want to desensitize your cat to the process. Long before you do any cutting, get your cat used to having his feet touched. Touch and rub his feet while he’s relaxed. Gently squeeze his little razor blades out. Take your time getting him used to it. Next, get him used to seeing the clippers and associating them with good things. Cat sees clippers, gets a treat or cuddles or whatever he loves. Work up to touching him with the clippers. Touch, treat, repeat. Don’t rush. It could take weeks to desensitize your cat, especially if he’s had a bad experience in the past.
Now we clip the claws!
A very friendly cat who loves cuddles may just need a little encouragement to lay in one person’s lap
while the other person takes care of the pointy bits. A shy cat may need more help becoming comfortable with the process. Make it a routine. A super fun, full of treats routine. Whatever your cat values, this is the time to give it to him! Hold your cat’s paw and gently squeeze it to extend his claws. Snip off just the tip of the nail and then repeat that for each of his other nails. For some cats you may not be able to do them all in one sitting. For those cats, you can do less toes more frequently. For example, instead of doing all of his nails every two weeks, you can do one paw every three or four days. By the time you’re done, it’s time to start over. Be careful not to clip the nail too close to the pink area inside the nail. This is called the quick and cutting it could be very painful for your cat and it might bleed. Even the best of us make mistakes. That’s where the styptic powder comes in. Pressing this powder onto the nails should make them stop bleeding.
I don’t think I can do this!
Don’t feel bad if you can’t or don’t want to do it yourself. There are groomers who can clip your cat’s nails, and even give them a bath. Give your cat a spa day. Who wouldn’t love that? Is your cat more of a homebody? There are mobile groomers who can come to you!
Keeping your cat’s nails maintained properly is part of having a happy, healthy feline companion. If you have any questions regarding cat care, please reach out to us! The professional cat sitters at Texas Ruff House are ready to help.
Cat Groomers in the Austin, Tx area:
(as an amazon associate, I may earn a small commission on purchases in the links)
Comments
Post a Comment