Some cats may refuse treats during nail cutting, though. To help your cat enjoy the experience, you can try giving your cat a treat after every nail. Stop there-that’s a sign that you’re close to the quick. Take off just a little bit at a time, especially if you’re a beginner-it’s better to start slowly and work up to cutting more off in future trimming sessions than to stress your cat out by accidentally cutting the quick.Īs you trim more and more off of your cat’s nail, you may see a pink (or black, on dark nails) dot in the middle of the cut area of the nail. Start by clipping the very tip of your cat’s nail, keeping an eye on the quick to ensure you don’t accidentally hit it. For other cats, these tactics could stress them out even more, so do what feels best-it’s all about knowing your cat. Some cats may also relax more if you drape a corner of the towel over their head to muffle the noise and keep them from seeing what you’re doing. This makes it harder for your kitty to escape or claw you. If your cat is especially squirmy, one way to keep a secure hold on them is to wrap them in a towel like a burrito, with only one paw outside the burrito at a time. You can try several different positions until you find what works for you. Seated with the cat lying face up in the valley between your legs.Reclining with the cat lying on your chest.Standing and holding your cat on a flat surface that you don’t mind getting scratched, such as a padded ironing board.Seated and holding your cat lengthwise across your lap.If you’re a beginner, try these positions: With practice, you will find the best way to hold your cat-one that’s comfortable for both of you. Trimming your cat’s nails in a quiet area of your home, away from kids, other pets or startling noises, will help keep your cat calm, making cutting their nails easier. Nail grinders, like the Dremel 7300-PT Nail Grinder, can help file your cat’s nails smooth-but their mechanical hum is stressful for some cats, which can make the process of trimming less enjoyable for you both.Pliers-style nail clippers, such as the H&H Pets Dog & Cat Nail Clipper, have a spring, giving them more strength if your kitty has extra thick nails.These type of clippers stay sharp longer than other clippers, but they can be tricky to use on cats because inserting the cat’s nail into a hole adds a layer of difficulty to the process. Guillotine-style nail clippers, like the Resco Original Cat Nail Clippers have a hole you poke the nail through before sliding the blade across to cut it.As a groomer, these are my preferred type of nail clippers for cats. Scissors-style nail clippers, like the JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Nail Clipper, look like small scissors with divots for the nail.There are a variety of different types of nail clippers and grinders available for cutting cat nails: Styptic powder (recommended), flour or cornstarch.Make sure you have these items for cat nail clipping: You don’t want to have to interrupt your nail trimming session-especially if your cat isn’t a huge fan of nail trims. Make sure you have everything you’ll need within reach before you start. Risk of injury to yourself from your cat’s scratches.Getting stuck in carpets or your cat’s collar, which can cause discomfort or injury for your cat.Changes in your cat’s gait, which can lead to long-term joint issues.Injury to your cat’s paw pads from nails that have curled and grown into them.Overgrown claws might not sound like a big deal, but letting a cat’s nails grow too long can cause some serious damage, including: What Happens If My Cat’s Nails Get Too Long? When you notice any of these signs, that’s a good indication that it’s time to get out the clippers. Outdoor felines need sharper nails for defending themselves, so they may only need cat nail clipping a few times a year. Kittens’ nails grow more quickly and may need to be trimmed every week, while some older cats will only need trims about once a month. In general, indoor cats need their nails cut every couple of weeks.
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