Sometimes it may be necessary to trim your cat's nails to prevent them from snapping or breaking, or if your cat has particularly strong nails and has a tendency to "knead" or scratch your furniture. This is a fairly easy process once the cat gets used to it. Read on for more instructions.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Cat
Step 1. Stroke his paws
Most cats are naturally quite reluctant to have their paws touched, so it's important to get used to them right away.
- Wait for a moment when the cat is relaxed and stretched out.
- Start by gently stroking his paws and other favorite parts of his body at the same time (the back of the neck, under the chin, where the back meets the tail, etc.).
- Repeat these strokes for each paw you intend to cut nails.
- The cat may retract its paws or even stand up and walk away. In this case let it go; don't force him to do anything, but continue to gently stroke his paws when you get the chance.
- Whenever you touch them, reward them with treats or praise them in order to create positive associations.
Step 2. Grab its paws
Once the cat feels comfortable enough and allows you to rest your hand on its paws without retracting them, start gently holding one in your open hand.
- Place your hand on the paw and then turn it under so that the sole of the paw is now on the palm of the hand.
- Continue to hold her by rewarding the cat with strokes and treats; give him a new special treat so that he only associates it with the cutting of his claws.
Step 3. Massage his paws
When your cat gets used to holding his paws, start stroking them with your fingers.
- Use your fingers to gently massage the top and bottom of each paw you need to treat.
- Reward him again with more treats and praise.
Step 4. Look closely at his nails
Eventually, you should be able to gently squeeze his paws (applying the most pressure on the pads) to push the individual claws without traumatizing the cat too much.
- When the claws are extended, you should see the thick part of the nail and, towards the fingers, a pink area inside the nail itself.
- The pink area is the living part of the nail and contains blood vessels and nerves; therefore cutting the nails at this point is very painful for the cat. You should never cut them near or flush with your finger; your aim is to remove only the sharp point.
- Pay attention to where it is and how big the pink part is; in transparency, under the nail, it usually appears as a small pink triangle. All of the cat's nails are quite similar, so even if they are dark, try to find a lighter area that can be a reference point for the others.
Step 5. Place your kitty in a comfortable position suitable for the purpose
If he is already crouched comfortably in the right position that allows you to trim his nails, he will struggle and wriggle less during the procedure.
- If you plan to trim his nails yourself, you will need to hold the cat on your lap so that his rear is resting on you. The cat has to look forward and you have to hold its paw with one hand (and possibly the clipper with the other).
- Get the animal used to sitting in this way and try to hold each of its paws. Gently press on each nail to pull it out. Again, reward him with treats and praise him.
- If you find someone who can help you, they could hold the cat in front of you, or they could rock it while you hold its paw with one hand (and possibly the clipper with the other).
- Practice with the helper holding the cat while you hold each paw and gently press each claw until you see that the cat feels comfortable. Remember to always reward him with sweets and caresses.
Part 2 of 3: Cut the Cat's Nails yourself
Step 1. Wait for the right opportunity
You can't cut his nails when you want. You need to choose a time when your cat is calm and relaxed, such as when they have just woken up, are preparing for a nap, or lie comfortably on their favorite surface during the day.
- Another good time is after his meal, when he feels sleepy and satisfied.
- Do not try to cut his nails after he has played, when he is hungry, when he is restless and running, or if he is in an aggressive mood. In these moments he is far from willing to have them cut.
- If you see that the animal has a broken or torn nail, you probably want to cut it immediately, but don't. Keep this in mind and always wait for your cat to be relaxed before trying to fix it, otherwise you could make it worse.
Step 2. Use the right tools
Before you sit down to trim his nails, make sure you have the proper equipment. You will need a specific pair of cat claw clippers and a hemostat.
- There are different models of nail clippers for cats and all of them perform a similar function. The important thing is that they are sharp, so that they cut the claw sharply. If you use a blunt tool you not only make the job longer and more difficult, but you could also crush the living area of the nail, which would be very painful for the cat. The tools that are used most often are mainly two: scissors and guillotine nail clippers.
- The scissors cut by making a "scissor" movement and are generally found on the market in both small and large formats. Those that have small "blades" are usually best for beginners or for those who just have to cut the tips. Larger scissors are more suitable for cutting the toughest and oldest nails.
- The guillotine nail clippers have a sliding blade that cuts the nail when the handles are pressed, a bit like a nipper. The claw enters the slot and the blade runs through it and cuts it. These tools are great for cutting long, thick nails (but not overgrown; in this case, large scissors are better).
- If the tool is sharp, the cat will not notice the quick cut. Keep in mind, however, that over time the nail clipper loses its edge, so you have to replace it (or have it sharpened) if you have the impression that the blades have dulled. You understand that they are damaged if you have to apply a lot of pressure to cut the nails or if the nail remains as if "chewed" by the tool rather than cleanly cut.
- However, keep a hemostat handy in case you mistakenly cut the pink and living part of the nail (although it is less likely with a cat than with a dog, as this area in the cat is much shorter). You can easily find the hemostat in all pharmacies. It is able to cauterize blood vessels when it is placed on the nail and prevents bleeding. If you accidentally cut the live part, you can keep the hemostatic pencil on the claw for 1-2 minutes and the bleeding should stop.
Step 3. Grab the cat and place it in a suitable position for cutting its nails, with its back on the legs and its back towards you
- Hold the clipper in one hand and the cat's paw in the other.
- Gently press the upper and lower part of the paw, on the joint just behind the claw, in order to expose it to the outside.
Step 4. Find the point where the nail is separated from the pink area
Make sure you know where the sharp spot is before you start cutting the nail; you should recognize it because it is similar to a small pink triangle inside the nail.
The first few times you should limit yourself to cutting only the tips of the nails and then, as you become familiar with the operation, you can start cutting closer to the blood vessels; in any case, never cut along the pink section, as you could injure the cat and cause the nail to bleed
Step 5. Trim your nails with the most suitable tool
Hold the cat as described above and cut his nails one by one. Place the nail clipper at the intermediate point between the end of the pink area and the tip of the claw.
- Try to orient the tool so that the blade cuts from bottom to top. In this way you avoid that the nail can tear.
- Don't get discouraged. The cat will probably protest, meow and want to scratch you, but don't yell at him and not want to speed up the process, or you could hurt him and scare him away, and you will still have your nails to trim.
- You will probably only be able to cut one or two nails the first few times.
Step 6. When finished, give him a treat as a treat
He was cooperative in having his nails cut and should be rewarded for putting up with it.
- Give him a special treat: salmon, chicken or cheese. Some cats also like cream or butter.
- By giving him a special treat, the cat begins to associate this prize with accepting to have his nails cut. So, even if this is certainly not the thing he loves the most, if he wants to receive one more delicacy, he will make less resistance in the future.
Step 7. Check his nails regularly
The nails grow at a different rate from cat to cat, but it is a good rule to reduce them a little every 2-4 weeks, so that they do not become too long, with the risk of breaking or breaking.
- Even if your kitty is able to sharpen its claws and keep them in tip-top shape on their own, you still have to check them out. The cat could also walk around with a broken nail and in this case you could help it by cutting it following a natural shape.
- Older cats need special attention, because their nails are thicker and can sometimes press on the pads they have under their paw, injuring them. If the cat is quite old, you should check them every week and trim off the tips if necessary. It is much easier if you adjust them promptly rather than waiting for them to get too long, as they can press on the bearings. In this case, it may be necessary to take the animal to the veterinarian for possible antibiotic therapy.
Part 3 of 3: Trim the Cat's Nails with a Helper
Step 1. Choose a person the cat knows and trusts
Do not ask to be helped by a stranger or a relative unknown to the cat, otherwise the animal will be even more frightened.
While it would be great for your cat to be used to and willing to have their nails trimmed without difficulty, in reality many cats do not accept this procedure at all and rebel every time; therefore having a helper at this time can be an excellent solution
Step 2. Ask your friend to hold the cat still
You can stand, facing each other, on the sides of a raised surface such as the kitchen counter.
- Make sure your helper also talks to the cat in a calm, reassuring tone of voice.
- Your friend should start stroking the cat and try to hold it in position by holding it back without hurting or frightening it too much.
- If your cat likes to be brushed, the helper can take steps to distract him from what you are about to accomplish. The helper should brush it on the head, under the neck or in other parts of the body that the cat likes.
Step 3. Take one of the animal's legs in your hand
Holding his paw, push the pad down to extend the claws outwards.
If your cat starts to fidget and meow, wait for it to calm down so you can grab its paw again
Step 4. Trim your nails as you normally would
Your friend needs to keep distracting the cat while you get on with work.
- Follow the directions in the previous section to make sure you get a clean, painless cut.
- When you're done, reward your feline friend with a nice treat.
Step 5. Check his nails regularly
Each cat's nails grow at a different rate, but it is a good rule to reduce them a little every 2-4 weeks so that they do not become too long, with the risk of breaking or breaking.
- Even if your kitty is able to sharpen its claws and keep them in tip-top shape on their own, you still have to check them out. The cat could also walk around with a broken nail and in this case you could help him by cutting it into a natural shape.
- Older cats need special attention, because their nails are thicker and can sometimes press on the pads they have under their paw, injuring them. If the cat is quite old, you should check them every week and trim off the tips if necessary. It's much easier if you fix them promptly rather than waiting for them to get too long, as they can press down on the palm of your paw. In this case, it may be necessary to take the animal to the veterinarian for possible antibiotic therapy.
Advice
- If you're not sure where to cut, ask someone to show you how. Most veterinarians, pet centers and grooming center staff will be happy to offer you a free demonstration.
- Start with the back claws first. Many cats try to free themselves with their hind legs, but if you have already cut your nails in these, they will hardly be able to scratch you.
- Many cats can have their nails trimmed when they are dozing next to their owners. If you can keep the clipper nearby, you can take advantage of these moments to manage this important aspect of cat care without disturbing its important rest.
- With long-haired cats, the operation is easier if they have wet paws.
- Don't forget the spur (or "fifth toe")! Most cats have two spurs, one on each foreleg. These are like small thumbs, located on the side of the front legs, just below the joint. As these claws aren't used much, they tend to grow and need to be checked every month in a healthy young cat.
- It is better to cut shorter but more frequently than to cut too deep. If you overdo it, it will be more difficult to cut your nails later.
- You can get your cat used to it from an early age, even when it is only one month old. At that age it is recommended to use a small nail clipper, as the claws are tiny. It is enough to cut the ends. Then always remember to give him a treat: the sooner he associates it with cutting his nails, the better.
- Sometimes it helps to cover the animal's eyes or prevent it from seeing the cutting procedure.
- If you have to cut his nails, but your cat is making things difficult for you by struggling, you can wrap him in a towel or blanket and pull out one paw at a time. However, if you have to get to this point, it probably means that you have not been able to properly accustom the cat and next time it will be even more difficult to cut them, as the cat will associate the cut with a traumatic moment.
Warnings
- Do not use human-specific nail clippers or scissors. These tools break the cat's nails.
- Be very careful not to cut too close to your finger and hit the pink area. It would be very painful for the cat.
- Animal rights associations strongly discourage "declawing", ie the removal of nails from cats, as it can cause damage to the nervous system and emotional stress. Instead, cut them every 2-3 weeks and give them a scratching post or a surface that they can file them on.
