How To Cut Cat Nail

Download Commodity

A true cat may need its nails trimmed to go along them from splitting or breaking, and y'all may find it productive to trim off the sharp points of your true cat's nails if the true cat is decumbent to kneading, scratching, etc. Trimming a true cat's nails is fairly easy once you lot get your cat accustomed to information technology. Read on for detailed instructions.

1
Pet your true cat's paws. Most cats are naturally a little skittish well-nigh having their paws handled, and so begin past helping your cat go accustomed to information technology.^[one]
- Wait for a time when your cat is relaxed and lounging.
- Begin gently petting its paws while simultaneously petting the true cat in its favorite spots (the back of the neck, under the chin, where its back meets its tail, etc.).
- Do this for each paw yous plan to trim.
- The cat might pull its paws away, or fifty-fifty get upward and walk away. Let it go; don't force it to practise anything, but continue to gently pet its paws when you have the opportunity.
- Whenever you handle your cat's paws, reward it with treats and praise to help build positive associations.
two
Hold your true cat's paws. One time your cat is comfortable enough to allow you to balance your hand on its paws without pulling away, start to gently concord its paws in your open hand.
- Place your hand over the cat's mitt, so flip your hand effectually so the bottom of the cat'southward paw is on the palm of your mitt.
- Keep rewarding the cat with petting and treats; give the cat a new, special treat that will only be associated with cutting its claws.
Advertisement
iii
Massage your true cat's paws. After your true cat grows accustomed to you lot property its paws, commencement holding the paws and massaging them with your fingers.^[2]
- Gently massage your fingers over the tops and bottoms of each mitt you plan to trim.
- Advantage your cat with more treats and praise.
4
Look closely at your true cat'south nails. Somewhen, you should exist able to gently squeeze the paws (applying virtually of the pressure on the pads) to push individual claws out without upsetting your cat.^[3]
- When your cat's claws are extended, you'll encounter the thick part of the nail, and, towards the cat'southward toe, a pinkish area within the nail, called the quick.
- The quick is the living function of the boom and contains blood vessels and nerves, so cut a cat'southward nail to the quick is quite painful for the true cat. Never cutting a cat'due south nail close to or with flush with the toe; your aim is to prune off only the sharp point.^[4]
- Wait carefully at where and how large each quick is--through a clear nail it volition look like a small pink triangle. Each of your cat'southward nails will exist similar, so fifty-fifty if the cat has night nails, wait to find 1 clear nail as a reference point for the others.
5
Go your true cat comfortable with the "smash-trimming position." If your cat is already comfy sitting in the right position to have its nails cut, information technology will put up less of a fight during the actual trimming.
- If you're going to be trimming the cat's nails by yourself, the cat will need to sit on its rear on your lap, facing away from you, while yous hold its hand with one mitt (and, eventually, the clippers with the other).
- Do having your true cat sit this fashion and concur each of its paws. Gently press on each smash to extend it. Again, reward the true cat with treats and praise.^[v]
- If you accept someone to help, they can hold the cat facing you, or they can cradle it, while you lot hold the paw with one mitt (and, eventually, clip with the other).
- Do having your assistant concur your true cat while you concur each of its paws and gently press each claw until your cat seems comfortable. Advantage it with treats and praise.
Advert

1
Wait for the right opportunity. You tin can't trim your cat'southward nails whenever you lot experience similar information technology. You should pick a time when your cat is feeling prissy and relaxed, such as when it'south but coming out of a nap, getting gear up to nap, or calmly resting on its favorite surface during the solar day.^[6]
- Another good time for nail trimming is subsequently your cat has eaten and is feeling sleepy and content.
- Don't endeavour to trim your cat'south nails right afterwards play time, when it's hungry, when it'southward restless and running around, or in an otherwise aggressive mood. The true cat will be far from receptive to you trimming its nails.
- You lot may come across that your true cat has a broken or splitting nail and will want to cut information technology instantly, but don't. Make a note of it and wait for your true cat to get relaxed before trying to cut it, or you could arrive worse.
ii
Use the right tools. Before sitting down to cut your true cat'due south nails, be sure you have the right equipment to do then. To trim your cat'south nails, yous'll need a pair of nail clippers designed to clip cat claws and a styptic pencil.^[7]
- There are several different styles of boom clippers, all of which largely do the same job. The nigh important thing is that the clippers are sharp, so they snip directly through the hook. Not only will using dull clippers make the job longer and harder, but yous may besides stop upwardly squeezing the quick, which tin can be painful for the cat. In that location are two primary styles of clipper: scissor and guillotine clippers.
- Scissor clippers cut a cat's nails using a scissor motion and usually come in small and large sizes. The modest "nippers" tend to exist better for those new to clipping nails or if yous only demand to snip the tips. Larger scissor clippers are suited to cutting older, tougher nails.
- Guillotine clippers use a sliding blade that cuts the nail when you clasp the handles together. The claw fits into a slot and the bract slides across to clip the nail. These are strong clippers that are proficient for cut long, thick nails (but non overgrown nails--big clippers are ameliorate suited to that).
- If the clippers are sharp the cat won't feel the quick prune. Clippers don't stay sharp forever, so discard them (or ship them for sharpening) if yous suspect the blades have gone deadening. Signs of this include having to utilise a lot of pressure to cutting the nail or the boom existence "chewed" by the clippers rather than making a clean cutting.
- Also have a styptic pencil on hand in case you cut the cat's quick (which is less likely with a true cat than a dog, equally the cat'south quick is much shorter). Styptic pencils are readily bachelor from pharmacies (typically in the shaving section). They cauterize blood vessels when touched to the nail and assistance preclude bleeding. If you cut the quick, you lot tin hold the styptic pencil to the hook for one - 2 minutes and the haemorrhage should stop.
iii
Collect your cat and identify information technology in the "nail-trimming position," with its rear on your lap and its back towards you lot. ^[viii]
- Agree the clippers in one hand and hold your cat'due south hand in the other.
- Gently squeeze the tiptop and lesser of your cat's paw, on the joint just behind the claw to extend the claw.^[9]
4
Observe the place where the blast separates from the quick. Exist sure you know where the quick is earlier you endeavour to cut the nail--the quick will look like a small-scale, pink triangle inside the blast.
- You should first cut but the tip of the nails, and as you get more comfortable, you tin cut closer to the quick, just never cut all the way to the quick or you can hurt your true cat and make its nails bleed.
v
Cut the nails with the trimmers. Hold the cat as described before and cutting the nails i by i. Position the trimmers halfway between the terminate of the quick and the claw.
- Try to orient the clippers so that when the nail is cut, the bract cuts from lesser to peak. This volition help forestall splitting.
- Try to avoid getting frustrated. Your true cat may protestation, meow, and try to scratch you lot, simply don't yell at your cat or rush through the process, or yous may end upwardly hurting it and scaring it abroad having its nails trimmed again.
- You may only exist able to trim ane or two nails at a time at kickoff.
6
Give your cat a treat. It's been a good sport about letting you cutting its nails and should be rewarded for indelible it.
- Make the treat special: vacuum-packed salmon, or craven. Some cats also similar sour cream or butter.
- Using a special treat ensures that your cat begins to acquaintance this treat with getting its nails trimmed. So though your true cat may non love the smash-trimming part, it'll want the treat afterwards, so it'll exist less resistant in the future.
7
Check your cat's nails regularly. Each cat's nails abound at a different rate, but information technology's a good rule of thumb to trim your cat's nails somewhere between every two weeks and every month and so that its nails don't get too long, split, or break.
- Though your cat volition exist sharpening its claws and keeping them in proficient shape on its own, keep an eye on their nails yet. Your cat could exist walking effectually with a broken nail, and you tin aid it out by trimming information technology into shape.
- Older cats need special attention considering their nails are thicker and can sometimes press around into the pads, cut into them. Cheque your older cat's nails every week and clip the tip off if necessary. This is much easier than letting the nails get overgrown, which can crusade them to impact into the pads. If this happens, the true cat will need to see a veterinarian because antibiotics may be necessary.^[10]
Advertisement

i
Choose a person your cat knows and trusts. Don't get a stranger or relative stranger to help yous trim your cat's nails or your cat will be even more than scared.
- Though it sounds adept and fine to get your true cat used to having its nails trimmed, the reality is, many cats volition even so protestation every single fourth dimension, and you lot may accept to get some extra assistance to practise it.
2
Accept your helper hold the true cat in place. You can both try standing on contrary sides of a raised surface, like a counter.
- Both of you should talk calmly and reassuringly to the cat.
- Have your helper pet the true cat and try to keep information technology in place by holding on to its torso without hurting it or scaring it too much.
- If your cat enjoys being brushed, the other person can brush the cat to distract it from the fact that it's getting its nails trimmed. Have your helper castor the true cat's head, under its neck, or in other places where information technology enjoys being brushed.
3
Hold one of your true cat'due south paws in your mitt. While holding the hand, push button downward on the pad to extend the claws.
- If your cat is being rowdy, look for it to settle downward then that you can isolate the manus.
four
Trim your cat'south nails as yous commonly would. Your helper will go along to distract the cat while you trim its claws.
- Just follow the directions in the previous section to make sure you give your true cat a polish, painless nail trim.
- When you're done, reward your cat with a nice care for.
5
Check your true cat's nails on a regular footing. Every cat's nails will grow at a different rate, merely information technology's practiced practise to trim your cat'south nails somewhere betwixt every two weeks and every calendar month and then that its nails don't become too long, divide, or break.
- Though your cat will probable sharpen its claws and go along them in expert shape on its ain, keep an eye on its nails yet. Your cat could be walking around with a broken blast, and you can help information technology out past trimming information technology into shape.
- Older cats demand special attention because their nails are thicker and can sometimes press effectually into the pads and cutting into them. Check your older cat'due south nails every week, and clip the tip off if necessary. This is much easier than letting the nails get overgrown, which can cause them to impact into the pads. If this happens then the cat will need to see a veterinarian because antibiotics may be necessary.^[11]
Advertisement

Add New Question

Question

My cat's nail pare, with paper sparse pieces coming abroad. The is no bleeding, pain or swelling. Is this normal?

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over xxx years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animate being exercise. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the aforementioned beast clinic in her hometown for over twenty years.

Veterinarian

Skillful Respond

Support wikiHow by unlocking this skillful answer.

Yes, this is normal. A cat'south claws are dissimilar from man fingernails or a dog'south claws, in that the blast grows in layers a bit similar the skins on an onion. Therefore it's common for the outer layer to skin abroad, especially if it's slightly damaged during scratching. This is an adaptation that leaves the cat with a permanently sharp set of nails for climbing or fighting.
Question

Practice you need to trim the true cat's back paw claws?

Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinary with over 30 years of experience in veterinarian surgery and companion animal practise. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animate being dispensary in her hometown for over twenty years.

Veterinary

Skilful Answer

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Advertising

First with the back claws first. Many cats will try to utilise their hind legs to get complimentary, merely if you've already cut them, you won't get scratched as easily.
Many cats can be clipped when they are snoozing next to their human companions. If you lot tin remember to keep the clippers nearby, you lot may exist able to accomplish this very necessary flake of true cat care without disturbing the cat's important rest.
Covering the cat'southward eyes or obscuring the cat's vision of the trimming procedure may aid for some cats.
If you are unsure exactly where to cut, enquire someone to evidence you how it's washed. Most vets, animal shelters, and groomers are happy to provide a free demonstration.
If y'all need to trim your true cat'southward nails but it'south putting up a fight, you tin can wrap the true cat in a towel or coating and extend one arm or leg out at a time. If you must do this, all the same, it'south probably because you lot haven't had time to ready the cat, and information technology will be harder to do then over again once the cat associates nail trimming with trauma.
It helps if paws are wet for long-haired cats.
You tin can condition your true cat as a kitten--fifty-fifty every bit immature equally a month sometime. At that historic period, minor fingernail clippers work well every bit the claws are tiny. But clip off the ends. Then be sure to provide a treat. The sooner they associate smash clipping with treats, the meliorate.
Trimming off less of the nail more oftentimes is better than taking the chance of cut too deep. If y'all cut besides deep, it's going to exist harder to trim the nails later on on.
Don't forget the dew claws! Well-nigh cats have two dewclaws, one on each front leg. These are similar a modest thumb, located on the side of the forepart legs, just below the wrist. Considering these claws don't become used much, they tend to overgrow and should be checked monthly in a healthy young cat.^[12]

Do not use nail clippers or scissors fabricated for humans. Information technology splits the true cat'due south nails.
Be very conscientious not to cut too far dorsum and hit the quick. Information technology is very painful for the cat.^[13]
The ASPCA strongly discourages "declawing" a true cat, which can crusade nerve damage as well as emotional distress in a cat. Instead, trim a cat's claws every few weeks and provide scratching posts or surfaces.^[14]

Advert

About This Article

Commodity Summary 10

To trim your cat's nails, sit down the cat on its rear in your lap, facing away from you, and selection up one of its paws. Massage the mitt, then press down gently to expose the claws. Position the trimmers halfway betwixt the quick and the hook, and so squeeze the trimmers to clip off the nail. Work on one blast at a fourth dimension, then switch to the next hand. Always follow upwards your trimming sessions past giving your cat a tasty treat! To learn about trimming your true cat's nails when you accept a helper with you, read on!

Did this summary assistance you?

Cheers to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,125,023 times.