Cats are adorable little fur companions until they start to scratch everything you have at home. They like to scratch your furniture, curtains, clothes, and even you! Why do they scratch? Not to bother you of course, but to mark their territory and to wear down the dead layer of skin on their nails. Unfortunately, even if they don’t have bad intentions when scratching, all the scratching can result in real damage to your home. The good news is that you can fix this problem by trimming your cat’s nails at home regularly. Every 10 to 14 days your cat’s claws will grow and will need to be trimmed, it will be beneficial to your cat because it will help minimize the risk of his nail getting torn, and as well for you to prevent unwanted scratching behavior around your home. Although trimming your cat’s nails isn’t that easy and might take some time so you could learn how to trim their nails, but with a little patience and some tips, it will be possible. Here are some tips that Pet Barn is guiding you on how to cut your cat’s nails at home painlessly and effectively.
First, Let’s Prepare Your Cat for Trimming!
As soon your cat gets used to the nail trimming process as soon as it will be easier, this is why to start this habit as soon as you can, the younger your cat is the easier it will be, but that doesn’t mean if your cat isn’t a kitten the trimming process can’t be accomplished. So regardless of your cat’s age, start by massaging her paws, play softly with her paws more often so that your cat gets used to having her paws handled, and reinforce this experience by giving her treats so it could be a good experience.
Don’t forget that your cat has to get used also to the clippers you are going to use to trim her nails, to do so you have to make the sound and sight of the clippers familiar. Let your cat sniff and explore those clippers, then create a positive association reward with treats.
Cutting Those Little Claws;
Once your cat is ready and comfortable with having their paws squeezed, and feels safe and familiar with the sound and sight of the clippers, this is when you’re ready to trim your cat’s nails. According to studies and vets, the best time for nail clipping is when you see your cat relaxed or after feeding her, your cat will feel sleepy.
You can start to clip one nail at a time, each time you trim a nail give a lot of praise to your cat to encourage the process and be able to continue. If your cat doesn’t like being on your lap and doesn’t let you finish what you started, you could try covering their head to not show them the trimming process.
Finally, when the mission is accomplished, cuddle your cat and give her some love to memorize a positive experience in her mind for the next trimming session.
Some Tips While Trimming;
Before starting any clipping, make sure to examine your cat’s nails, it is extremely important to check and find the pink part which is the darker section inside the mostly clear, hard exterior. The fleshy section runs through the center of clear or light-color nails because this is where all the nerves and blood vessels are. This is called the quick. This is why it is so important to check before trimming those quick parts of the nail to avoid any kind of pain, bleeding, and risking infection.
As we said previously, clip one nail at a time, take a break and make sure to cut only the curved part of the nail which is the very pointy end part, and the white part only of the claw. If you accidentally clip the quick part, and blood starts to show up, immediately use some styptic powder to be able to stop the bleeding.
If your cat doesn’t get comfortable with the process, it’s okay, just leave her, and plan another time to finish the trimming job.
Clipping Schedule;
Cat claws grow up again after 10 to 14 days and need to be trimmed again, which is approximately every two weeks. It is better to do it as a regular routine to keep your cat’s nails under control and not have to deal with scratching all over your furniture again.
If you struggle with your kitty to get claws trimmed, you can always ask your veterinarian for help or advice.
Declawing cats isn’t a good option for your cat, it is a very complicated and painful procedure for your cat, trying to trim their nails more regularly is the best way for both of you.
What Not to Do For A Successful Trimming;
- if your cat is in a bad mood, don’t bother her even more by trying to trim her nails, the whole process will turn into a nightmare for both of you.
- If you are in a hurry, don’t trim your cat’s nails, you may cut too deep and hurt the quick part of the nail which will cause bleeding, also don’t trim all your cat’s nails at once, take your time by cutting one at a time by taking a break each time you cut one.
- if your cat resists the trimming process, please don’t punish it, it will only make the whole experience even worse for the next trimming time.
Conclusion
Trimming a cat’s nails is a stressful process for everyone including your cat, but if you do it the right way, it doesn’t have to be that bad. By following some simple tips, your cat can have regular manicures, and pedicure sessions every two weeks. Never forget that patience is the key with your furry companion for every new experience.
