Clipping cat clawsClipping cat claws is routine to a groomer or veterinarian, but if you'd like to learn to clip your cat's claws yourself, here's how.
Do these need clipping? To clip or not to clip?Indoor catsClaws that are too long can curl back into a cat's paw pads and injure the foot (not to mention damage furniture and carpets) so indoor cats need to have their nails clipped regularly. A scratching post by itself won't stop claws from getting too long. Outdoor cats Cats allowed outside need longer claws to help them climb, defend themselves and get themselves out of trouble. Their claws wear down naturally from their more active lifestyles, so trimming an outdoor cat's nails isn't generally necessary (but keep an eye on them anyway, just in case). Handle your cat's paws early onCats resist having their paws touched, so get your cat used to this while he's still young by handling his feet often.You could do this as part of a regular grooming session - stroke the feet and squeeze the toes so that the nails extend outwards. Build up gradually until you can handle all four feet in one session. Bribery can help! Reward your pet with a treat after each foot-handling session. While you're doing this, look at each claw. See the pinkish section of nail? This is called the quick, and the pink line is a vein. Don't cut this part! Damaging it would hurt the cat and make the claw bleed. The transparent tip of the claw is the part you can clip – but only cut the first 1 to 2 mm (one sixteenth of a inch). If in doubt, less is better. Clipping cat claws – how to do it
Vet cutting cat claws the correct way Clipping cat claws is an art. It takes time for both you and your cat to get used to it but with patience and kindness you will succeed! Footnote: One of our readers, Paul, shared the unusual but effective idea for trimming cat claws that he came up with to keep his cat still. Hop on over there and check it out!
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