Trimming your cat’s nails benefits both you and your feline companion. Even if your cat is docile and non-aggressive, he may still knead you, which is downright painful with long nails. Long nails can also lead to damaged furniture, curtains and clothes. Furthermore, there have been reports of cats getting their nails stuck in carpet, causing serious injury such as broken bones and dislocated joints when they attempt to pull away.
To prevent problems such as these, owners should trim their cat’s nails about once every one to two weeks. It’s a safer and more humane alternative to dealing with long nails than declawing.
But many cats are reluctant to have their nails trimmed, running for cover when they see nail clippers in their owner’s hand. Cats are finicky and set in their own ways, making nail trimming difficult and even dangerous at times. So, what’s the best way to trim a cat’s nails without being scratched in the process?
Choosing the Right Nail Clippers
First, you’ll need to pick up a pair of nail clippers for your cat. There are several different types from which to choose, including scissor-style, guillotine, and human nail clippers. Scissor-style clippers work like a pair of scissors, slicing the nail with two sharp blades. Guillotine clippers have a stationary ring with a blunt surface and a single sharp blade that slices the nail when the handle is pressed. And we all know what human nail clippers are — the same clippers you use to trim your own nails.
While you can use all three types of nail clippers to trim your cat’s nails, scissor-style or human nail clippers are recommended. Guillotine clippers may crush and splinter the nail rather than provide a clean cut. This rarely happens when maintained and used correctly, but most owners prefer the simplicity of scissor-style or human nail clippers. Also, if your cat’s dew claws have grown to the point where they’ve curled around, they probably won’t fit inside the guillotine opening. Either scissor-style or human nail clippers should provide a clean cut, assuming it has a sharp blade. When the blade becomes dull, you’ll need to replace it or buy a new pair of clippers.
A fourth option is an electric nail grinder, which features a battery-powered sanding stone to trim and smooth down the nail tip. They don’t have an actual blade, so they are safer than traditional clippers. But electric nail grinders are only useful if the loud buzzing sound doesn’t frighten your cat. Being that cats are typically afraid of loud noises, especially when it’s coming from an unfamiliar object, many owners find them difficult to use.
Get Some Styptic Powder
In addition to nail clippers, you should also pick up some styptic powder. Just like our nails bleed if we cut them too deep, so will a cat’s nails. Sold under the brand name Kwik Stop, styptic powder is used to stop bleeding if you accidentally cut into the part of the nail through which blood flows, known as the quick. Cutting into this area causes pain and bleeding due to the blood vessels here. In cats with light-colored nails, the quick is typically a light-pinkish color while the rest of the nail is white.
Styptic powder is an anti-hemorrhagic agent that stops bleeding by causing blood vessels to constrict. Certain products such as Kwik Stop also contain pain-relieving agents. If you accidentally cut into the quick, apply the styptic powder to the affected area as directed. It’s a safe and effective treatment for minor cuts, including bleeding nails.
Easing Your Cat’s Nail-Trimming Anxiety
Unless your cat is already accustomed to getting their nails trimmed, you’ll need to gradually expose them to the process. Find a comfortable and quiet area where you can sit down with your cat. While loosely holding your cat in one hand (don’t physically restrain your cat), use your other hand to gently pull and massage the paw, pressing against the pad to expose the claw. After massaging the first paw for 5-10 seconds, release and move on to the next paw. Continue doing this until you’ve covered all four paws; rinse and repeat these steps daily for at least one week. Don’t worry about trimming your cat’s nails just yet, as that comes later. For now, we want to focus on easing your cat’s nail-trimming anxiety so it’s less stressful for the both of you later.
Once your cat has become accustomed to you massaging their paws, you should introduce them to the nail clippers. Just because your cat is comfortable with you massaging their paws doesn’t necessarily mean they will allow you to clip their nails — not yet, at least. To further ease their anxiety, you should sit back down with your cat — just like before — only this time with a pair of nail clippers.
The ASCPA recommends clipping pieces of hard, uncooked spaghetti while holding your cat. Cradle your cat in one hand and use your other hand to clip pieces of spaghetti in half, rewarding your feline companion with a tasty treat afterward. This allows your cat to see and hear the nail clippers in action without actually touching them. Continue doing this daily for at least one week to ease your cat’s nail-trimming anxiety.
Steps to Trimming Your Cat’s Nails
By now, your cat should be relaxed enough so you can safely trim their nails. So, the next time you discover your cat has long nails, follow these steps to trim them down.
Step #1) Cradle Your Cat
Find a distraction-free area in which your cat is comfortable and relaxed. Now firmly cradle your feline companion in the nook of your arm, applying just enough pressure to prevent your cat from jumping out. The key here is to hold your cat in place without exerting too much force. If you hold your cat too tight, they’ll feel greater stress and anxiety, which is counterproductive in your nail-trimming efforts.
Step #2) Expose the Nail
Unlike their canine counterparts, cats have retractable claws that are normally concealed. To expose your cat’s nail, gently squeeze the toe using your index finger and thumb. This should push out the nail, allowing you to trim it more easily.
Step #3) Identify the Quick
With your cat’s nail exposed, look to see where the quick stops. If your cat has light-colored nails, the quick should be pink. If your cat has dark-colored nails, look behind the nail and you’ll notice the tip separates into a triangular shape with two flat surfaces on both sides. It’s usually safe to trim up to this point, as the quick lies closer to the base of the toe. However, you should still err on the side of caution when trimming dark-colored nails by applying slow, gentle pressure with the nail clippers to see how your cat reacts.
Step #4) Cut the Nail
Place the clippers perpendicular to your cat’s nail, below the quick, cutting the tip at a 45-degree angle. You should cut no closer than 2mm of the quick. Rinse and repeat until you’ve trimmed all 18 nails, including the dew claws. If your cat only allows you to trim one nail at a time, take a break for a few minutes and come back later.
Step #5) Reward Your Cat
After trimming your cat’s nails, reward them with a treat with affection. A little positive reinforcement goes a long way in easing your nail-trimming anxiety. If you reward your feline companion afterward, they’ll feel more comfortable the next time you pull out the clippers.
Tips on Trimming Your Cat’s Nails
- Don’t scold or punish your cat for resisting.
- Choose a distraction-free environment in which to trim your cat’s nails. Things like other pets, birds chirping outside, or blinking lights may startle your cat.
- Many owners find nail trimming easier when done shortly after their cat has eaten.
- To protect against scratches, try placing a towel or blanket between you and your cat.
- Since many cats are reluctant to have their rear nails clipped, trim the front nails first.
- Inspect your nail trimmers to ensure the blade is sharp. When it becomes dull, you must replace the blade or buy new clippers.
- The quick will gradually recede as you trim your cat’s nails on a regular basis.
- Always trim your cat’s nails with the blade perpendicular to the nail. Trimming with the blade parallel to the nail may crush and splinter the nail.
- Distracting your cat with treats may provide you with just enough time to trim their nails.
- If your cat allows it, file down the nail tips so they aren’t as sharp.
- If you accidentally cut into the cut, wipe away the blood and apply styptic powder to the affected area. This should stop the bleeding within minutes.
Professional Nail Trimming for Your Cat
If you aren’t comfortable trimming your cat’s nails, you can always have it done by a professional. While prices vary, a typical groomer charges around $10 to $20 for nail trimming, and veterinarians charge around $40 to $50. Many owners agree that this is a small price to pay for the peace of mind knowing that their cat’s nails are being trimmed correctly. Keep in mind, however, that some groomers and veterinarians may sedate your cat if they resist.
References:
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/trimming_cat_claws.html
http://www.vetstreet.com/dr-marty-becker/why-do-i-need-to-trim-my-cats-claws