Claw trimming ...every week?!

Is it normal for my two kittens (both are 6 months old) to need to have their claws trimmed every week?

I seriously JUST trimmed them last Saturday, and already have a bloody hand from simply playing. The scratches on my hands swell up and I have to keep applying Iodine tincture to stop the itching! Besides, neither likes to have them trimmed and trying to hold them poses it's own bloody threat. To prepare for it, I have to suit up like I'm preparing to go hiking on the Himalayas. I'd almost swear that they're going into my garage during the night and using the grinder to fine-tune their daggers!!

I do not wish to insult anyone, but if suggested; No, I will not consider declawing. I think that's painful / inhumane treatment to animals.

Other than that, the two of them are doing very well in their new home.

Aww, they're so cute!

Smaller claws are sharper and young active cats will keep their claws sharper as well. You probably won't have to trim their claws as often when they're older. But for now, yep, it sounds like they'll need trimming every week, maybe even twice a week.

On your knees in the floor. Sit back on your legs.

Put kitten between your legs with his head and feet sticking out front.
Kitten can't escape by backing up.  Can't go forward unless you let him.

Trim as many nails as you can. 
Round him up in an hour and trim some more, or the rest of them.

Tip:  It's best not trim just "whatever" nails you can in random order.  If you do that, and don't get them all, when you go back to finish the job you will keep finding the ones you already trimmed.  (making it take a whole lot longer).
So, regardless of how hard it is, trim from left to right, or right to left...don't skip one.   That way, when you go back to finish, you just pick up where you left off.

And yeah, once a week for a little terror is about right.
If you have a laid back super sweetie?  Once every two weeks.

And trimming claws won't keep you from getting scratched.  (maybe not scratched as much, but, you will still get got)

They're gorgeous! Kitten claws can be like hypodermic needles. If they give you a lot of trouble during nail trimming sessions, try just doing a few nails and a time then rewarding with a tasty treat. Keep the sessions short and enjoyable so hopefully you can eventually trim them without needing armor. If all else fails, I've found most kittens will sleep through anything and it's pretty easy to cut their nails while they snooze. However, that probably won't work when they reach adulthood.

I will try the method of getting behind them, but I'm not sure how it'll work since the two of them have the power and energy of lightning...all the time! The wife won't let me, but I want to re-name them "MAY" and "HEM". They're loveable though, so that's their saving grace.

If method 1 doesn't work, I'll try trimming their claws when they're sleeping. 

Thank you for the replies   

It will work.    Just down on your knees, cat between your legs.  You'll figure out how to hold them there.    You're basically surrounding them and somewhat pinning them down to where they can't twist and wriggle onto their side.
If they are not biters, it's easy.
If they are biters, it's a challenge, wear long sleeves.

This is how I trim nails, and how I administer medicine. 
 

Nobody here will suggest declawing. That's not us.

I have never trimmed a cat's nails. Do not let them play with your hands! That is a bad habit to encourage. When you see them going for the hands, throw them a soft toy to play with.

Our cats are adults and we still trim their claws every week or two. You can buy something called soft paws or claw caps. These are little rubber things that glue onto their claws. That'll make it so that they can't scratch anybody. I don't know how easy that'll be with kittens though. 

Once a week for front claws sounds right, and about once a month for back ones. I do it when the cat is sleepy or sleeping. Early on it might mean only getting one or two claws done at a time, but as the cats get accustomed to it and you become more practiced, you'll probably need under a minute to clip all of the tips on one cat's claws.

I posted this few days ago when someone asked about clipping of claws. So I just copied my post over.

I used to clip my boy's nails when he is asleep. Now he has gotten use to the clipper and I don't have to wait till he's asleep. He'll watch me hold his paw and clip his nails now.
I gotten him to get use to the clipper by letting him smell it without cutting any nails and after that I'll just keep the clipper. Then I let him get use to me by holding his paw and pressing gently to get the claws out. I do that a few times and then say good boy and walked away. I repeated this two actions for several days.
Then the next time was with the clipper, let him smell, touch paw and gently press and clip one nail. Repeated this several times till he got use to it and now whenever I need to clip his nails, I just go straight to it.
Don't rush into it and finish the four paws in a few days till your kitty is ok with nail clipping and you can do it at one go. Just make sure you get a good pair of clippers and watch for the 'quick' as moorspede mentioned. Mod MoochNNoodles provided a good article on it too.

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Declawed cats usually have screwed up paws, but I'll admit that it is easier cutting 2 paws with claws than 4!


I clip my cats' claws twice a month.

I'd like to add that I didn't declaw my cats...two of them came to me that way.

Kittens nails grow back in faster than adults from what i noticed. Must be since theyre in the growing stages.