Trimming nails

napolean xvi · Jul 16, 2005

Hey everyone,

I just had a question about trimming a cat's nails. First, do you think its ok to do it and if so how would one go about it? I think declawing is a horrible act and am afraid about trimming.
Any advice would be appreciated!

misscharlotte · Jul 16, 2005

There are many members here that trim their cat's nails. There is absolutely nothing wrong with trimming your cat's nails as long as you don't trim them beyond the pink "quik". I started trimming Izzie's nails when she was 10 weeks of age. She tolerates it very well. I don't know how an older cat would respond if it never had it's nails trimmed before. I'm sure that it would be frightened to some degree. Some people wrap a towel around their cat in order to protect themselves against being scratched.

Here are a couple related threads on the topic;
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...ght=trim+nails
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...ght=trim+nails

journey · Jul 16, 2005

Me and my boyfriend trimmed our cats nails. It was a joint effort! I had to hold her, and he had to grab her paw and cut. We just used to cut off a little bit, the really sharp pointy part, kind of just to blunt them.

coaster · Jul 16, 2005

Here's a how-to-do-it with some pictures: http://www.catscratching.com/htmls/article.htm

napolean xvi · Jul 16, 2005

Thank you so much! the photos were super useful.

hobbester · Jul 16, 2005

i've trimmed Hobbes' nails since he was a baby. The easiest way to do it is when they're sleepy, or just woke up from a nap. They'll be too lazy to struggle or protest

Just make sure you don't cut too deep. And finish off the job with a treat or two.

eburgess · Jul 16, 2005

It's not very hard. I try to trim Limerick's every week or so. He putts up a fuss about it too. Today I was just checking to see if they need trimmed and he hissed at me!!! Liemrick's nails are black so I can see the quick. I trim his nails at the cruve in the nail. Don't forget to reward your cat after regardless of how he/she acted. Try to gdo it when they are sleepy, it works alot better, well for me at least. Good luck!!

random · Jul 17, 2005

Oh, I definitely trim my cat's nails. There's nothing inhumane about it; it's no different than trimming your nails.

Angelo is used to it. If it takes awhile, he'll start to fuss, but he'll always give in and let me do it. My mom has an elderly little dog that is TERRIFIED of having her nails trimmed (which get very long due to her inactivity); it's a two person effort. We think her previous owner always did a horrible job of trimming her nails or something, so she expects pain when we do it.

Trimming a cat's nails keeps your sofa intact and your body intact. My cat doesn't scratch the furniture much at all, but the claws do come out accidentally when he leaps into my lap. That really really hurts when they're sharp.

luvmybirmans · Jul 17, 2005

I agree with all posters - get the girls while they are not yet awake. I try to start when there is only one eye opened. I can usually get through the first paw with out them even realizing what is going on. They usually become more aware by the second paw. If I go really quickly, I can get through all four paws. One of them really puts up a fuss. When she does this, I'll stop the front 10, and come back another day for the rest.

yosemite · Jul 17, 2005

I've also found that if you gently "play" or "stroke" kitty's paws when they are fully relaxed with you that it helps when it comes to nail clipping. Bijou and Mika both get their nails clipped every week and they are very tolerant. I won't say they like it, but they don't bite or scratch and we try to get them when they are sleepy or fully relaxed which really helps. Sometimes I'll just squat down in front of the chair where Bijou is sleeping and talk to him while I clip his nails without even holding him.

katachtig · Jul 17, 2005

Usually I try to get the little ones when they are sleepy.

I've also have been hissed at and the clippers slapped out of my hand. But if I let them calm down, I can get all of the nails in stages. The right paw now and then the left paw the next day.

At the beginning, you can also do a more conservative snip where you only take off the sharp end. You will need to check on them more often this way because they do grow out quickly but it made me more confident each time I did it.

buzbyjlc10 · Jul 17, 2005

Oliver's front nails are capped and I clip those when he sheds his nails and a new cap needs to be put on... I try to do his back claws every week or so because he likes to play kick and that can leave some serious marks... If he's being finicky about it, I get on my knees on the floor and sit him in between my legs so I can kind of hold him with my thighs... he's usually really good about it though since he's used to me applying the caps... if you're worried you might cut too deep, you can buy styptic powder or pads at pet stores to have on hand - styptic stops any bleeding that might occur if you cut a little too deep - if it's seriously too deep, though you'll have to make a vet run... and always give a little treat afterwards!

ccsr79 · Jul 19, 2005

I trim Lucas claws every one - two weeks as needed, usually I don't need to trim them all at once, as they seem to grow at different rates. He absolutely hates it, but last time he was lying in bed, and I just sort of laid on top of him, and trimmed his front claws. He didn't seem to make a fuss about it that way, so it's my new way of getting it done!

lil_axl_gurl · Jul 19, 2005

I do it and I actually use regular finger nail clippers and I just turn them sideways. Joey HATES having his nails trimmed but it has to be done.

misskittysdaddy · Jul 23, 2005

Be advised, once you start, you'll have to continue.

Ms. Kitty isn't a big scratcher so she doesn't do the job herself. She'll go up to the scratching toy (I have several) and scratch four or five times, but never a deep down thing.

I started to clip her nails because she was sliding around the floor when she played hard - I have all hardwood/tiled floors. It was funny as heck, LOL, but when someone commented about how my kitty was "clumsy" I had to do something about it. I did the front paws, so I knew how they looked - but when I went to do it again a few weeks later they had grown back even more than they were to begin with (and curved more too). Now when I do it they definately have much more of a hook at the end than the did before.

I'm still using human clippers, but have been told it's not good because it "crushes" the nails. I've been looking for a kitty clipper (I guess they are round shaped instead) but haven't found one yet.

MKD

sharky · Jul 23, 2005

I take mine to the groomer for 5 she does it

lil_axl_gurl · Jul 23, 2005

Originally Posted by MissKittysDaddy

Be advised, once you start, you'll have to continue.

Ms. Kitty isn't a big scratcher so she doesn't do the job herself. She'll go up to the scratching toy (I have several) and scratch four or five times, but never a deep down thing.

I started to clip her nails because she was sliding around the floor when she played hard - I have all hardwood/tiled floors. It was funny as heck, LOL, but when someone commented about how my kitty was "clumsy" I had to do something about it. I did the front paws, so I knew how they looked - but when I went to do it again a few weeks later they had grown back even more than they were to begin with (and curved more too). Now when I do it they definately have much more of a hook at the end than the did before.

I'm still using human clippers, but have been told it's not good because it "crushes" the nails. I've been looking for a kitty clipper (I guess they are round shaped instead) but haven't found one yet.

MKD

I use human clippers as well and have never had a problem with them crushing the nails. They actually do more of a cleaner cut than the dog/cat clippers did for me.

beckiboo · Jul 23, 2005

I have cat clippers that look like modified scissors, and think they are way easier than people clippers. Here's a link to a similar clipper.
http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...=1122170884378
I once had a cat who's dewclaw grew all the way around until it dug into her. When I clipped it off, she actually bled a drop from where it had dug in! So don't forget the dewclaws.

I usually have to do one or two feet at a time. And lots of treats, lots of treats!

coaster · Jul 23, 2005

I have clippers similar to the ones Beckiboo linked to above, except they have a guard on one side to it protects against cutting the nail too short. And I think they're very easy to use.

raineycry · Jul 23, 2005

My furbabies' claws get clipped. I don't do the clipping, I'm too scared I will go too deep (past the quick)....so my husband does both our kitties' claws. Every three weeks or so. He uses regular human nail clippers. We had a set of cat clippers, but he found them cumbersome. He's been using the regular clippers for years now w/ no problems, no "crushing" either. *shrug*

Funny thing is...my little girl hates it and completely squirms & throws a fit, BUT my big boy doesn't mind.....in fact it's almost like he enjoys the attention.

Trimming nails

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