Thinking about clipping my cat's nails...

tarajason · Dec 29, 2005

Hey all,

I'm thinking about just clipping their nails myself but I have a some questions.

Is there a certain age they should be before I do this? They are about 8 weeks old right now and their claws are getting sharp!

Also, if do decide to do this, is there a certain brand or type of clippers that would be best? I want to make sure I don't cut too short and do it right.

Thanks!

mugsy · Dec 29, 2005

I think 8 weeks in an acceptable age to clip. I would maybe have someone help you hold them still, I know I can't even clip one without Shorty and Little Pete squirming. Just make sure you only clip the tip. If their nails are clear, you should be able to see the little pink vein that runs inside the nail.. do NOT clip that

Also, I find that using the little scissor looking clippers rather than the guillotine kind is better for little kittens... the guillotine one just seemed too big when I tried it on my boys.

Good Luck!!

tnr1 · Dec 29, 2005

Originally Posted by TaraJason

Hey all,

I'm thinking about just clipping their nails myself but I have a some questions.

Is there a certain age they should be before I do this? They are about 8 weeks old right now and their claws are getting sharp!

Also, if do decide to do this, is there a certain brand or type of clippers that would be best? I want to make sure I don't cut too short and do it right.

Thanks!

Hey Jara....I've clipped my cats nails since they were 8 weeks of age (and they are now 7.5). I buy the nail clippers that you can find in any Petco/Petsmart. My trick has always been to feed them special "nail trimming treats" afterwards.

Katie

luvmysphynx · Dec 29, 2005

I wrap my babies in a blanket and use people nail clippers. I have found that they work better, for me. If you have a vet appontment soon for their shots, have the vet clip a few for you and show you how far down to clip them.

My husband will not clip their nails, he thinks he will hurt them.

mom2salemisis · Dec 29, 2005

Originally Posted by TaraJason

Hey all,

I'm thinking about just clipping their nails myself but I have a some questions.

Is there a certain age they should be before I do this? They are about 8 weeks old right now and their claws are getting sharp!

Also, if do decide to do this, is there a certain brand or type of clippers that would be best? I want to make sure I don't cut too short and do it right.

Thanks!

I wrap salem isis and ailey in a towel with one paw out at a time i pet them and love on them and talk to them and every so often i reach down and snip one of their nails. they usually purr through the whole thing and then they get a treat when im done.

nebula11 · Dec 29, 2005

Originally Posted by TNR1

My trick has always been to feed them special "nail trimming treats" afterwards.

This is really good advice..I do this too....

Also if you dont use a blanket...Make sure to get your cats in a comfortable position before doing it, and then hold them adequetly...don't crush them or anything, but get a good grip....Cats...ecspecially young ones are squirmy....

Good luck though....and once you get it down it'll be second nature...I can dlip all 4 of my cats in 5 minutes flat....

mom2salemisis · Dec 29, 2005

Nebula11 said:
Also if you dont use a blanket...Make sure to get your cats in a comfortable position before doing it, and then hold them adequetly...don't crush them or anything, but get a good grip....Cats...ecspecially young ones are squirmy....
QUOTE]

i cradle mine like babies. i hold them that way alot so they are used to it. they think its snuggle time with meowmy!!! and the purrfest begins lol

yosemite · Dec 30, 2005

We've been clipping since the cats were babies. We would often just loosely hold their paws and lightly rub them so they got used to having their paws handled. We sit them on our lap with their backs to our tummy and gently press on their paws to reveal the claw. We also use human clippers as they seem to work best for us but find using them sideways is best, i.e., not from the top to bottom of the claw but from side to side cutting.

I would also suggest you get someone who has done it before to show you before you do this yourself. Once you start doing it and the kitty gets used to it, you'll be able to do it in just a couple minutes. We do ours about every 10 days or so.

I always talk to them and give extra love afterwards.

smokiethecat · Dec 30, 2005

Make sure you don't cut the quick. There is the clear part and if you look closely you will see a pink part.You don't want to cut the pink part 'cause they will bleed. I use human fingernail cutters and turn them sideways.

sunnicat · Jan 2, 2006

I always started clipping when they were kittens. Usually around 8 weeks, I guess. Just did Luna's last night, because it didn't look as if they'd ever been done. She's a kneader, and it hurt with those sharp little nails!

Personally, I have always used baby nail clippers, just taking the tips off. Cats are much easier than dogs, as far as seeing the quick. Holding them is easier, too. Wrestling my 80 lb. dog is quiet amusing to watch, but she wears me out.

Give me a kitten's nails to clip anytime!

baileynyc · Jan 3, 2006

i did it for the first time yesterday and i found it a lot easier when i wrapped him up in a blanket........w/o the blanket he just kept jupming/running away...........

kitty89 · Jan 3, 2006

When I first started doing my kittens claws, I just asked the vet to show me during one of their appointments for vaccinations. Most vets probably won't mind giving you a quick lesson when you're already there for a visit.

goldenkitty45 · Jan 4, 2006

When I was breeding my rexes, I started nipping the nails on 4 week old kits for them to be used to things.

Until they are a few months old, you can use regular small fingernail clippers on them and just take off the sharp tip - not too far back. Kitten nails grow pretty fast and you may need to check and clip twice a week.

As they grow older and bigger, you can switch to the scissors type of small nail clippers rather then the dog guilotine ones. Check and clip as needed once a week or every other week.

In the meantine, handle your kittens feet as you pet her so she doesn't feel that every time you touch feet means nails get cut. Will solve a lot of future problems in nail clipping if you do this.

I lay the kittens on their backs and do their nails one foot at a time.

Thinking about clipping my cat's nails...

tarajason

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mugsy

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tnr1

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luvmysphynx

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mom2salemisis

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nebula11

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mom2salemisis

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yosemite

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smokiethecat

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sunnicat

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baileynyc

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kitty89

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goldenkitty45

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