Trimming Your Cat’s Claws

Trimming a cat’s nails, or claws, is a bit different from nail trimming for dogs, but they are chores that both pet owners and their pets dread. It is unfortunate that many times nail trims end with a scratched and bloody owner and a frightened cat.

But don’t give up hope!  It is possible to train both kittens and adult cats to tolerate, and perhaps to even enjoy having their nails clipped.

Cats have retractable claws, and they don’t always appreciate someone applying a bit of gentle pressure to their toes to expose the claws. Also, cats are very sensitive to the energy around them, and if there’s tension or nervousness in the air, their first instinct is to bolt. If a cat who wants to bolt is being held, she may try to claw her way free, and some very determined kitties can be nearly impossible to restrain.

Conditioning Your Cat to Tolerate Nail Trims

Teach Your Kitten to Relax

One method of teaching your kitten to relax is the get her to lie on her back or side. While she is on her back, reward her continually with easily consumed treats (like canned cat food or small pieces of tuna on the end of a spoon.  Put the treats at her face so that she doesn’t have to move to eat the treat. She will learn that lying on her back or side is good because it earns treats. As your kitten gets more comfortable lying on her back, phase out the treats.

Once your kitten enjoys lying on her back, get her used to having her paws and claws handled. Gently and slowly squeeze her paws, offering treats at the same time.  Time the treats right so that when the paws are handled, treats are there for her simultaneously.  Treats should be given continuously at first so the cat is just thinking about food. When paws are not being handled, stop any rewards. This approach builds a clear positive association between paws being handled and good things happening.

Progressively increase how vigorously you handle your kitten’s paws, but only as long as she stays relaxed. Work toward squeezing more vigorously and then try tapping the claws lightly with trimmers, but without trimming.  It is advantageous to have two people participate in the training if possible,one rewarding with treats and the other handling the paws and trimmer.

Teach Your Adult Cat to Relax                           

If your adult cat is already afraid of nail trims, you will need to create a positive association with the nail trimmers. Place the trimmers next to your cat’s food bowl during meals or positioning a saucer of canned food around the clippers. The cat will begin to learn that good things happen when the trimmers are brought out.

Teaching an adult cat to lie on her back is not easy so find an alternate position where your cat is relaxed. Reward your cat for lying down on the floor or for lying down on her side. You will also need to work on getting your cat comfortable with having her paws and claws handled. Offer treats while you lift and hold your cat’s paw.

Clip one nail and offer a treat at the same time. If your cat stays relaxed, then trim the second nail while the cat is eating; if your cat stays relaxed, build up to trimming five nails in one session. It is recommended that the trimming be done with two people, if possible. As with kittens, it’s much simpler for one person to treat and snuggle with the cat while the other trims. If you will be doing the trims without assistance, wait until your cat can stay relaxed while having her paws handled, and then you can reward her with treats after the clipping is done.

The frequency of nail trims depends on the cat. Check her nails every couple of weeks to see if it’s needed. Cats that are outdoors more or use their scratching post regularly may need less frequent trims. Another consideration is the furniture in the home. If you have furniture that is easily scratched when your cat walks over it, you may need to trim more often.

The best time to trim your cat’s claws is when she is relaxed or sleepy. Never try to give a pedicure right after a stressful experience or an energetic round of play.

Let’s Begin!                                  

Gently press paw pad to extend the claw

Your cat should be resting comfortably on your lap, the floor, or a table. Hold her paw in one hand and press one toe pad gently to extend the claw. Notice the pink tissue (the quick) on the inside of the claw. Avoid the quick when you trim the claw, as cutting into it will cause pain and bleeding. When you cut, remove the sharp tip below the quick (away from the toe), clipping about halfway between the end of the quick and the tip of claw. If your cat becomes impatient, take a break and try again later. It is important to remain calm and centered, even if your cat becomes anxious and wants to bolt.  If you can clip only a claw or two a day, eventually you’ll complete the task.

Because cats do little damage with their rear claws and do a good job of keeping them trim themselves by chewing them, many cat owners never clip the rear claws. Check the rear claws periodically to see if they need to be trimmed.

Many people hold the clippers at right angles to the nail, thus cutting across the nail. This tends to make the nail more subject to splitting or fraying. It is better to hold the clippers in a vertical position—that is, up and down, so that the claw is trimmed from bottom to top instead of across the nail. This position will help prevent splitting.

Again, notice the pink tissue (the quick) on the inside of the claw. Avoid the quick when you trim the claw!

If you accidentally clip into the quick, don’t panic. The claw may bleed for a moment, but it will usually stop very quickly. Soothe your cat by speaking softly to her and stroking her head. If the bleeding hasn’t stopped after a minute or so, touch a styptic pencil to the claw end or pat on styptic powder to help stop the bleeding.

How often you need to clip your cat’s claws depends somewhat on how much of the tip you remove, but usually a clipping every ten to fourteen days will suffice. If’ your cat absolutely refuses to allow you to clip her claws, get help from your veterinarian or a professional groomer.

Clip and Stop Method

If you trim your cat’s nails regularly, there’s really no need to do all four paws at once. You can let your kitty set the pace – do a couple of nails, then stop. Do a paw a day if that works out for you and your cat.  If your kitty seems nervous at all, clip one nail at a time.  Clip and stop, and so on until all the nails are trimmed.

If your cat is really stressed or fighting you or your helper (the “cuddler”), take a longer break between paws. You can even wait a day. The goal is to get your pet as comfortable with the procedure as possible, so whatever you can do to reduce his stress and yours is the way to go.

Special claw trimmers (two types are shown) are available from Amazon or pet supply stores. Keep a styptic (astringent) pencil or powder (Kwik Stop) on hand in case you accidentally clip into the quick and bleeding hasn’t stopped within a couple of minutes.

You’ve probably noticed your kitty likes to be in control. It’s in her DNA. So allow her to feel some control during nail trimming with the clip and stop method. This will keep it positive for the cat, and will also reduce the stress of the entire activity of nail trims. Since it’s a procedure you’ll want to do regularly throughout your pet’s life, the more comfortable she is with it, the better.

Although it may seem like a daunting task at first, trimming your cat’s claws regularly is an important part of maintaining your feline companion’s hygiene. Keeping your cat’s claws clipped will also minimize scratches that might be suffered by you, and your furniture.