Trimming Cat's Nails

Our resident cat expert, Wendy Nan Rees, offers advice on trimming a cat's nails.

We all know dogs need their nails trimmed, but did you know your cat also needs his or her nails trimmed? Do you know how to tell when it is time to trim your cat’s toenails? You could be harming your cat and not even know it.

Take a look at your cat’s nails. Are the nails long? How can you tell? Unlike a dog’s nails, which you might hear clicking on the tile or wood floors of your house, a cat’s nails don’t usually make a clicking noise that you might hear unless you are in a very quiet room. Here are a few good ways to tell if your cat’s nails are too long:

• Are the nails getting caught in your clothes or stockings?
• Can you feel his nails when he is sitting in your lap? This usually feels like your cat has ten needles poking into your skin.
• Do the nails get caught in other things, like blankets?

If the answers to any of these questions are yes, then the nails probably need to be trimmed.

Allowing your cat's nails to become overgrown can be dangerous to your pet. Unclipped nails can turn back on themselves and puncture the pads of your cat's paw. This can cause lameness, and even aggravate arthritis because your cat’s weight isn’t distributed correctly on their paws. Don’t be complacent and count on the yearly vet trip to do the job because your cat's nails will do a lot of growing between trips.

If you believe that your cat won’t be able to defend himself because his nails have been clipped, don’t kid yourself. A little trim won't leave your pet completely defenseless. If you are worried about the cost of going to the vet or groomer more frequently, there is a solution; you can cut your cat’s toenails yourself. I’m here to tell you how.

Get your cat used to having his feet touched. It’s best to train him this way when he is still a kitten, but you can also teach an older cat. You just have to have a bit of patience. You need to be consistent about this because that works the best. The best time to do this is when your cat is relaxed, so evening is a good time. Coax your cat to sit in your lap or nearby and begin training by touching his feet. Have catnip (if over six months old), a toy or a treat on hand. Make it a positive situation for your cat. Use lots of praise, and let him know that something fun is going to happen. Make sure you show your cat the clipper each time you are playing with his feet.

Make sure you buy a nail clipper that is designed with your cat in mind. There are several types available. You can get a clipper that works like a guillotine to cut the nail, or you can get a clipper that looks like scissors, but has a notch on one of the blades for the toenail to sit in. You can even get a nail clipper with a guard on it so you don’t cut off too much nail at one time.

Look closely at your cat’s nails. If they are white or light colored, you will be able to see the vein which is red or pink in color. If the nails are a dark color, it is a bit harder to tell where to clip, but not impossible if you have very good light.

If you are worried about it, and you’re not alone in this, just clip off the very tips of the nails. After a week the vein will begin to recede, and then you can take off the tips again. The vein will keep receding, and you can keep clipping off just the tips each week until the nail is short enough to suit you. This way, the nails won’t keep getting caught in your clothing or the fabrics around the house.

Also make sure to have some kind of styptic powder or pencil around in case you cut too deeply and cause the vein to bleed. There are several brands on the market these days, and you can find them at any pet supply store. The bleeding usually looks worse than it is, and that’s why you have styptic powder on hand to apply to the cut to make it stop. Yes, this does hurt, but it only hurts for a few moments. however, your cat's memory of the incident will last a lot longer, so it's better to be extremely careful so this doesn't happen in the first place.

If you are still worried about how to clip your cat’s nails, have your vet or groomer show you the best method. If you are spending money with the vet or groomer, they should be willing to show you how to do this simple task. There's no sense in making excuses; clipping your cat’s nails is one of the healthiest things you can do for your pet, and it should be a part of every cat's care routine.

“Remember, the animals in your life are not just your pets; they’re your friends” WNR

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