We all know how sassy cats can be apart from being cute and cuddly, especially if you are a cat owner and thinking about “How to Cut Your Cat’s Nails”, you know how heck of a job that is. But do not worry because I am about to share a quick and easy guide with you that will give your cat a preppy and polished look! (Also, do not give you cute and painful scratches!)
Why Should You Trim Your Cat’s Nails?
Before jumping at ‘how’, let’s talk about ‘why’ you should trim your cat’s nails.
Trimming your cat’s nails is not just healthy, it also prevents them from discomfort. Like humans, cats need their nails trimmed regularly to stay comfortable and prevent them from becoming overgrown. This reduces the chances of your cat getting caught on things like rugs, furniture, or carpets.
Trimmed nails can also avoid accidental scratches you may get during affection playtime with your cat.
Step-by-step guide about “How to Cut Your Cat’s Nails”
Step 1: Tools that you would need
The following are the right tools that you will need for trimming;
- Cat – Clippers: Some special clippers for cutting a cat’s nails help to hold the claw in one place.
- A towel: If your cat is squirmy type, you would need a towel to wrap it up so it would stay still.
- Styptic powder or cornstarch: You can use these in case of some bleeding.
- Tasty treats: Giving treats will have a positive impact!
Step 2: Calm Spot
Before trimming, find a calm and quiet location with no distractions. This will help in keeping your cat relaxed. Make sure to cut the nails when your cat is comfortable and sleepy, especially after a meal.
Step 3: To find the “Quick”
Once you find a calm location, get comfortable with your cat. If it wiggles too much, wrap it in a towel to keep it in one spot.
Be sure to talk to your cat. Words like ‘Good girl!’ or ‘It’s Okay!’ will prove magical if said in the right tone. It will help them to be reassured that everything is okay.
After that comes the identification of the “Quick”. The most important thing is to know what quick is. It’s a part of a cat’s nail containing blood vessels and nerves. This part should be avoided to not cause pain and bleeding to your cat. If you will cut the quick accidentally then apply a styptic powder immediately and apply pressure for a few seconds on the affected nail. If you don’t have styptic powder then use cornstarch or flour instead. But keep in mind that flour or cornstarch will help only to stop the bleeding while styptic powder will act also as a pain killer and help your cat to get relief from pain.
Step 4: The Clipping!
Finally the clipping part. For that gently press on the cat’s paw to extend the claw. After getting a good view of the nail, make a small cut, avoiding the quick. Avoid cutting too much at once. Give your cat some treats in between the processes to reward them.
Additional Tips by Experts
- Start by Practicing
Before you and your cat are used to the process, practice it first by positioning your cat in a relaxed manner while extending one nail at a time and making small cuts in the beginning.
- Stay relaxed
Stay calm, relaxed, and confident throughout the process because your cat’s mood highly depends on your behavior. If you are angry then your cat resists throughout the process and does not help you out to achieve it.
- Least Amount of force
Apply a minimum amount of force throughout the process. Using forceful techniques like holding your cat by the loose skin of the neck will cause anger in your cat. It can cause a trust-breaking situation between you and your cat.
- Rewarding
Reward your cat after the whole process with playful activities and treats that will leave a positive message on your cat.
Winding–up!
Cutting your cat’s nails may seem kind of demanding but they say “Practice makes a man perfect!”
With little practice and patience, you will be hitting it off like a professional after some time.
Just remember to keep your cat relaxed and give them treats and the most important thing is to take it slowly. Go and grab those clippers!
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