Can you cut your cat's claws yourself, like with some fingernail clippers or something?

Question

Sorry if this is completely ridiculous, I don't know

Answer 1

Buy special nail trimming scissors at a pet store. Just be careful not to cut them too short. Make sure you know what you are doing! Talk to your vet or a groomer.

Answer 2

There are pet nail clippers that you can purchase at PetSmart, PetCo, or a local pet store. You have to be very careful when you clip your kitty's claws. This is assuming that your cat will let you get anywhere near his feet. My cat will because he knows there's a treat and a good long run with the laser pointer afterward. Reward good behavior with these kinds of treats.

Grasp the paw gently, and being sure your cat is firmly but gently secured press the toes so that the claws extract. Look closely at the cat's claws and you will see that there is a faint pink line running through the center of the claw. This is a blood vessel, so do your best to stay away from it. If you clip a claw and it does bleed, just press a tissue or q-tip against it until the bleeding stops. Clip just the tips and do it as quickly as you can. The less time it take the less chance you have of getting torn up by an irritated feline. If the fuzzball is too wild while trying to get him to sit still for a claw-clipping, then a monthly trip to the groomers or the vet is in order.

Good luck!

Answer 3

It's possible, but the reason that people have a groomer or the vet do it is usually because of the danger in cutting an animals' nails. If you're lucky, the cat's claws are white, so you can see how high up the blood vessels run (and therefore know how far you can cut them without hurting the poor thing).

Now, maybe you're already very familiar with cats, but if this is your first, or something to that extent, just to let you know, our cats have never gotten their nails trimmed, ever. I'm at my second and third cat at the moment, and their claws just kind of come off (like shedding skin, sort of) at random points during the month -- cutting/trimming their claws has never been necessary, and they're both indoor cats 24/7.

Answer 4

Yes, in theory. However, the kitty might not want you to do it. Assuming you have a mellow kitty, you can clip thise little switchblades at home. It's easiest to have a helper to hold and pet Kitty while you trim.

Here's what you need:
-a cat
-a towel (for snuggling/wrapping Kitty if she gets too wiggly)
-a pair of nail trimmers-- for cats, I like the type that work like scissors and have a curved blade shaped kind of like a parrot's beak. Human clippers are shaped for our flatter nail shape; cat nail clippers work better for a cat's hooked/rounded nails.
-some styptic powder or sticks, in case you cut too close
-lots of patience!

At first, only cut the very tips off the nail and do only one or two nails in a session. Praise and reward the kitty when she lets you do that little bit. Don't restrain Kitty more than necessary-- with cats, the least restraint, the better. Have your helper rub Kitty on the head to calm and distract her while you clip the nails. You'll need one hand to gently press the toe to extend the claw and the other to clip just the white part... and then ONLY the tip at first. As Kitty gets more used to nail trims, you can cut a little shorter and do more claws each time. If (or, WHEN-- we all do it at least once) you accidentally "quick" your kitty's nail, apply some styptic and some firm pressure with a clean gauze for several minutes. The quick will bleed, but your cat WILL NOT bleed to death. He will probably (understandably) be a bit reluctant to have you try again in the near future-- just give it a break and try again in a few days (and watch out for that quick this time!). Be warned-- newly-clipped nails are very sharp, until the kitty has had a few sessions with the scratch post. In a day or so, though, they will smooth up much like ours do after a date with the emery board.

If your kitty just won't cooperate after several tries, your vet, vet tech or groomer can do it for a reasonable price (we charge $10) or show you some tricks to make it easier.

Answer 5

I cut my cats nails (not often enough), have done this since they were babies, I know exactly how each one will react.

I use toe nail clippers and you have to be real careful not to cut too much.

If you look at the claw held up to the light you will see the blood vein - stay away from that, if you accidentally get too close and it starts bleeding there are products on the market to stop the blood, or use spider web (not cob web) to stop the bleeding.

Usually this procedures requires one person holding the cat (sometimes wrapped in a towel), this can cause anxiety to the cat and result in you being clawed, especially if your nervous.

Answer 6

You can. There are claw clippers specifically marketed for cats that you can buy at a pet store that make cleaner cuts. That's the only real difference I've seen other than the price and the shape of the clippers.

Answer 7

Yes, you most absolutely can.
Get yourself an pair of cat nail clippers.
They're pretty cheap, and you can find them at most any pet store.
You want to start by just clipping the tips of the nails until both you and the cat get use to the process.
The sooner you start doing this the better.
With the cat held in your lap, securely, face out (back to you) taking one toe at a time, very gently squeeze the toe and the nail will protrude, exposing it and making it easy to clip.
Be very careful not to cut to much off, because if you do you'll be cutting the "quick".
As you and the cat get more comfortable with the process it will be a snap to do.
You should trim your cats nails every week or two.
If you have a good and trusting relationship with your cat you do not have to wrap it in a towel, or put it through any other sort of trauma.
Don't make a big deal out of the procedure and your cat won't either.
Good luck.

Answer 8

At your local pet store you can buy cat claw clipper. Bewere, though, it will take two people to clips the cats claws. One to hold and one to clip. The cat will probably hate it at first, but if you get into the habit of giving them treats right away afterwards over time they wont mind so much. After 4 years of clipping my cats's claws at home they purr now as they are getting clipped because they know what comes next.

Just be careful not to clip them too low. If the clip the part of their nail that is pink it will hurt the poor kitty and he or she will bleed a bit.

Answer 9

I use to cut my cats claws with regular fingernail clippers but I found it easier and quicker to use special cat clippers. When you cut your kitties claws wrap her in a towel and pet her for a while until she is calm and gently take her paw and spread her nails out. Try to be as quick as possible but make sure you don't cut them too short or else she will bleed and it can be difficult to stop.

Answer 10

Yes, but you should use clippers made for the purpose, not human fingernail trimmers. (I've seen it done but it's an awfully clumsy process.) There are small trimmers for cats & birds available in most pet stores; the small 'scissors' type are best. I don't recommend the 'guillotine' type clippers because when the blade dulls it tends to crush the nail rather than cut it. Have a groomer, veterinarian, or veterinary technician show you how.

Answer 11

They have specially shaped cat claw clippers in the pet section that you can use for your cats. They are angled in a curved shape so that you don't hurt them and so that the claws don't chip.

You have to be careful though to only cut the tips cause there are veins running down into the claws and you don't want to cut these cause they will bleed. You can see the veins though.