Cuting a cat's claws?

Question

I just adopted a 4 month old kitten and I was wondering if anyone had some tips on how to clip a kitten's claws without getting clawed up? I have tried just picking up his paw and he gets aggressive. Help

Answer 1

Here's a great article I found from the SPCA about how best to clip their claws. Good luck and I hope this helps.
http://www.sfspca.org/behavior/cat_library/catclawclipping.pdf#search='claw%20clipping'

Answer 2

Be sure to use only a claw clipper designed for the job. They're not only safer for kitty, they make the job a lot easier for you. You can get one at a pet store for a few bucks.

Try to approach the job when kitty is in a relaxed mood. Yeah, I know, it might be a few years before a four month old kitten is in a relaxed mood... So at least try to avoid times when kitty is especially frenetic. Start after a cuddle session rather than after a play session.

Don't try to do the whole job at one sitting. If you get one claw done, give kitty a treat, bandage your wounds and feel good that you've accomplished something. Do another claw later, and so forth.

Make an appointment at your vet clinic to bring kitty in and have one of the techs demonstrate how it's done. That will give you a big advantage. The cost of a tech appointment should be minimal and well worth the price.

Before you take on the chore, make sure it's necessary. Not all cats need their claws clipped. Many cats, perhaps most, do a fine job of keeping their claws in shape all by themselves. (Remember, cats were around for hundreds of thousands of years before any human ever thought to adopt one and clip its claws.) Scratching removes the outer sheathes to reveal the fresh, sharper layer beneath. If they do this often enough, as most cats do, the claws won't get so long that they need clipping. My dear departed Scooter only needed his claws clipped in the winter, when he didn't go out and scratch on his favorite fence post. (He didn't have any favorite indoor scratching spots.) My late, great Rusty never had his claws clipped in his whole life. He took good care of them without my help. My Scamper has been with me almost six months and he needed one clip job, but now he's doing more scratching and he might not need regular clippage in the future.

Answer 3

Good luck on that one....about the only thing you can try, short of just having the vet do it, is to touch his paws a little more every day, until he gets used to being touched on his feet and then pick themup and hold them...work your way to picking up his paws and getting the claws out and visible without being attacked and then try trimming again. Any way you look at it, you're probably getting scratched ALOT. You might want to get some leather work gloves to wear when you're trimming his claws, just in case. Only clip the tip, never go into the pink or you're going to hurt him. If you are unsure about how much to trim them just snip off the very end of the claw.

Answer 4

First you have to get the cat used to having its paws touched by petting the paws, touching the paws, and picking up the paws at times when you are just being affectionate with the cat, Once the cat gets used to that you should be able to start trimming. make sure someone shows you how to trim, there is a vein in the claw and you want to make sure not to cut it.

Answer 5

The easiest way is to have someone else hold the cat firmly while you clip the claws. If you have to do it by yourself, wrap the cat in a towel, pulling out one paw at a time to clip.

Answer 6

At this point you may need a second person to help you until your cat gets used to the claw clipping. The second person should hold your kitty down so you can safely proceed. Speak in calming soft tones and reassure him that everything will be OK.
Have a great day and say 'meow' to your kitty from my kitties Figaro and Rosina.

Answer 7

I never de-clawed my kitten and it seems fine now. Whenever I tried with previous cats, I always ended up with very unhappy cats. I would suggest not de-clawing the kitten.

Answer 8

Simple once you get the hang of it; have some treats handy, a blanket and the nail clippers; bundle him up in the blanket, leaving 1 paw out; really quick, clip the tips; give him a treat and go onto the next paw....

Answer 9

Your going to need to get help from someone. Have your help hold the cat's other three paws still while you clip the nails on the paw you have. Make sure to clip the nails sideways, to avoid cracking them and causing unneccesary pain to the cat.

Answer 10

I have issues clipping my cats claws. What I usually do is just bring him in to the groomer once a week. It costs approximately $5 per visit.