Can you trim cats claws?

Question

ive had a bunch of cats and i have never seen one that had claws like the one i just got, they are unreal! they stick out all the time! I never had to trim any of my other cats claws(never even thought about it!) but i feel sorry for this one. They get caught in everything.I would never have a cat declawed! i think thats horrible,but would it be okay to trim them? If so what kind of clippers do i use?

Answer 1

Trim them but approach it gently. You want to create a positive association with the nail clipping.

I have trimmed my cats nails since the time they were kittens. It's the best time to start. If you have an adult cat that you just aquired you can do it but it might time some time to get them used to it.

To start with, not all cats like having their paws handled. You should gently start to handle your cats paws. Touch them lightly as if petting and see if he will let you touch the pads. Speak to him gently and assuringly. As he gets comfortable with it he should tolerate it for longer periods. Give him treats during the time you handle his paws so he starts to associate it with good things. You should be able to gently massage his paws and extend the claws while holding him stead before you try to clip.

Once he lets you fully handle his paws and extend the nails, start with the first nail. You should absolutely have a cat nail trimmer as human nail trimmers tend to split or splinter cats nails and this can cause them pain later on and also stuff will get caught in the split nail. You can get trimmers at a vets office or at walmart or a pet supply store. They cost less than ten dollars.

Begin by extending one claw. You should by now have tried to see where the quick starts - the blood vessels in the nail. Make sure you leave some room between the quick and where you cut or else it will really hurt him and it will bleed and then you will have to regain his trust yet again. Cut the claw enough to take off the hook at least. If he is still relaxed then go for another one. As many as he will let you before he gets restless and tries to get away. Then immediately reward him with a treat.

Wait until he is relaxed again and then do a couple more. Eventually you will be able to do a paw at a time. I have also trimmed my kittens back claws as well since his unusually sharp claws were damaging surfaces in the house as well as our skin.

You will need to check their claws once a week and re-trim as often as needed.

Good luck.

Answer 2

Hi there, I have had a few cats over the years and have trimmed their nails. I don't believe in declawing either, that's horrendous. They do sell cat clippers in pet stores, walmart and the like. I would get a smallish pair not a pair for dogs. I'll be honest with you I use toe nail clippers on my cat. I sit down on my couch or bed (crosslegged) wrap my cat in my comforter and only have the paw I'm working on out. Hold the paw with your thumb on the top so that you can squeeze the nails out to clip. Don't cut too far down, you'll see the skin and know where to stop. The dew claws on the front feet are tricky but if not done could curl up into the paw. If you can have another person help you. Talk soothingly to your cat and have a treat when done. You may not be able to do all paws but try to and try to do it quick. They're such little biters lol Sorry for writing so much just want to help. I have also done drive by clippings when he's laying in a box with his paws over the side. Don't think he likes being on his back too much. Hope some of this helps.

Answer 3

They just snipped off the sharp tip, and soon your cat will be climbing without any problems. Claws are always growing. Often, the vet is able to snip off more then I would do, but since my vet doesn't ever do that for free, I never have my vet to it. And most of my cats never get a trim anyway, unless they decide to lay on my lap and then start to knead me with their claws out. Then it is done for self protection. You can get a special clippers (around $5) that you can use to take off just the sharp tip of the claws. A lot depends whether they control their claws while they are walking all over you. While I don't know how long it will take exactly, it won't be long. Maybe a week or so, depending on how short he snipped them. My cats can still climb even if I give them a trim, since I don't remove much.

Answer 4

I have 5 cats of different breeds and I clip their claws all the time. There are different types of clippers you can use. I personally like the ones made for cats that look like a scissors. If I can't locate my clipper I use my nail clipper but I am very careful to only nip the tips of the nail. Cats claws are very easy to do because they are light colored and you can see where the vein stops. I hold my cats in my lap lying on their backs and press the toe so the nail is exposed and gently snip the nail. I do this to all the nails including the back ones. My cats are all indoor cats and I don't want them scratching on my furniture. They are all pretty good about having it done and tolerate me doing it. If you are a little unsure of what you are doing, a lot of pet stores with grooming facilities will trim your cats nails for a cheap price. Practice makes perfect and you will be able to do all the nails in short time.

Answer 5

Yes you can, My sickly cat Lola is a lazy git and i am forever trimming her claws, i would suggest getting cat nail clippers from your local vet / pet store (they are relativley cheap, just under £4)

If you are worried you will cut too far ask at your your vet if they would show you how, on your cat. Ask if they could do it for a "fixed fee" like a fiver etc so you don't have to pay a full consultation fee.
I always ask the veterinary nurses at reception as i think it's a sort of perk of the job, like a cabbies tip lol

Answer 6

Yes you can trim the claws. Got to a pet store near you and ask for the nails clippers for cats.

Answer 7

You can trim your kitty's claws: There are special clippers to do that. But it's a tricky business because the quick is down in the claw too. You might want a groomer to look at this feline.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Make sure to get pet clippers. There are ones that close into a circle, and ones that are called guillotine. You just trim one nail at a time. You don't want to go up too far as this can run into a vein. To start it's better to err on the side of caution and cut just a little. The hardest part is holding your cat still while holding her paws. And make sure to reward her for putting up with it.

Answer 9

cats claws should always be trimmed regularly to keep their feet healthy. Call your vet and see if they have nail trimming services. My vet will trim cat or dog nails for $12.00. Your vet should also be able to recomend a good clipper. If your vet does not offer this service, find a groomer in your area and ask what they recomend. They may also offer a nail clipping service at a reasonable price.

Answer 10

You can trim your cats claws. They make special nail clippers you can buy at Wal-mart or any pet store for pretty cheap. Make sure not to cut into the pink area (called the quick) and you should be fine. We keep both of our cats nails trimmed.