I have a 7 weeks old kitten. His nails are very sharp now. I'd like to know what is the best way to trim his nails and how often I would need to trim them. Please give me as much details as possible, I never had a cat before. Thanks !
2007-08-27 23:36:30 · 10 answers · asked by new kitten owner 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
here is a video:
http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/trimming_claws/index.shtml
2007-08-27 23:50:02 · answer #1 · answered by macleod709 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My first (indoor) cat's claws were trimmed every two weeks; my new kitten gets a trim once a week, and I've never had any problems.
Firstly, make sure he's comfortable with you touching his paws/claws. To check, wait until he's sleepy, and just gently press the pads to extend the claws. If he complains or wriggles a lot, then don't try to go any further - keep trying to accustom him to your touching his paws, giving him lots of praise and treats until he lets you extend his claws without complaining. (Only do this while he's sleepy and calm, or else you may end up bleeding. :) )
Once he's happy with that, you're all set. I use sharp human nail clippers, and just snip off a few millimeters from the tip (which is why I do it so often). You can go a bit further before you hit the pink "quick", but going too far would be very painful, and might get infected, so less is better until you're used to it. I also like to clip as little as possible so that he doesn't get really shocked when he tries to jump up on the bed or the couch and can't hang on, though if your kitten isn't allowed on furniture that may not be a bad thing.
He should get treats afterwards (unless he's still asleep!).
Some people recommend wrapping a cat up in a towel, which acts as a kind of straightjacket. I think it's way better to be patient and wait until he's sleepy, so there's no force involved, and he doesn't associate it with restraint (which most cats hate).
If you don't use very good clippers and/or leave jagged edges, the claw may snag and tear, and you'll find very thin claw-shaped peelings on the floor. This doesn't seem to bother them, but can't be good, so some people recommend that you clip up/down (as if you were cutting your own nails) rather than side/side to avoid this. This only works if you're using specially designed clippers, or just doing the very tips.
It's great that you're starting young; if you get him used to it now, he should be fine. Having said that, once mine's old enough to go outside, I'll probably stop, to make sure he can defend himself properly.
2007-08-28 00:42:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Em.b has it right. If you squeeze the paw so the claws are extended you should easily be able to see a pink line. This is called the quick of the nail, do not cut the nail this far. If you cut into the quick, your kitty wont appreciate it as it will hurt and bleed. I use ordinary human nail clippers on my cat and only snip the very tip from the nail (i might add that she hates the entire process as i don't really do it often enough). If you start young and end the session with a treat, it should go much smoother! Once a month would be all you need. Also make sure you provide a cat scratching post (it will save your furniture).
If you are not sure, get the vet to show you how to do it when you take your kitty in for his vaccination at 8 or 12 weeks.
Best of Luck to you and your new kitty.
2007-08-28 00:18:38 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The easiest way to trim a cat or kitten's claws is to use special scissors that you can buy from a vet. Then you have to gently but firmly hold the kitten, put pressure on the kitten's paw to flex the claws out then cut them. But you have to be really careful when trimming that you don't cut the white part of the nail, as the animal could bleed badly. This is why sometimes if you are unsure you should just take ur kitten to the vet and they can do it for you or show you what to do.
A kittens claws are very sharp, sharper than an older cat, so just trim them when they are long enough to trim, long enough for you not to cut the white part.
2007-08-27 23:43:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Either take it to a vet (which is safer) or if you are going to cut them yourself make sure you only take the very ends off the nail and stay well away from the red part inside the nail. If you cut this then it will cause the kitten a lot of pain as this is cutting into the quick of the nail.
2016-04-02 03:13:37 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use people nail clippers, just take the ends off. if you squeeze the nail to the out position you can see where it turns a pinky color, dont cut that far down..
2007-08-27 23:46:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you want have your cat nail from the vet (but you don't need to cut them)if he lives in a flat doesn't go out so doesn't need them. My lives in a flat but I never cut her nails.
2007-08-27 23:42:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
you hae to watch for the quick in the nail but be very careful. it can hurt the cat if you dont' have the stuff for bleeding. i forget the name but on line carealot. com has it. its best to have vet do it or someone who cuts animals hair.
2007-08-31 16:11:29 · answer #8 · answered by Tsunami 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
leave the nails alone you could hurt him
i let mine play in the back garden as i have a flagged area and it does wear the nails down , do stay with him though he might wander off and get lost
2007-08-27 23:41:12 · answer #9 · answered by Karl 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
DO NOT CUT KITTENS/CATS NAILS! They trim them on their own.
2007-08-27 23:45:52 · answer #10 · answered by Angie 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋