Should i clip my cats nails

There are several styles of nail trimmers, including a guillotine type, a scissors cut, and a standard human fingernail clipper. Either the guillotine type or a human fingernail clipper are easiest to use in cats. The scissors-type is used if a toe nail is so long that it is curling in a circle. Long claws can grow into the toepad. Cats have retractile claws so you need to gently squeeze the toe between thumb and forefinger to expose the claw.

Most cats have light colored claws, making it easy to see the blood vessels and nerves that supply the claw as a pink stripe at the base of the nail, which is called a quick. You want to cut the claw to within approximately 2 millimeters of the quick. Light colored claws can be trimmed with one cut on each nail. If the trimmer is placed parallel to the nail cutting from side to side , the nail is crushed and may splinter. The sharper the trimmer, the cleaner the cut.

You can use a nail file to smooth the end of the nail after clipping. When using a guillotine type nail trimmer, the cutting blade outlined in yellow should be facing you, not the cat.

The screws on the trimmer should be facing the cat. The nail should be cut from top to bottom, not side to side. The tip of the nail is placed in the hole in the trimmer and the handles are squeezed to advance the cutting blade through the nail.

When the trimmer is held with the screws toward you, the cutting blade is cutting closer to the quick than if the trimmer is held with the cutting blade toward you. You are less likely to cut into the quick if the cutting blade faces you. But indoor or older cats can be more at risk of getting longer claws.

Pets who have been there for us during the pandemic deserve somewhere to turn when they need life-saving treatment. Your help will save pets' lives. Donate Menu. Get help. Find us. Give pets a fighting chance Pets who have been there for us during the pandemic deserve somewhere to turn when they need life-saving treatment. Place a piece of uncooked spaghetti in the cat nail clippers. Release the pressure and immediately treat your cat.

When your cat is calm and is comfortable with you touching her paws, you can now trim her nails. Several types of cat nail clippers are available.

Organize your supplies: sharp cat nail clippers, a towel and styptic powder if a nail starts to bleed. Place your cat in your lap with her facing away from you and your forearm over her neck. Gently wrap her in the towel if she starts to squirm. Before clipping, position the clippers perpendicular to the nail so you are cutting it from top to bottom; cutting side to side may split the nail.

Cut only the sharp tip of the nail. Do NOT cut the quick! Cutting the quick will be painful and cause bleeding. If you accidentally cut the quick, apply a small amount of styptic powder to quickly stop the bleeding. If your cat continually refuses your attempts to trim her nails, take her to your veterinarian or groomer for a nail trim.

Home News Views.