I think it is safe to say that clipping nails isn't Lilly's most favorite activity. But it is a necessary evil in maintaining her health and well-being. We at Lilly's Kitty Lounge thought we would use Kitty Woe Wednesday to explain how to clip your cats prized jewels, their claws!
Lilly's Cousin Romeo will be making a guest appearance in order to share a few pictures...
Cutting your kitties claws, although not the most fun experience, is very important for your cat. If left uncut they can start to break and grow circular back into the paw which can cause pain to the cat. Kitty friends, don't panic! Clipping nails seems difficult at first but soon it will become second nature!
If in doubt, never hesitate to ask your vet for help. They are the experts on all things cat so feel free to turn to them for advice!
Clipping your cats nails takes preparation. You need to be in a calm environment where your cat does not feel stressed. In addition, you want to be somewhere that is well lit so you can see the claws clearly.Before undertaking your first clipping, take some time to get to know your kitties paws. It is best to get your cat used to you handling their paws, preferably from a young age. Sometime when they are in a stress-free situation, try touching their paws and pushing GENTLY on the paw pad to make their nails come out. Take it slow. It depends on the cat how well they are going to take this. Try not to push them and just be patient. It is never too late to learn! We got Romeo when he was 6 months old and Lilly was adopted when she was about 3 years old. They both tolerate nail clippings well!
It is important to pay attention to the nail. If you look closely at it you will notice there is a pink part. This is called the quick. It is sensitive and will hurt if you cut it. It will also cause the nail to bleed. You want to stay away from this. I tend to err on the side of caution and never cut too closely to the quick. You can always go back and trim again if need be. Better to do that then accidentally hit the quick.
Once you are familiar with your cats paws and claws, you can go ahead and attempt to give them a trim. You can get nail clippers from any pet store. They are relatively cheap and good to have as they are made specifically for cats unique claws.
Many people also suggest that you have some styptic powder on hand in case you do cut into the quick. This will quickly stop the bleeding. Again, I tend to err on the side of caution and just stay a good amount away from the quick. You can always go back and clip. You don't want to hit that quick because not only will it be painful but it can be quite traumatic for the cat.
Take your time. If you can't get all the nails cut at once, that's okay! You can always come back to it later. The more you pay attention to your cats cues and whether or not they are comfortable the more they will trust you. As you build up trust it will become easier to carry out these routine activities with your best pal.
Are you more of a visual person? Here are some great YouTube videos on how to clip cat nails!
Cat Henstridge the PetStreet Vet, gives an excellent explanation.
Dr. Christianne Schelling and Charlie the cat also do a great job!
Although clipping cats nails can seem complicated at first, you will soon find that it becomes just like any other routine activity! Hope this helps! Happy Wednesday!
Helpful Links on Cat Claw Clipping
http://www.catscratching.com/htmls/article.htm
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/cat_claws.aspx