Clipping Cats' Claws Demystified

Part of any prudent grooming practice for your cat, in addition to coat care and brushing teeth, includes trimming claws approximately every two weeks. Not only does keeping those nails short prevent major scratches to the cat servant, but the risk of being stuck on cloth furniture, carpets and draperies diminishes as well. For beginners, it is best to talk with your veterinarian or vet tech, during a routine visit, to teach you how to clip claws, for the safety of both you and your cat. Whether you are starting to groom your cats, brush their teeth or bathe them, all of these elements of cat care need to be initiated slowly and patiently. Starting the process with kittens, of course is much easier, which ensures adaptation to each important aspect of kitty care. Begin the process of claw clipping by gently handling the kitty's paws, pressing gently on the top of the paw with your thumb. The nails will extend. Gently massage the toes until your cat is totally at home being handled in this manner. My cats enjoy foot massages. I use this technique to relax them, and it has paid off. A tasty little treat is always a good idea to reward cooperation. It is wise to purchase the best claw clipper available. There are many available on the market, but I find that the "scissors"-like clipper is easy to handle and remains sharp for a long time. I bought mine from my veterinarian, and I find it very simple to operate. Be very careful not to clip into the area that is pink, which contains the veins that supply blood to the claw. It is an extremely sensitive portion of the claw. If clipped by accident, it is exceedingly painful, and bleeds. If you own a dark colored cat, you may observe their claws are opaque. Clip carefully only the very tip to avoid the vein. If I have mistakenly cut into that area, my cats definitely let me know in no uncertain terms. I keep a styptic pencil handy to stop any bleeding. The new claw care product, Peticure, advertised frequently on TV, is designed to prevent accidents of this type. It is similar to the power emery boards used by nail salons, and claims to be much easier and less anxiety provoking for cat and handler, to use. Read more about it at: http://peticure.com/ Since they were kittens, my cats have had their claws clipped regularly. I hold them on their backs while I gently extend the claw and clip the transparent part. As adults, they are totally accustomed to the process. I always reward them with a favorite treat when clipping is finished. It is amusing to watch them wait for their "paycheck" when the task is completed. Claws grow constantly, and if not trimmed can turn back into the paw pad itself. This may cause discomfort and possible infection for your cat. With regularly scheduled trimming, there is no cause for concern. If your cat is not cooperative and fights you, slowly begin the process again, rewarding the cat promptly for each positive behavior. There is no rule in the cat-grooming book that says you have to complete all the claws at one sitting. Sometimes even getting one claw clipped without issue is a huge step toward gaining your cat's confidence and trust. Remember that most cats have five claws on their front paws and four behind. Some cats are polydactyl, which, of course, means extra claws to trim. Patience and gentle but firm behavior on your part will result in a cat that is easy to handle. Do you have any claw-clipping tips to share? Leave them in the comments below