Need a trim?
Photo by: Jillallyn
Most cats keep their claws in good shape by themselves. They control the growth either by scratching on a post—or your sofa—or chewing off the outer layer of the claw. Older or less active cats or those with extra toes might neglect their nails though, leading to overgrowth. Sometimes the claw can even puncture the pads on kitty’s paws, as happened recently to my mother’s 14-year-old cat. This condition can be painful and can even lead to infection. To avoid overgrowth—or save your furniture from freshly sharpened claws—it’s important to keep your cat’s claws in good trim.
First, don’t panic. With some patience on your part, your cat will probably learn to tolerate an occasional trim. You’ll want to get some clippers from your local pet store; clippers designed for human nails will only crush kitty’s claws. You might also want to have some styptic powder or a styptic pencil on hand (also available at the pet store) in case you cut too much and need to stop some bleeding.
Choose a quiet time and hold the cat close to your body. Grasp a paw, with kitty’s toe held between your thumb and finger, and squeeze gently to reveal the claw. The pink area at the base of the claw is called the quick. Cutting into the quick will cause bleeding and pain, which you will certainly want to avoid. Try cutting just the tip of the claw at first, well away from the quick. You can cut farther once you’ve had some practice. If you do accidentally cut into the quick, simply remain calm and dip the affected claw into the styptic powder or apply the pencil to stop the bleeding.
Plan on trimming the claws on just one paw at a time at first, and always offer kitty a treat when the pawdicure is finished. Don’t force a complete pawdicure on your cat all at once; you’ll want this to be as pleasant an experience as possible. And if your cat absolutely will not allow you to trim her claws, it’s worth it to have your vet or groomer do it, especially if overgrowth is an issue.
For more info:
Trimming Your Cat's Claws (video)
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