How to Trim Your Cat's Nails at Home

Cats can make great members of any family. But they need cared for and groomed in order for them have their best life. As a cat parent, trimming your cat’s nails is one of the necessary grooming tasks you have to perform from time to time.

If you absolutely think that you cannot handle it or just don’t want to do it, a vet or a groomer will be happy to do it for you for a small fee. With a little bit of effort and patience, you should be able to easily to trim your cat’s nails without having to leave your home.

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Why You Should Trim Your Cat’s Nails

There are varying opinions about whether you should trim your cat’s claws regularly. Most experts say it may not be necessary, but it may be something you want to do for a couple of reasons.

Clipped nails will be more comfortable for you and your cat. Being scratched or clawed by your cat can be painful and nipping the tips can help reduce the pointiness of the claws.

If your cat is sharpening his claws on things, trimming his claws can help cut back on this. He can also be trained to redirect to acceptable places for clawing. A regular trimming can help keep your claws from getting stuck in furniture or other fabric items that your cat may choose for scratching.

If your cat goes outdoors, you may want to seriously evaluate whether you want to trim your cat’s claws. He may need sharp claws for protection and climbing. Outside activity will keep your cat’s nails “filed” and probably will not be necessary to trim them.

Can I Clip My Cats Claws at Home?

Yes, you can clip your cat’s claws at home. Whether you choose to do it yourself or at all will depend on you and your cat. The process is simple, but some cats may be uncomfortable with the process.

Wanna give clipping your cat’s nails a try? Well, it is not as hard as you think. Check out below how you can have your cat’s nails looking trim and manicured in no time at all.

Getting Ready to Trim Your Cat’s Nails

Getting your cat ready for his nail trimming is a big step. Keeping your cat calm is really important. If he is comfortable, he will be more likely to allow you to trim his nails without incident.

Pick a time when your cat is relaxed for his trimming
Touch and pet his paws along with other favorite petting spots.
Repeat this process for all of his paws
If your cat is not comfortable, let your cat go. You can try again later. Don’t ever for your cat to do anything he is uncomfortable with.
Reinforce your cat’s desired behavior with a treat.

Once your cat is comfortable with you handling his paws, it is time to get ready to clip the nails.

Hold your cat’s paw in the palm of your hand with the bottom of your cat’s paw in your palm.
This action deserves another reward with a special “nail trimming” treat.
Massage your cat’s paws gently top and bottom so he continues to feel at ease.
Make sure to praise and provide treats as your cat accepts the process.

The next step is to make extend your cat’s claws so you can see where to clip. And… your cat has to be comfortable with all of this happening to him.

Apply light pressure to the pad of the paw and so the individual claws will become extended.
Identify the quick of the nail…the pinkish area inside the cat’s nail towards the toe.
The quick contains blood vessels and nerves. Cutting too close to the quick is painful and could cause bleeding.
The goal here is to clip off the sharp point only. Do not cut close to the toe.
The quick is a small pink triangle. It will be similar in all nails even if you cannot see it. Find at least one nail where the quick is visible and use it as a reference point.

You have gotten your cat used to having his paws touched and handled. You have also identified where the quick of the nail is and where you intend to clip the nail. Now it is time to make sure you are positioning your cat in the best way to be able to give him a nail trim.

Your cat needs to be able sit comfortably on your lap with the length of his body parallel to your legs. He has to sit close to and face away from you while you hold his paw.
Practice holding your cat (and getting him comfortable) like this. If you are clipping on your own, your cat will be on your lap facing forward, you will hold the paw with one hand and the clipper with the other hand.
If this is a two-person job, it can be done with one person holding the cat and the other holding the paw and doing the clipping.
Use treats and praise to reward your cat as he allows you to handle his paws and hold him on your lap.

Can I Trim My Cat’s Nails By Myself?

Yes, many people trim their cat’s claws without help. The trick in most cases is spending the time to get your cat used to be handled and having his paws handled for the nail trimming procedure. Here are some tips for being successful at clipping your cat’s claws.

Make sure you pick a good time for nail trimming. Choose a time when your cat is in a calmer mood. After playtime and when your cat is hungry are not ideal times for nail trimming. Put off emergency nail fixes when your cat is not in an ideal mood for having his nails clipped.

Can I Use a Nail Clipper to Trim My Cat’s Nails?

Yes, you can use a nail clipper to trim your cat’s nails. And the good thing about that is most people already have a nail clipper in their home. Let’s talk tools for clipping your cat’s nails.

Scissor clippers, guillotine clippers and human nail clippers are all good choices for clipping your cat’s nails. You may find you have a personal preference, but they all function about the same when it comes to clipping your cat’s nails. Your nail clipping device of choice needs to be sharp. The nail trimming session will go much more quickly and will be easier with a sharp trimming device.

Cat Trimming Tool Tips

Scissor clippers – These are the perfect tool for the “novice” cat nail trimmer. The nails are cut with a scissor motion and are great for trimming the tips. Scissors clippers are available in small and large sizes. The large size is perfect for trimming those tougher senior nails.

Guillotine clippers – This style of clipper has a sliding blade that cuts the nail. The claw is slipped into a slot and the blade comes across the nail clipping it. The guillotine clipper is the perfect solution for clipping long, strong nails. Note that a large scissor clipper works better on overgrown nails.

Styptic pencil – styptic powder is precautionary in case the nail quickly gets cut and bleeds. These pencils are available at most pharmacies. Their function is to cauterize the blood vessels to prevent bleeding. If there is an accidental cut and your cat bleeds, hold the pencil against the claw for a few minutes and the bleeding should stop.

The most important takeaway about clippers is they need to be sharp. They are not that expensive. Take the time to replace them when it is needed. Your cat will thank you. and clipping will be easier for you.

How to Trim Your Cat’s Nails

Trimming your cat’s nails may be easier if you have help. If you are going to do the job with assistance, the other person should be someone your cat is comfortable with. A nail clipping can be a bit stressful and introducing a stranger can add to that stress.

Now that you have your tools and your cat is comfortable with being held and having his paws handled, it is time to get started. Pick a time when your cat is in a good mood and is not hungry.

Get your fur baby and put his bottom on your lap and with his back against you.
Hold your cats paw in one hand and the clipper in the other hand.
To extend the claw, gently squeeze on the top and bottom of your cat’s paw on the joint behind the claw.
Identify where the quick separates from the nail. Make sure you know where the quick is before you clip. If you are new at doing this, clip just the tip until you become more experienced.
Try to cut the nail from bottom to top to prevent the nail from splitting.
Stay calm through the process. This help your cat stay calm as well. If the process becomes frustrating for either of you, take a break. You may only be able to do a few nails a time during your first few sessions.
Treat and praise your cat for a job well done. Give your cat a special treat so he begins to associate the nail trimming with his special treat.

Tips for Trimming Your Cat’s Claws

Cat Claw Maintenance

Most cats do not require regular nail trimming. They keep their nails maintained on their own, but it does not hurt to check them once in a while. If you notice a torn nail, you may want to give it a quick clip so it does not tear further.

Senior cats may require more attention because their nails are thicker. They can sometimes press into the pads and be painful. Keeping a senior cat’s nails groomed is important to your cat’s health and well-being. You do not want them to become overgrown. It can lead to infection and require antibiotics.

Boy, Pixie and Mary’s Story

Pixie, Boy and Mary’s nail clipping story is very simple. Since all 3 cats had a feline wellness plan, they were scheduled for a routine veterinary visit every 6 months.

During their vet visits, the vet tech trimmed their nails as part of the service. It cost me $10 per clipping for this service and I considered it well worth the cost.

Final Thoughts

For most cats, having their nails trimmed will not be necessary. It may be something you choose to do for your cat. If so, you can clip your nails on your own. With practice and patience, the process can become routine for your cat.

Your vet will be more than willing to make nail trimming part of your cat’s routine medical care. Senior cats should have their nails checked on a regular basis to ensure they do not become overgrown and cause your cat problems. Nail trimming is something you can discuss with your vet before deciding if it is right for your you and your cat.