You can find out that your domestic fluffy, or not very pet claws have grown, if she began to cling to interior items with them, leave puffs on upholstered furniture, wake you up at night by diligently scratching something in your bedroom, or simply leave scratches on your skin. Yard cats practically do not face such a problem, since they move a lot in space and grind their claws in natural conditions. What should domestic cats do? Is it possible to cut their claws and how to do it correctly? We have tried to give comprehensive answers to all these questions in this article.

Can you trim a cat's claws?. Trimming the nails of a domestic cat is a necessary procedure for maintaining the health and well-being of the animal. Here is a list of reasons why you should trim your nails.

1. Long claws can cling to home furnishings and, when a cat tries to free itself, damage to tear or completely tear out the claw.
   
2. Long sharp claws will quickly damage objects and furniture that your pet usually plays with, as well as become a serious weapon if the cat does not like other living creatures in your house for some reason.
   
3. Claws are made of a special substance called keratin that grows continuously. It also consists of human nails, which we cut ourselves regularly.
4. Be sure to trim the claws on the so-called profit (fifth) toes of the front paws. They do not wear out on their own in cats and can grow in a circle and cut into the paw pad, causing pain to the cat.
   
5. Even if your cat is accustomed to a scratching post, then when she pulls her claws, they do not grind down, but, on the contrary, sharpen more.
   
6. This is much more humane than an onychectomy, an operation to completely remove the cat's claws under anesthesia, which causes irreparable damage to the cat's health. Due to the nature of the operation, part of the phalanx is removed from each finger, which will reduce the area of ​​​​the animal’s support, force it to learn to walk again, increase the load on the musculoskeletal system, and can lead to the fact that the cat will feel defective and turn into shy, withdrawn and unreasonably aggressive animal.
   

Therefore, it is necessary to accustom the animal to cutting its claws from an early age. This is monitored by breeders and, when transferring their pet to you, they must give their recommendations on how to properly trim the cat's claws. If for some reason they didn't, or if you were so enamored with your purchase that you forgot these tips, don't despair. There is nothing complicated in this procedure.

How to trim your cat's nails.
You need to prepare a little for this procedure. You will need:

• tweezers, or special nail cutters (trimmers);
  
• cotton pads and tonic to remove dirt from the claws, if any;
  
• something tasty to appease;
  
• towel;
  
• hemostatic agent.
  

Most cats and cats do not like the procedure of cutting their claws. Temperaments and characters are different in all and in accordance with them they will react to your manipulations. Therefore, it is advisable to carry out this procedure together, so that one person fixes the tail in his lap, and the other works with tweezers. The most violent ones can be wrapped in a towel or a small blanket, leaving a pair of processed paws free.
Care must be taken to ensure that there is sufficient lighting that will allow you to clearly see where the pink pulp passes in the claw and not damage it during the cutting process.

The frequency of repetition of the following pruning is individual, but on average it is 3-4 weeks.
Be sure to praise your cat at the end of the whole action, that she was able to endure with honor an unpleasant procedure for herself.

When a cat enters the house, along with it comes the accompanying dilemmas about caring for the claws. The most tangible problem of cat owners is torn wallpapers, sofas, beds, all kinds of carpets and wardrobes, endless scratches when trying to play with a pet.

This article details how to accurately cut the claws of an animal at home without harming yourself and your furry friend. At what age can a kitten's nails be cut and how to choose the right clipping tool.

Why you need to trim your nails

Under natural conditions, the claws are constantly worn down on hard soil, tree bark, during hunting and games. But living in comfort and safety, pets are less active, and there are scratching posts among the available means for shortening a manicure. Some pets simply ignore scratching posts and unconsciously doom themselves to constant discomfort.

There is another category of cats that definitely need to cut their sharp claws - these are overly aggressive, especially towards children, pets who love to scratch their legs and hands. Although in this case it is better to use silicone, because the sharp and uneven edges of a recently trimmed claw can cause unpleasant scratches.

When is the best time to trim nails?

For such an important procedure, you need to use the right moment - when the cat is sleepy or just calm. If the pet clearly expresses its dissatisfaction - it bites, breaks out, scratches, then you need to calm it down by stroking it. Be sure to praise the cat, even a naughty one.

There are harmful cats and cats that do not get used to the process of cutting their claws, no matter how hard you try. In this case, you can wrap the pest in a blanket and pull out each foot in turn.

The main thing is for the pet to understand that there is nothing wrong with the procedure, and at the end he can get some nice bonus in the form of a treat. If you start trimming the claws without reassuring the pet, you risk greatly shaking his trust in you.

To develop loyalty to the procedure, we advise you to start trimming the claws of kittens from 3-4 months of age, when the baby becomes more active and playful. The emergence of a good habit at an early age eliminates most of the difficulties in this matter.

Here's what not to do:

• Scold and scream- this will cause even more fears in the pet, and cutting the claws in the future will be extremely difficult.
• Trying to catch a cat around the house while playing- the cat will respond to this with aggression, misunderstanding and indignation.
• "Wring" the cat forcibly - Don't hurt her by trying to get your way.

How often should nails be trimmed

The number of procedures for cutting the claws varies, and this is not surprising - the characteristics of the body of each cat are individual. It is enough for one cat to cut its claws once a month, for another it will be necessary to repeat the treatment three or even four times. Focus on how the claws grow. If the cat is accustomed to the scratching post, then it will naturally partially grind down its claws, which will prolong the effect of clipping. And if you have not yet managed to develop such a useful habit, you can read our effective

As a rule, the more often you trim your nails, the better, even if you cut a little bit. Trimming the nails too infrequently, subject to slow growth, the cat has time to wean from the necessary procedure, and you will have to re-train it.

Nail care is especially important for cats attending exhibitions. For them, nail clipping is not only a hygienic procedure, but also a cosmetic one, since all show animals must not only be healthy, but must also look perfect.

What you need to trim nails

To cut the cat's claws, you need to choose the tool that is most convenient for you, so that it removes the excess quickly and painlessly for the pet itself. You can buy several types of tools to understand exactly which one you intend to use in the future. Since the cat has as many as 18 fingers, you can try each type in action.

There are several variations of devices:

• Nail scissors- The scissors you use to cut your nails can only be used for the delicate claws of a teenage kitten. For an adult cat, it is better to have a separate tool, designed taking into account the anatomy of the structure of the claw.
• Manicure pliers- Convenient for removing the tips of the claws.
• Blister, nail cutter(specialized scissors designed for cats) - affordable tool, easy to use.
• Guillon trimmer- this tool will cope with the thick claws of the hind legs, the disadvantage of using it is that it is hard to see which part of the claw will be cut off.

You can choose what you feel more comfortable with, however, it is preferable to use a blister or guillon trimmer, because these tools are specially selected for a thick cat's claw.

Additionally, for a comfortable trimming of the nails, you may need:

• piece of cotton wool or cotton pad;
• hydrogen peroxide;
• hard file for manicure;
• wool clipper (if the cat is too fluffy, this will help to remove the hair between the fingers).

Nail clipping technique step by step

If you ignore this topic, the owner of the cat risks being scratched, and the cat itself is injured. Having prepared all the necessary tools and comforting the cat, proceed to the process of trimming the claws. First of all, we must not forget about personal hygiene and protect ourselves and the cat from infection in case something does not go according to plan.

Carefully study the technology of cutting claws and processing tools:

• Be sure to wash your hands with soap and disinfect the nail cutter.
• For the procedure, it is advisable to choose a place with good lighting or prepare a lamp in order to clearly see the living part of the claw - these are nerve endings and capillaries that are visible through the light, they cannot be touched. Here you need to be more careful.
• Take the cat in your arms, seat it comfortably for the procedure, but at the same time, so that the cat does not experience any inconvenience. All this time it is better to stroke him, talk in an affectionate and calm voice.
• Carefully, but very confidently (not to be confused with force), hold your pet's paw so that if he decides to suddenly break out, you do not cut the pad with a tool.

IMPORTANT! Watch how hard you hold the paw while cutting the claws, because if the cat pulls hard on it, then you can accidentally injure him.

Useful video

Video on how to properly trim a cat's claws:

If you accidentally cut the live part of the claw or the skin on the pad, then the main thing here is not to panic. With a small amount of blood coming out, just gently treat the bleeding claw or wound with hydrogen peroxide and calm the offended pet.

If, without following the pet, he unsuccessfully twitched and the bleeding from the wound is abnormally strong, urgently clamp the cut with a clean piece of cloth and take the cat to the veterinarian.

What to do if the cat resists

If the cat does not allow cutting its claws, you can try to accustom it to this procedure gradually, the main thing is to be patient.

Try a few simple tricks:

• If the cat's patience is not enough for a long time - start small. To get started: cut two claws and release the pet, not forgetting to praise. Then cut off more, and increase the number of fingers until you have processed all the paws.
• Wait until the cat has the desire to resist, when she ate and she tends to sleep.
• Try cutting your claws while the cat is sleeping.
• If the cat becomes stressed due to the procedure, you can try to give him sedatives on natural herbs, for example - "Cat-bayun".
• If you catch a kitten when he is in a playful mood, it is worth postponing the cutting of the claws for a time when the cat becomes less excited.

We hope that our article will help you develop an effective strategy for trimming your pet's claws. If the cat does not let you with scissors to its manicure in any way or has an aggressive character, then we advise you to read our article about (harmless to the pet's body and which have become a solution for responsible owners). Share in the comments with us and readers: what tricks do you practice when trimming your cats claws?

Any experienced cat or cat owner knows that nail clipping is one of the essential components of raising a pet. Many owners of furry pets believe that trimming their claws is not necessary. This opinion is partly true if the animal lives in a private house and often walks in the yard, moves a lot, crawls through trees and has the opportunity to sharpen its claws in every possible way in a natural way.

However, if you live in an apartment, then your pet most likely does not have this option. Domestic cats move less, and from the possible ways to sharpen their claws, only upholstered furniture, rugs or carpets can be distinguished. Of course, this method is ineffective, in addition, interior items unsuitable for this may suffer. That is why Should you trim your nails regularly? to your pet. Is it possible to cut the nails of a kitten at home?

Why is it necessary to trim a cat's nails?

The regrown claws of the cat begin to exfoliate, the pet can accidentally scratch their owners with them, cling to carpets and spoil upholstered furniture. To prevent this, you need to know how to properly trim your pet's nails. This the job does not require specific skills so you can easily cut your hair at home. However, trimming the cat's nails is necessary according to some rules. From this article you will learn:

• how to properly trim your pet's nails;
• nail clipping sequence.

Preparing for nail clipping

To properly and painlessly trim your pet's nails, you must have the following:

• special cutters;
• nail file;
• alcohol for processing tools;
• if necessary, a treat to calm the animal;
• hydrogen peroxide and cotton wool in case you accidentally injure your pet.

In order to properly and without harm trim the nails of your pet, whether it be a kitten or an adult cat, you need to stock up on a special device. It is quite difficult to work with ordinary scissors, it is better purchase special pliers for this purpose in the veterinary department. They are called guillotine and will help you quickly and easily cut the claws of the animal. In addition to nippers, you can get a nail file in order to be able to sharpen the sharp edges of the claws.

Immediately before the haircut, you must thoroughly wash your hands and treat all nail trimming tools with alcohol. Pick up your pet, stroke and soothe. It is not necessary to carry out a haircut if the cat is not set up for the procedure, has played out or something is bothering him.

Nail clipping process

If you are worried about the question “Will the kitten experience discomfort during the haircut?”, Calm down - if everything is done correctly, your pet will not feel anything. In the process of cutting, it is necessary to carefully monitor that the nerve endings and blood vessels of the animal are not affected. In order not to harm the cat, you should not cut the nails too short, since the vessels are located at their base. If a cat has transparent claws that do not have pigmentation, you can easily understand how long they can be trimmed - by darkening closer to the base of the claw.

If the claws of the animal are dark, it will be difficult to understand how long the vessels are located. In this case, you can simply cut off the excess regrown part of the claw.

It is necessary to carry out a haircut in a calm environment, turning off all electrical appliances that make a loud sound. Also don't yell at the cat in the process of trimming the nails, loud sounds can frighten the animal and in the future all haircuts will take place with even greater difficulty.

If you have a calm pet, you can handle it easily and quickly. But, most cats do not tolerate grooming claws - they break out and scratch. In such a situation, it is better to ask someone to help you. Let the assistant hold the animal and its paw, and you carefully trim its claws. Subsequently, the animal can get used to such a procedure and will endure it much more calmly.

After everything went well be sure to praise your pet, stroke and caress her - after all, cutting nails, especially the first one, is stressful for the animal. You can please a cat with a treat, a haircut should be associated with a cat with something pleasant, not painful.

If a misfire did occur and you accidentally injured the base of the nail, do not worry. As a rule, in this case, blood should bleed from the wound, treat it with hydrogen peroxide. The claw will still bleed for a while, but the bleeding should stop fairly quickly.

Trim your kitten's nails regularly, about a couple of times a month. Although the frequency of procedures can be reduced by buying him a special device - a scratching post. Thanks to it, you will save all valuable interior items, and your pet will thus satisfy the natural need.

If you still can’t cut your kitten’s nails, you can contact a veterinary clinic. An experienced specialist will clearly show how to cut the cat's claws so as not to harm the animal.

We hope our article on how to cut a cat's claws could help.

Communication with a cat brings a lot of pleasant moments to the owner. But sometimes wayward domestic friends are able to show their sharp claws, and in the literal sense of the word, and even then a person will be unhappy. Not only do cats leave scratches on the owner's body and holes in clothes, they also strive to ruin furniture, wallpaper, and magazines. In addition, other animals living in the house can suffer from the claws of mustachioed pets: dogs, rodents, parrots. But it is possible to disarm a domestic scratch-scratch. To do this, you need to learn how to properly cut the cat's claws.

When do cats not need nail clipping?

Nail clipping is relevant for those pets who do not go out at all, or go out for a very short time. Street purrs are better in this sense: long claws grind down on tree bark, wooden fences. It is very dangerous to shortly cut the claws of a street cat, because for her it is a kind of protection against random enemies: strange dogs, unfriendly people, other cats. With the help of long sharp claws, the animal can not only hurt its opponent, but also save its own life by climbing a tree.

Nail clipping is also undesirable for very young pets under 4 weeks of age. The procedure should not be carried out often for older animals, whose motor activity is minimal due to age. In all other cases, the removal of part of the stratum corneum on the phalanges of cat fingers is considered safe.

At what age should a cat's nails be trimmed?

You can teach a baby kitten to a haircut after 1 month of life. Let's warn the question of the owners: "Is it possible to cut the claws of a cat at such a young age?". It is possible and necessary! After all, the sooner a pet learns to use a nail cutter or scissors, the faster and more painless the process of cutting in maturity will be. But it is necessary for the owner himself to unequivocally determine at what age a cat's claws can be removed by circumcision. And if the cat is too weak by 4 weeks of life, it is better to refuse the procedure for a while.

It makes no sense to carry out the procedure before 1 month. Firstly, the claws of newborn kittens are still too tender, unable to hurt either the mother cat or the person. Secondly, kittens younger than 1 month old are not yet so mobile and spend most of their time on a cozy bed, drinking mother's milk and dreaming. Thirdly, the baby can easily damage the blood vessels that are in the thickness of a small claw.

If for some reason an adult cat has appeared in the house, you can accustom it to a haircut. The truth with a mature individual will be a little more complicated (the cat can break out, hide, bite or scratch the owner).

How often should the procedure be performed?

A person can easily determine when to cut their own nails, but how often should a cat cut its nails? For pets sitting at home, the claws on the front paws are trimmed twice a month, on the hind legs - once a month. But claws grow in all animals at different rates, so it is advisable to determine the time of haircut after examining the cat's "manicure" and "pedicure". In addition, sometimes the haircut procedure may be required less than a few times a month, if, for example, the pet sometimes sharpens its claws on trees or a scratching post.

What to have ready before a haircut?

The main accessory for a cat manicure is a nail cutter. By the way, many owners prefer to cut the cat's claws at home with ordinary scissors, but it is still more convenient to use a nail cutter. This tool can be purchased online or at a pet supply retail store. The following types of tools are available for sale:

• Nail clippers- look like ordinary "human" scissors, but their blades are not straight, but curved at the ends. It is required to insert a claw into a kind of hole, and then close the rings - the cat's nail will be removed without difficulty;
• Guillotine nail cutters- a tool that works on the principle of an ominous mechanism for cutting off heads. The cat's claw is inserted into a special hole, and the blade, lowered with the help of the handles of the claw cutter, removes the regrown part of the claw;
• Nail cutters- in appearance they represent the tool of the locksmith of the same name. The claw is inserted into the crevice between the cutting edges of the nail cutter, and the handles actuate the tool, causing the claw to bounce off the sharp blades;
• Nail grinders- devices consisting of a handle and a rotating tip covered with emery. They operate on batteries. During the grinder, the claw is not cut off, but grinded. Typically, such a nail cutter is used in grooming salons, and mechanical tools are used for home trimming.

In addition to the nail cutter, the owner may need a regular nail file to make the edge of the trimmed claw smooth. Be sure to have clean cotton wool and hydrogen peroxide on hand (in case the vessel in the claw is damaged), as well as a small amount of alcohol (to disinfect the sharp part of the nail cutter). In addition, if you plan to trim the claws of an aggressive cat, you should keep a towel or diaper ready to fix the paws of a willful pet.

How to properly trim cats claws?

Before the “X” hour, it is advisable to take the cat in your arms, stroke it (including its paws), making sure that you are in a good mood. If there is no experience in cutting, you should carefully examine the cat's nail: it is unacceptable to cut off the red stripe-pulp with vessels and nerve endings, otherwise the animal will be hurt. But the bent transparent and light part of the claw will have to be removed. If the pet's claws are dark in color, you will have to act almost at random, because the pulp is practically invisible. It will take no more than 1.5-3 mm to cut (depending on the age of the cat). So, to trim your pet's claws as painlessly as possible, you need:

1. Take care of the hygiene of hands and tools;
2. Calm down, talk to the cat quietly and calmly;
3. Put the purr on your hands, taking the tool (nail cutter) in your working hand;
4. Grasp the cat's paw with your free hand, pressing on the fingertips so that the claws extend to their full length;
5. Holding the nail cutter perpendicular to the nail, cut off its curved tip without affecting the vessels;
6. If necessary, file the claw with a nail file;
7. Trim the claws on all the fingers of the cat;
8. If the pulp is injured, treat it with hydrogen peroxide;
9. Praise a patient friend with a treat.

An alternative to home nail trimming

How to trim a cat's claws at home, we found out. But, unfortunately, not every owner can handle such an easy task if:

• The cat does not allow a haircut;
• The claws are black, therefore the pulp is not visible;
• After the procedure, the pet cannot recover for a long time, experiencing stress.

What to do if the owner with a claw cutter in his hands has failed, and the clawed pet is hiding under the bed? In some cases, you can do without a haircut. Consider alternative methods of grinding and trimming claws to home manipulations:

1. Using a claw point. Sometimes owners try to help homebody cats by purchasing a scratching post. But not all pets like to use it, preferring the owner's sofa as an object for sharpening. However, if you teach a cat to grind claws from an early age, then there should be no problems. The simplest scratching post can be purchased at a price of 300 rubles;
2. Groomer visit. In some cases, it is easier to pay a professional than to persuade an obstinate pet to remove its claws with scissors or a nail cutter. In the capital's salons, they ask for a service from 300-500 rubles, in Russia prices are lower - from 150 rubles. The cost of trimming is doubled if the cat is acting hostile. By the way, if the owner orders a range of services (bathing, haircut, combing), then in some salons the nails can be trimmed for free;
3. Purchase of anti-scratch caps. Those owners who doubt whether it is necessary to cut the cat's claws should think about special silicone nozzles. They are attached to the claw with glue (comes with anti-scratches) and last for at least a month. Such products are selected based on the dimensions of the pet: XS - for animals weighing less than 2.5 kg; S - for miniature individuals weighing up to 4 kg; M - for medium cats weighing up to 6 kg; L is for healthy cats like Maine Coons. The cost of packing anti-scratches (20 pieces plus a tube of glue) starts from 200 rubles. If the procedure for gluing the caps will be done by the groomer, you will need to pay another 500-800 rubles;
4. Onychectomy. The worst decision is to deprive a cat of its claws. However, such operations are carried out in veterinary clinics. If the owner is still interested in the question of how much it costs to remove the cat's claws, then the amount can reach up to 5,000 rubles. But such a surgical intervention has a lot of disadvantages:
   • To remove the claw phalanx, anesthesia is administered (which is very unsafe for health);
   • At home, you will need to process the seams on the paws (you can easily bring an infection);
   • The cat will have to wear a special collar for a week (or more) so as not to damage the seams;
   • After the operation, the animal may have problems with coordination of movements;
   • An "unarmed" cat experiences severe stress: it becomes withdrawn, apathetic, sometimes aggressive;
   • Finally, it is simply inhumane, as if a person were to have the phalanges on all 20 fingers amputated at the same time.

Many cat owners often wonder if their pet's nails need to be trimmed. At home, pets live in special conditions - they move on the floor and carpet, which gently act on their paws. Scratching posts are also not as effective compared to natural conditions.

Is it possible to cut the claws of a cat

Often the procedure for cutting the claws of a pet becomes a necessity. This should be done taking into account the fact that in cities cats often do not walk on the street, and growing claws have nothing to wear down. The side claw on the front paws can grow in and cause severe pain.

The condition of the nails also depends on the breed of the animal. Sphinxes, Persians are more likely to face the described problems. Persians are prone to overgrowth and detachment of the horny part of the claw if the food lacks vitamins B and D.

Their nails need to be clipped periodically. They also often form tangles of wool between their toes, which are recommended to be removed.

Over time, all cats can develop abnormalities.

Important!

It is important to trim Scottish Fold cats. If they get caught, they can get a serious injury to the horn process. This breed is characterized by playfulness and therefore can easily get hurt.

Should you cut your cat's nails?

If a cat spoils furniture, does not want to use a scratch, shows aggression towards people, or her claws grow incorrectly (this happens quite often), then it is better to trim them.

Sometimes, even during games with the owner, the cat cannot control dangerous weapons, clinging to surrounding objects and injuring a person, risking injury to himself at the same time.

If there are several cats in the house, they constantly rush about, fight, injuring each other, you should trim their claws.

Reference!

Many do not immediately notice that the claws of the animal grow into the pads of the paws, and therefore blood can remain on surfaces throughout the house. In such a situation, trimming is required.

claw anatomy

The cat's claw is a complex system consisting of muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. This allows the animal to release it and hide it again.

The visible part of the claw consists of 2 parts: the cornea and pulp - the living part with blood vessels and nerve endings. You can cut off only the upper cornea, it is strictly forbidden to touch the pulp. To do this, it is enough to remove only 2 mm of the tip of the claw.

Periodically, the old layer in the form of a case is removed from the claws. The fifth claw on the front paws is located on the back side and never grinds down. Over time, it can curl up and grow into the skin.

Important!

The length should be checked regularly - on the hind legs it is less than on the front.

When should you cut?

When a pet lives in a house and does not go out, it does not need protection. He has everything for a comfortable life - housing, food, water, attention. In this regard, the most dangerous weapon of a cat is often used for other purposes, causing harm.

A strongly overgrown claw bends and hurts the fingertips when the cat walks. Breeders are advised to introduce kittens to wire cutters from childhood, then there will be no problems in the future.

If the cat is an adult, and the nails need to be trimmed for the first time, you need to be patient to accustom him to grooming. Regular pruning does not require complex skills and it is quite possible to do the procedure yourself at home.

Anomalies: exfoliation, bifurcation of the claw

When there are no violations in the pet's diet and the claws are trimmed when necessary, a scratching post is placed in the house, but the claws continue to exfoliate or bifurcate - this is a reason to worry about the health of the animal. If the cat periodically limps and does not allow to touch the paws, this indicates a lesion.

In case of injury, improper pruning, an infection can penetrate the soft tissues. This inflammation is called paronychia, and with the formation of suppuration - pionychia. In this situation, the most correct decision is to visit a veterinarian in order to:

• pet testing;
• making an accurate diagnosis and prescribing treatment.

Often, with an infectious lesion, a course of antibiotics is needed, or even an operation - opening and draining an infected wound, removing a claw.

Another reason for splitting nails is their abnormal growth. This usually happens in older animals when the thyroid gland produces too many hormones.

Fungi should also be attributed to pathologies. They arise under the influence of injury or improper trimming. The main signs of a fungal infection:

• unnatural color;
• compaction and thickening;
• swelling and hyperemia around;
• pain in the paw, from which the cat begins to limp;
• the cat often licks, bites its paw.

Reference!

The fungus is treated with special ointments as prescribed by the veterinarian, sometimes oral treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs is additionally indicated.

What to do if the claw interferes?

If the owner constantly notices the discomfort of the cat when claws cling to the carpet, upholstered furniture, etc., you need to check the pet's claws. Perhaps this is a sign of their excessive growth and the need for trimming.

Other reasons

There are other reasons for trimming the claws of a cat. For example, a pet spoils furniture, shoes, does not respond to scratches, can scratch the owner or other residents of the apartment, especially if there are small children in the house.

With improper growth of the claws, their haircut is necessary.

How to trim a cat's claws?

After checking the availability of all the necessary tools, you should start processing the nail - first set up the cat itself for the process.

Tools

Important!

The owner must purchase and use a special nail cutter, just in case, have a hemostatic agent and an antiseptic on hand. Under no circumstances should ordinary scissors be used!

Nail cutters come in several forms:

• special scissors - suitable for cutting ends;
• guillotine type - required for cutting too long claws (claw cutters).

The form is selected taking into account the individual characteristics of the animal. The main thing is the sharpness of the tool so as not to injure the animal and not deform the nail with blunt nippers.

How to carry out the procedure correctly with special scissors or a guillotine?

In order for the procedure not to hurt the cat, you need to carefully examine the claw, study its structure and understand where the pulp ends. Often the claws are clearly visible in the light. It is forbidden to touch the pulp, otherwise severe bleeding will occur, provoking inflammation.

1. The pad of the paw is firmly squeezed between the thumb and forefinger.
2. The very tip is carefully trimmed.
3. During trimming, the tweezers are perpendicular to the nails.
4. After the procedures, the places of cuts can be smoothed out with a soft nail file so that later peeling does not occur.

Haircut hacks

The growth of the claws of each animal is individual, the owner must pay attention to this process in order to determine the frequency of trimming. Here are a few rules and tips that will make the procedure less complicated:

1. For young pets, trimming is carried out once every 3 weeks, from 2 years old - once a month will be enough.
2. If the claws exfoliate and are badly broken off, you need to urgently cut them off.
3. The paws of older cats are recommended to be examined more often, as their claws are thin and can cut into the pads, causing severe pain.
4. With an ingrown claw, you should take the cat to the veterinarian, and do not take any measures yourself.
5. Some cats do not perceive the procedure; in such a situation, an assistant is needed to hold the animal.
6. Immediately after cutting, you need to give the animal something tasty so that it thinks that it was tortured.
7. It is important to remember that cats have a good memory, and they can be vindictive, you don’t need to offend them for no reason, try to carry out the procedure as loyally as possible when the pet is in a good mood.

How often (when?!) cut your cat's nails?

The frequency of trimming is individual for each animal. It is set in accordance with the growth of the claws. As a rule, the procedure is implemented once a month and this is quite enough.

What to do if you hurt a cat in the process?

If your cat is injured during nail trimming, it's a good idea to have peroxide, iodine, and baby powder ready. The wound is treated with peroxide and sprinkled with talc. It is important to know that a cat can bleed in the pulp area for quite a long time - at least 2 minutes.

Preparation for the first procedure

Advice!

Before the first procedure, you will need to catch the right moment, especially for adult cats. It is better if the pet is full, tired, sleepy.

It's okay if your pet will resist and not give you his claws - that's why it's important to "catch" the moment.

It is not recommended to interrupt him while playing and start cutting his claws. Some owners to prevent injuries - their own and the animal - swaddle him. It’s worth starting with light stroking on the paws, shifting to the pads, which are gradually pressed down a little until a claw appears.

If you start doing this already from a young age, then the kitten quickly gets used to it and perceives cutting nails as a necessity. In any case, be patient.

When a small kitten appears in the house, you should immediately think about cutting the claws. It is important to do this from childhood, so that as the pet grows up, it is not afraid of unfamiliar tools.

Important!

The procedure is carried out only when the cat is in a good mood, she caresses.

At first, she will leave and pull her paws away - there is no need to interfere. It is required to accustom gradually, without resorting to violence.

When the pet allows you to stroke the paw pads, you need to give him a treat. After a while, the kitten will like such a massage, and he will substitute his claws himself.

At what age should you start the procedure with kittens: from 2.5 months?

In fact, a simple rule applies here - the earlier you start, the less painful the procedure will be perceived over time. Therefore, from 2-3 months old, you can begin to calmly cut your kitten's nails. Most importantly, try to be as careful as possible and follow our instructions.

Useful video

How to clip your nails with a guillotine?

How to cut with a guillotine and not injure your pet - you can see more in the video below.

And scissors...

And for lovers of scissors - we picked up the following video.

Conclusion

Raising a cat primarily depends on the owner and his methods. A healthy animal with the right upbringing will not need to cut its claws. In other cases, this is an urgent need, the main thing is to carry out the procedure carefully, be sure to praise and encourage the cat after that.