How to trim the claws of a cat

Why does a cat need a "manicure"

The solid crescent–shaped claws of a cat, growing and renewing throughout its life, are its formidable weapon, as well as a useful tool that allows you to storm trees and other heights. In the natural environment, animals have many opportunities to wear off their claws, making it easier to update them. At home, cats have no choice but to be satisfied with a scratching post, wallpaper, door jambs, curtains, carpets and, of course, upholstered furniture, which, in their opinion, is simply created to be pierced by sharp claws.

Tearing soft surfaces is, rather, a pleasant pastime for a cat. It does not provide either the grinding of the claws or their shortening, and the animal has to experience discomfort, casually clinging with "scratches" to all the objects suitable for this. Sometimes kitty can't even free her paw on her own, and then she plaintively cries for help.

It is dangerous to play with a pet armed with long, sharp curved claws. The first ones who get it from them are, of course, children. No need to think that the main threat comes from the front paws of the cat. The claws on the hind, push, paws, although they grow slower, are stronger, tougher. It is with these "daggers" that a pet who has played out can accidentally inflict the most dangerous and deep wound.

In short, regular trimming of cat claws eliminates or minimizes a lot of problems. This procedure will require patience on the part of the owner, and also a lot of time, because it is not just necessary to trim the curved tips of the claws. You will have to follow a certain technique, know at what angle to hold the tool, how to ensure the safety of the "operation".

When and how to teach a cat to cut claws

It is desirable to teach the cat to trim the claws in childhood. Then you can expect that, having matured, she will behave quite humbly during the procedure. But until the kitten turns at least a month old, there is no special point in such a science. The baby's "scratches" are still tiny and small, they are easy to damage, and he himself mostly sleeps and eats in the first weeks of life. Then you can perform 2-3 symbolic procedures to prepare the cat for a full-fledged "manicure". It can be done when the pet turns 3 months old. By this time, the claws will noticeably harden and become sharp.

It is more difficult to teach an adult cat to trim its claws. However, she will eventually get used to this manipulation, although she will not behave like a lady in a nail salon, giving her hand herself. Regardless of the age of the animal, he will have to be persuaded to trim his claws, forgetting about brutal coercion. If the pet hisses and breaks out of the hands not formally, but demonstrating real anger or extreme fright, the procedure must be postponed.

First of all, you need to choose a time suitable for the "operation" when the cat is in a complacent, calm state. This is how he usually looks after sleeping or after a solid portion of food. Purr needs to be put on your lap, petted, have a conversation and gently take a paw. Massage it, imperceptibly getting close to the pads. Then gently press them down so that the claws come out.

If you yourself have no experience, take a good look at the claws to understand where the border of the pulp containing the blood vessel and nerve passes. It should not be touched in any case. Injury to the pulp will cause the cat pain and is fraught with bleeding. You can cut off only the curved transparent part of the claw, retreating from the pulp by 2 mm. The pink pulp is clearly visible inside the light claw, but it is almost impossible to determine the problem area inside the dark one. It is necessary to shorten the claws by touch, trimming them by 1 mm 2-3 times.

Stroking the cat pads with one hand, take a claw cutter with the other. If the cat is interested in the tool, let him sniff it and make sure that it is not an enemy. You can start cutting yourself if the cat favorably tolerates manipulations with its pads, allows you to bare your claws, in a word, expresses confidence in you with its appearance.

What will it take to shorten the claws

For the procedure of cutting the claws of a cat, you need to prepare a certain arsenal of tools and tools. Everything you need should be at hand so that you don't have to be distracted by searching for the item you need at the most inopportune moment. The debut "operation" is usually associated with special troubles. They concern, as a rule, the selection of a suitable tool for cutting cat claws.

It is clear that kitchen and office scissors are not suitable for the successful implementation of a delicate procedure. As for the use of nail scissors, then it is questionable. Firstly, it is not very convenient to use them: the blades in such tools are not designed to cut off a dense, round claw, which is why they constantly slip off. Secondly, for cats who do not want to freeze for the duration of the "operation", the sharp tips characteristic of most nail scissors can be dangerous. Those who are absolutely confident in their skills, and at the same time their pets are distinguished by humility, it remains to remind about hygiene. It is impossible to trim cat claws with "human" nail scissors. You should purchase your own tool for the animal.

It is most convenient to use special scissors – claw cutters, which are offered in specialized stores for animals and online. They are distinguished by a peculiar design with reinforced edges of the blades. With the help of claw cutters, the hard claws of a cat can be trimmed quickly and painlessly. It is advisable to purchase a tool with rubber pads on the handles, since the palm often slips off smooth surfaces.

There are various modifications of claw cutters, so you can experiment before finally choosing the most comfortable option for you and your pet.

Claw cutters are represented by several main models.

• Claw-scissors. The shape of the tool resembles ordinary scissors, but the blades are not straight, but curved at the ends. Rounding off, they form cutouts in the form of holes with a sharp edge, where the claw is inserted. When closing the blades, it is easily removed.
• Guillotine claws. This tool, which is very much in demand today, operates on the principle of the infamous invention of Monsieur Guillotin, which was used for decapitation. The cat's claw is inserted into a special hole, and its superfluous part, from the point of view of the owner, is cut off with a blade. The mechanism actuates a lever on a spring.
• Nail clippers. A convenient device with rubberized thick handles resembles a locksmith's tool. The claw is inserted into a crack between its cutting edges with sharp blades and is literally bitten off by them when squeezing the handles. Most of these models are equipped with a special limiter, which allows you to trim the claw to a certain length.
• Claw grinders. This is a professional grooming tool that can be used at home if you understand the principle of its operation. The battery-powered device is equipped with a tip coated with sandpaper, that is, it is not intended for trimming claws, but for grinding them. Many cats dislike such devices, considering, probably, that their buzzing is suspicious.

In addition to the claw cutter, for a cat's "manicure" you will certainly need:

• cotton wool or cotton pads;
• disinfectants (best of all – hydrogen peroxide);
• hemostatic agents (hemostatic sponge, special powder, dry potassium permanganate).

Owners of particularly fluffy cats may need a hair clipper to treat the area around the fingers before cutting the claws.

The owners of seals who perceive "manicure" as execution and actively resist it, fixing overalls will help to cope with the task. You can buy them at pet stores.

In a set of accessories for trimming claws, many owners include a nail file or an emery bar designed specifically for animals.

How to trim cat claws properly

Before proceeding to the exciting procedure, you need to make sure that the cat is in a good mood. The mental state of the owner is also important. He should exude positivity, benevolence and at the same time – inflexibility, self-confidence. You can not fuss in any case.

• Install a lamp next to the workplace so that you can carefully inspect the claws, determining where the pulp begins.
• Wash your hands with soap, treat them with antiseptic, disinfect your chosen tool for cutting claws.
• Gently sit the cat on his knees (with his back to himself), take the paw in your hand, which you will be the first to handle, and fix it firmly. If the animal begins to actively object, swaddle it in a towel or dress it in a jumpsuit. You may have to call in an assistant to help.
• Gently press your fingers on the center of the pad so that the claw extends to the maximum possible length.
• Put a claw cutter (scissors) to the curved part of the claw, choosing the right angle – along the line of its growth, that is, the cropped claw should not differ in shape from the uncircumcised one. The direction of trimming is from the bottom up.
• Stepping back from the edge of the pulp by at least 2 mm, cut off part of the claw in one motion.
• If there are roughnesses on the claw, you can get rid of them with a nail file, a file with a diamond notch or a bar. Just keep in mind that friction usually causes extreme irritation and anxiety in the animal. In addition, there is a risk of delamination of the claw if its edges are processed with excessive effort. The pressure should be light.
• Trim all the claws, then treat the kitty with a treat, even if she did not show obedience.

Don't forget that fluffy has 18 fingers with claws (5 on the front, and 4 on the hind legs). At the end of the procedure, it is advisable to make sure that you have processed each. One forgotten sharp claw can create discomfort for the animal.

Possible hazards

Troubles during the procedure of trimming claws await, as a rule, rebellious, dodging cats on the lap of the owner. In this case, both participants in the process may be injured by a cutting or grinding tool. Tragedy, for sure, will not happen, and light bleeding wounds can be healed with the help of antiseptic and hemostatic agents. The danger zone is the animal's eyes. When the cat begins to show excessive fidgeting, the tool, especially if it is pointed nail scissors, should be put aside for a while.

Traditionally, the main threat to the animal is the carelessness or inexperience of the owner, and it is associated with injury to the pulp. If you overdid it, hitting the vessels with a claw cutter, blood will inevitably appear. You should not panic at the sight of her. It is necessary to disinfect the injured claw with hydrogen peroxide, after which it is necessary to treat the wound with a hemostatic sponge or hemostatic powder. If you use dry potassium permanganate, make sure that it covers only the damaged area itself. Getting this drug on the skin is fraught with burns.

As a rule, the blood can be stopped within 5 minutes. If, for some reason, it was not possible to cope with the bleeding, you will have to go with the injured pet to the veterinarian. You will also need to visit a specialist if you find that the fifth claw on one of the front paws has begun to grow into the pad. This is a fairly common phenomenon. The claw, located slightly away from the other four fingers, does not experience any impact at home and does not even touch the floor, so it grows faster than anyone.

How often to trim a cat's claws

The frequency of the procedure depends on how quickly your cat's "scratches" grow. This is an individual indicator, but all fuzzies have claws on their front paws that grow faster than on their hind legs. It's time to shorten them, you can easily determine visually. The fact that it's time to trim the claws will also prompt the behavior of the pet: the cat will begin to undermine its "scratches" more often and cling to everything with them.

Some pets get a "manicure" once every 2 weeks, others – once a month. It is also worth considering that a cat accustomed to a scratching post may not need to have her claws trimmed too often. There is also no need to be zealous if the cat is preparing to move to a country house for the summer, where a free woman awaits him. A released animal cannot do without a formidable weapon!