Hold hands (er, paws) If you're trying to cut your cat's nails by yourself, try resting the cat in the crook of one arm while holding one paw with the other hand. Or, place the animal on a table and lift one paw at a time. You may even be able to convince a particularly sociable cat to lie back in your lap.
If your cat resists, don't raise your voice or punish her. Never attempt a clipping when your cat is agitated or you're upset. And don't rush—you may cut into the quick. Don't try to trim all of your cat's claws at one time.
The quick contains the nerves and blood vessels of the nail. If the quick is clipped, it causes a lot of pain and bleeding. Injury is most likely the reason your cat hates getting their nails trimmed; once they feel that pain, they know what to avoid. A well-trained cat will not mind getting its nails trimmed.
Both indoor and outdoor cats need to have their nails trimmed because their nails can be snagged and caught in soft surfaces, or the cat may lose their ability to retract their claws altogether. Arthritic cats, indoors or out, usually don't exercise enough to keep their nails short via scratching.
Just like the pink part of a human fingernail, the quick is very sensitive; cutting into this area will likely cause bleeding and pain.
Start by handling your cat's paws gently. Press the pad to express the claw and use a cat clipper or designated human nail clipper to snip the curved end of the nail. Avoid cutting the pink area of the nail known as the quick, to prevent the nail from bleeding.
Recognizing aggression and startling an aggressive cat without physical contact is usually effective. Avoid situations that you know make a cat aggressive. Separate cats that act aggressively toward each other and reintroduce slowly with positive reinforcement, as described in the Territorial Aggression section.
Bring out the clippers. Hold for two seconds, give your pet a treat, then put the clippers away. Repeat until your dog or cat is obviously comfortable when you bring out the clippers and he is looking to you for a treat.
Rub a pinch of catnip between your fingers to release its aroma, and insert it into the brush holder. If your cat is sensitive to catnip, they will most likely start rubbing their cheeks against the brush without encouragement.
They also scratch to trim their nails. Outdoor cats probably use some tree around. However, your cat is an indoor cat, a scratching post may come in handy. And if you do not have a scratching post … well, then you will find it difficult to stop your cat scratching the sofa - regardless of your opinion about that.
Clipping Kitty's Nails
Keeping your cat's claws trimmed is good grooming and will reduce the damage done by sharp nails. If possible, get the cat used to having their claws trimmed while they are still young. Never encourage a cat to play roughly with hands or feet.
If you're unsure, veterinary clinics or grooming facilities can often apply claw caps for a minor fee.
For shy or anxious cats, they may prefer for a towel to be draped over the head while the groomer works on the back or rear end. Some feisty or even nervous cats may respond well to being wrapped up snuggly in a “kitty burrito” while having ears, eyes, and nails done.
And because self-grooming soothes and calms your cat, she will want to do it every time she's faced with a conflict. If the behavior is not addressed, it can result in self-inflicted injury.
Grooming another cat expresses comfort, companionship, and even love. Cats that groom an owner's hair, lick your arm and accept the owner's petting actually are engaging in mutual grooming that expresses trust and affection. You are kitty-blessed!
If a cat is too stressed on the grooming table, and is badly matted, the most humane route to take is to sedate the cat to get it shaved. Once this has been done we have a clean slate to start the counter conditioning programme to help the cat get used to the grooming process.
It may be because you have a senior cat, or your cat might be ill. It also may be because your cat is overweight, or they may have never learned how to groom themselves properly as a kitten. In any case, it's a great idea to take your cat to the vet for a medical analysis.
The time spent brushing a cat is also a good opportunity to check for lumps and bumps, areas of hair loss, lesions, and fleas and ticks. Plus, since most cats enjoy being brushed, it can be a great bonding activity.
Texture: Sticky paper, aluminum foil, heavy plastic or a plastic carpet runner (knubby side up) can be placed in areas you want to be off limits. Cats hate walking on these surfaces.