If your cat absolutely hates getting their nails trimmed, there's still hope. Try going very slowly and making the process extra rewarding with plenty of treats or a special catnip toy that only comes out after nail clipping. If your cat gets upset during the process, stay calm and take a break.
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.
Injectable Sedation
For some pets, oral medication doesn't provide enough sedation or anxiety relief. These kitties may need injectable sedation administered by a veterinarian during a checkup, toenail trim, x-rays, or other procedure.
Getting your cat comfortable
Try to clip one nail at a time with breaks in between so you don't overwhelm them. Give your cat lots of praise when they let you trim one of their nails. Treats are also a great option to have handy for positive reinforcement.
Second, while it's not easy to teach a cat to not use her claws, you definitely can teach her to not use her claws on you. Rub some catnip on a scratching post and then take her over to the scratching post several times a day to encourage her to stretch and scratch it.
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.
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.
Are nail caps safe for cats? According to Mary Molloy, animal behavior counselor and founder of Nirvana Tails in NYC—yes, absolutely. “[The caps] do not prevent the cat from retracting his claw, and if properly applied, they do not cause any pain or damage to the claw bed,” she reports.
Without the keratin part of the nail to protect the quick, the tender live tissue, including blood vessels and nerves, is exposed and painful. Your veterinarian may prescribe pain medication or give an injection to keep your cat more comfortable.
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.
Scruffing is uncomfortable and may even be painful for the cat. Scruffing could also damage your relationship with your cat. Your cat may see this treatment as a betrayal of trust and begin to act more fearful or hostile around you.
Diphenhydramine. This is an over-the-counter drug with the main ingredient as Benadryl which helps in cat sedation for travel. The dosage is very low than that administered to humans. It is often recommended for cats that suffer from travel anxiety.
Do cat claw covers work? Yes, cat claw covers, also known as claw caps or claw covers, can work to protect furniture and other surfaces from scratches caused by cats. These are small caps made of soft plastic or rubber that are placed over the cat's claws to blunt them and prevent damage.
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.
Trimming a cat's claws every two to three weeks is an important part of maintaining your pet's health. Not only does a quick trim protect you, your pet and your family, it can also save your sofa, curtains and other furniture.
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.
Severely overgrown and curved nails can grow into the footpad, causing significant pain and mobility problems. Therefore, it is very important to keep your cat's nails short. Cat should have their nails trimmed every 10 days to 2 weeks so that they do not get to this point.
If you're unsure, veterinary clinics or grooming facilities can often apply claw caps for a minor fee.
Can I Cut My Cat's Nails with Human Nail Clippers? While it is not dangerous to use a human nail cutter it may cause the nails to split. This can make your job more difficult and may be painful for your cat.