Cat owners are concerned about the question: is it worth cutting the nails of their furry pets, or is it better to buy a scratching post? After all, cat pranks cause a lot of damage to furniture and wallpaper. Having accustomed their pet to dragging, many cat owners notice such unpleasant consequences as ingrown or fallen claws. To avoid such pathological conditions, veterinarians recommend regularly manicuring cats that never leave the house. This article will teach you how to correctly trim a cat’s claws, with what tool, how often, and why it should be done.
Why trim a cat’s claws?
Cats living in apartment conditions cannot lead an active lifestyle like their more free-spirited counterparts. They cannot walk on asphalt, hunt rodents, or climb trees. Thus, lazy house cats cannot wear down their claws naturally, maintaining their average length. As a result, the new wallpaper was mercilessly torn off, and the upholstery of your favorite chair also could not withstand the onslaught. It’s all because of the cat’s manicure or lack thereof.
Having long and sharp claws, a mustachioed friend can cause a lot of trouble: not only ruin the house’s interior but also cause harm to himself (for example, losing a claw, clinging to curtains or upholstered furniture).
Particularly dangerous are the rudimentary claws on the five toes of the front paws. They do not touch the floor, so it is difficult for them to catch on anything. However, they can grow into the delicate pad of the finger, causing pain to the animal. There is a solution—trim the claws.
Preparing to trim your cat’s claws at home
If a domestic furry animal has a good character and weighs no more than 5 kg, it should have no problems. But how can you persuade a pet that weighs about 10 kg to get a manicure? To keep your cat from getting nervous, pet and talk to him quietly. Animals are sensitive to voice intonation, so kindly treating your cat will calm him down. For the procedure not to cause difficulties and pain, it should be started from an early age of the pet (usually three months).
Please don’t use scissors, nail clippers, household wire cutters, or other tools for this procedure. After all, they can lead to injuries and separation of the claws. Therefore, trimming a cat’s claws with a nail clipper is advisable. It is more convenient to do this when the animal is standing or lying on its stomach.
How do you trim a cat’s claws yourself?
The first step is to wash your hands and treat the nail clipper with alcohol before use. Having fixed the cat, take the paw in your hand and lightly press on the pad of your finger until the claw protrudes forward, and cut off its sharp part about 2 mm in size. In this case, a cross-section should be made. This procedure is done with all the claws on the front paws. Trimming the claws on the hind legs is unnecessary since the animal does not grind them down. It is important not to damage the living part of the horny formation with nerve endings (pink vascular triangle), as this will cause bleeding and can lead to an infectious disease. Treat the damaged area with an antiseptic solution if you accidentally touch the pulp. After completing the procedure, praise the animal by rewarding it with something tasty.
Trimming your cat’s claws at least once a month is necessary. Shortly after completing the procedure, your furry will not cling to various objects and cannot injure other animals or the owner. Therefore, you can shake your pet’s paw without harming your health.
If you doubt that you can trim your cat’s claws correctly and are afraid of injuring it, you can contact your veterinarian for this service.
Video about trimming cat’s claws:
This post is also available in ru_RU.
