Your Go-to Guide: How to Cut My Cat’s Nails?

Does your kitty run away the moment she spots nail clippers in your hands? 

Well, cutting your cat’s nails can be peaceful and painless if you use the right technique. It’ll save you from the scratches, and your kitty from the trauma of having her nails cut!

De-clawing a cat is inhumane. 

So, most experts recommend cutting the nails instead. But, that means that nails will grow and soon, you’ll have to go through the ordeal all over again. 

 In this guide, we’ll go through everything you need to know about your kitty’s claws and answer the question, “How to cut my cat’s nails?” in detail.
So, let’s jump right in, shall we?

 Your Kitty’s Sharp Claws: All You Need to Know

Does your kitty take out her claws at any minor inconvenience? 

A cat’s claws are her number one weapon. They’re extremely sharp–thanks to all the scratching and filing–and can make you bleed in a matter of seconds. Of course, they can also shred your favorite couch, leave claw marks on the wallpaper, and more. 

Your kitty’s claws are retractable. 

This means that they’re not out at all times–they only come out when your cat wants them to. So, you normally won’t be able to see them.

Here’s Why Cats Need Their Claws, To Begin With

Before we teach you how to calm a cat to clip nails, we’ll share a few reasons why a kitty needs her nails. 

 The Predator

Cats are natural predators. Wild cats get food by hunting prey and consuming it. So, a cat’s claws are sharp enough to kill her prey in an instant.

You might have seen a live example of it when your kitty tried to chase a toy rat! 

Even though cats have been domesticated for thousands of years, their hunting instincts are still prevalent.

Climbing

Cats love to climb on stuff and sit at a vantage point to be able to observe everything that’s going on around them. 

But, did you know that a cat needs her claws to climb? 

That’s how cats establish their grips on things! So, your kitty needs her claws to climb on her cat tree.

Protection

So, what’s the first thing your cat does when you’re taking her to the bath? 

Getting her claws out! 

Cats love getting their claws out and warning us of dire consequences if we dare give them a bath. Your indoor cat may be too sassy and might not need to defend herself, but other cats do. 

Claws help kitties defend themselves from other animals. 

They’re also used to send a message–like when your cat shows you her claws when you’re trying to pick her up. It usually means, “Don’t you dare come any closer!” 

Marking

Finally, a cat needs her claws to leave her scent behind to mark her belongings. Cats have sweat glands on their paws. These glands produce pheromones unique to an individual cat.

So, by marking her scent, your cat is saying, “I was here” to other cats around.

You Complete Guide: How to Cut My Cat’s Nails

So, now that we know a few things about your kitty’s claws, it’s time to skip to the matter at hand. 

In this section of the blog post, we’ll share how to calm a cat to clip nails and guide you through the entire process. We’ll also answer the commonly asked question, “How often should I cut my cat’s nails?” 

Without further ado, let’s get started. 

Things You’ll Need: How to Cut My Cat’s Nails

Before we answer the question, “What is the best way to trim a cat’s nails?” we would like to share a few things you’ll need. 

So, here’s the checklist:

• A sharp pair of cat nail clippers 
• Treats 
• Styptic pencil (in case you cut the quick) 
• Cat treats 
• CBD oil or Catnip in case your cat doesn’t calm down

Keep these things close by so that you don’t need to run around looking for them when the time comes. In fact, we recommend creating a “Kitty Nail Grooming Kit” that contains all the items mentioned. 

Anatomy of a Cat’s Claw

Don’t start with the clippers right away! You need to understand the anatomy of your kitty’s paws in order to know what’s going on. 

The Nail

The nail is the white or transparent part of your cat’s nail. It is the part that’s dead and doesn’t have any nerve endings. It’s also the sharpest part that you’d wanna clip. 

The Quick

Now, this is the part you’d want to avoid when cutting your kitty’s nails! Especially if you wanna learn how to calm a cat to clip nails.

The quick is the part with the blood vessel. In other words, it is the part of the nail that’s alive and has pain receptors. 

Kind of like your nail bed. 

So, if you clip this part, not only will your kitty bleed profusely, but she’ll also be traumatized and in a lot of pain. If you hit this part, your cat might start associating the clippers with pain.

Yes, Cats Shed Their Nails

You’ll find a dead nail coming out from underneath the claw. Don’t be shocked when you see this! That’s the dead layer your kitty is removing as she is scratching her post. 

How to Hold Cat to Clip Nails

Okay, so if you grab your cat and force her to sit on your lap, she might not like it. 

How to Calm a Cat to Clip Nails: Slow and Steady Wins the Race!

We all know cats love their space. So, you’ll have to entice your kitty to come to you and get her claws out. So, here’s how to hold cat to cut nails:

• First of all, approach your kitty while she’s lounging around and start playing with her paws.
  
• Cats don’t like having their paws touched. So, you’ll have to ease into it. Gently pet your kitty’s paws and massage it to bring out the claws. If your kitty doesn’t revolt or is good with it, reward her with a treat!
  
• Make sure your cat is comfortable with you playing with her paws before moving on to the next step.
  
• Push your cat’s paws to reveal the claws and inspect them closely. Reward your cat for a job well done.
  
• Here’s how to hold a cat to clip nails; sit your cat on your lap and gently start petting her and hold her paws to reveal the claws. If your cat doesn’t revolt, give her a treat.

Keep this up until your cat is comfortable with you holding her paws in the cutting position.

Letting Your Cat Explore the Instruments

Don’t jump the gun! 

It’s important to let your cat explore the clippers by herself and inspect them to see that they aren’t a threat. Give your cat a treat for coming near them and giving them a snip. 

With your cat seated on your lap in the cutting position, bring the clippers close to her paws. Reward her if she lets you. 

Wait for the Right Opportunity

Most people forget this! 

Wait until your cat is in a good mood to clip her nails. That way, the process will be easier for both of you.

• Sit your cat on your lap in the cutting position and massage her paws. Press them to reveal the claws.
  
• Using a sharp pair of clippers, gently cut 1/4th of an inch. Reward your cat with a treat for being a good sport.
  
• Repeat until you’ve cut all the nails.
  
• In case you clip the quick, use the Styptic pencil to contain the bleeding. 

Additional Tips: What is the Best Way to Trim a Cat’s Nails

Let’s take a quick look at a few things you should know:

1. Start trimming your cat’s nails while she’s still a kitten. This will make her more open to having her nails trimmed.
   
2. Use a sharp pair of clippers to make sure they’re efficient and don’t split the nail.
   
3. Try giving your cat some Catnip if it calms your cat down. (Make sure you know how catnip affects your cat.)
   
4. CBS oil, too, is effective if your cat gets upset while getting her nails trimmed.
   
5. Grinding your cat’s nails may be a good idea. 

Consistency is key. You want your cat to think that clipping is fun!

How Often Should I Cut My Cat’s Nails?

You should cut your cat’s nails every two weeks or as needed for the best results. It all depends on growth. 

Summing Up: How to Cut My Cat’s Nails?

Did we help you figure out how to cut your cat’s nails? 

We hope that this blog post was a good guide for you to follow. Keep in mind to take things slow and not force your cat into it. Or, she won’t be calm the next time you try! And don’t forget to give your cat a treat!