Overgrown nails can cause a lot of pain and discomfort to your cat and can lead to infections. If your cat’s nails get too long, it can also lead to other kinds of damage, such as damage to your floors and furniture. There’s also the risk of getting injured from accidental scratches caused by your cat.

To avoid all of these things, it’s important to cut your cat’s nails regularly. In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know about cutting your cat’s nails.

When Are Your Cat’s Nails Too Long? Here Are the Signs

When your cat’s nails are too long, this could cause a lot of problems for them. To avoid such from happening, take note of signs that would tell you that your cat’s nails are already too long and need to be trimmed. The signs include:

• Your cat keeps getting caught up on things, such as blankets or carpets.

• Your cat’s nails become too curved and too sharp.

• You can hear your cat’s nails tap when they walk on hard floors.

• Your cat can no longer retract their nails.

Here’s How to Cut Your Cat’s Nails

When trimming your cat’s nails, you want to make sure that your cat is comfortable and that you don’t hurt them or stress them out along the way. Here’s a guide on how to cut your cat’s nails:

Prepare the Right Equipment

When cutting the nails of your cat, it’s important to use nail clippers that are designed for them. You can either use scissor clippers, guillotine clippers, plier-style clippers, or nail grinders. Don’t use human nail clippers because it can cause damage to their nails.

Make Sure Your Cat Is Comfortable

The next thing to do is to make sure your cat is comfortable when you begin cutting their nails. Look for an area that is peaceful so that your cat will remain calm. Make sure your cat is in a position where they are comfortable and where they can be held securely.

Hold Your Cat’s Paw Gently

Gently hold your cat’s paw between your finger and thumb. Gently apply pressure until you can see your cat’s claw clearly. Make sure not to squeeze or your cat might get uncomfortable.

Clip the Tip of Your Cat’s Nail

Before you begin cutting your cat’s nail, look for the quick first. The quick is the pink part of a cat’s nail that contains blood vessels and nerves. If you cut this, it will bleed and be very painful for your cat. So, be sure to take note of where the quick is so that you can avoid clipping it.

After locating the quick, choose any nail to start with, and with proper clippers, clip the tip of your cat’s nail. Don’t cut all the way to the quick or cut the nails too short as this could hurt your cat.

One at a Time: Take Breaks in Between

Don’t try to cut your cat’s nails all at once. Try to clip nails one at a time and take breaks in between so that your cat doesn’t get overwhelmed. Your cat might not be very cooperative, so don’t try to cut all ten nails at once.

Your cat’s comfort is what matters the most, after all. Once you do manage to cut one of their nails, give them a lot of praise.

Treat Your Cat

Never forget to treat your cat so that they will see nail clipping as a positive experience. You can give them treats in between breaks and after the nail clipping. Your cat may not like the nail clipping, but they may look forward to the treats and rewards, making them more cooperative in the future.

What to Avoid When Cutting Your Cat’s Nails

To have a smooth experience when cutting your cat’s nails, it’s important to take note of the things you shouldn’t do. When cutting your cat’s nails, keep the following in mind:

Avoid Getting Frustrated

Your cat may not be cooperative during the process. They could try to resist having their nails cut or try to scratch you. If your cat does so, try to avoid getting frustrated. Don’t scold or punish your cat. Your actions may end up hurting your cat and make them further avoid having their nails cut.

Avoid Forcing Things

Don’t cut your cat’s nails when they are upset or uncomfortable. Don’t try to cut your cat’s nails all at once. Don’t grab your cat in the middle of playtime or when they are busy doing something so that you can cut their nails. Forcing things will make the nail-clipping process more stressful for both you and your cat.

It’s best to wait for when your cat is relaxed. An ideal time to cut your cat’s nails is when they are sleepy, such as after a meal.

Don’t Rush Things

When you do decide to cut your cat’s nails, give all your time to them. Don’t be in a hurry and try to cut their nails at a fast pace. If you try to rush things, you may end up cutting your cat too deep, and worse, cut the quick.

What Happens When You Accidentally Cut the Quick?

Accidents can happen, and sometimes mistakes cannot be avoided, like cutting the quick. If you do cut the quick, don’t panic. Apply a styptic powder to the nail, and then apply pressure for a few seconds.

If you don’t have styptic powder, you can use cornstarch or flour, or just apply direct pressure with a tissue to stop the bleeding. However, the best remedy would be to use styptic powder, so it’s advisable to always have such on hand to stop the bleeding quickly.

Contact The Barking Lot for Cat Grooming Services

Cutting your cat’s nails is something you can do by yourself and at home. However, there may be things you are uncertain about, and you may find cutting your cat’s nails a difficult task to do.

If you are struggling with cutting your cat’s nails, it’s best to avail of pet grooming services from professionals.

At The Barking Lot, we offer cat grooming services, which include nail trimming. We have all the right equipment and use careful techniques to safely cut your cat’s nails. We are experts in handling pets, and we guarantee a comfortable experience for your cat. Contact us today!