How to cut a cat's nails at home?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

How to cut a cat's claws? Is it necessary to do this at all? In foreign countries, discussions about the usefulness of cat's claws flare up from time to time. Some veterinarians believe that these horns are unnecessary. They insist on the need for an operation to destroy the claws. In our country, such a procedure is not popular, as it is considered barbaric.

Is it necessary

Cutting cats' nails is it okay or not? What are the arguments proving the necessity of this procedure?

Overgrown claws do not allow the pet to run fast, interfere with play.

Horn formations can get stuck in thick curtains, voluminous carpets. When the animal tries to free itself, they can completely escape from their paws.

Cat claws can grow into the skin. A painful operation will be required to remove them.

When can cats cut their claws

At what age does a pet start to needmanicure? When the owners are forced to think about how to properly cut the cat's claws? Ideally, the animal should be accustomed to this procedure after he is one month old. The sooner your pet gets used to it, the easier it will be to give him a manicure.

Very small kittens do not need such a service. Their claws are still too tender, there is a danger of damaging the blood vessels. Of course, it is possible to accustom an adult cat to a haircut, but the owners will have to tinker.

How often to do this

It is important not only how to cut the claws of a cat. You also need to decide how often to do it. Unfortunately, there is no universal answer to this question. The growth rate of horn formations depends on various factors. The state of he alth, diet, activity of the pet - every little thing plays a role.

Claws should be trimmed as they grow. Some pets need this every two weeks. For other pets, it is enough to do a manicure every three to four weeks. Veterinarians do not recommend doing this less than once a month.

How to know when it's time to trim your nails

How often should a cat's nails be trimmed? There are signs that let you guess that a pet needs a manicure:

• The cat begins to move more slowly, responds less willingly to the invitation to play.
• Claws get tangled in fluffy blankets, fleecy carpets, thick curtains.
• When the petmoves on the bare floor, there is a knock.
• The cat starts to leave scratches on the skin of its owners, on the furniture.

Which tool to choose

How to cut a cat's nails at home? Many owners do manicures to their pets, armed with ordinary scissors. This method has the right to exist, but it is much more convenient to use a special nail cutter.

At the pet supply store, you can find the models described below:

• Claws-scissors. This model is the most popular among pet owners. Outwardly, the tool resembles ordinary scissors, but there are differences. The blade of such a nail cutter is curved at the ends, and not straight. The cat's claw is inserted into a kind of hole, then the rings close.
• Guillotine nail cutters. The ominous name of the model is due to the fact that it functions on the principle of a guillotine. A claw is inserted into a special hole, then the blade is lowered with the help of handles. The regrown part is easily removed.
• Claw cutters. Outwardly, the device really resembles a popular locksmith tool. The claw must be inserted into the crevice between the edges of the device, and then the tool must be activated using the handles. The regrown part easily bounces off sharp blades.
• Claw grinders. This tool consists of a handle and an emery-covered tip. It requires batteries to operate, which is a turn off for many pet owners. The claw with this model is notcut off and grind off. This device is preferred in grooming salons, for use in everyday life it is better to choose mechanical tools.

When choosing a model, you need to pay attention to the blade, it must be sharp. Trimming nails with blunt scissors will result in delamination.

Preparing for the procedure

How to cut a cat's claws with a nail clipper?

First you need to prepare everything you need for the procedure:

• The instrument itself. It needs to be disinfected, make sure the blade is sharp.
• Vatku, hemostatic solution. Done right, they won't be needed.
• Hard nail file. With its help, it will be possible to correct the tips. This is necessary so that the animal does not catch on its paws when walking, and does not spoil the furniture. To do this, you can use not only a file, but also a bar, sandpaper.

Where to start

How to cut a cat's claws so that the pet can easily endure this procedure? Manicure for a pet should not be done when he is sick, does not feel well. It is also best to avoid times when the animal is aroused or hungry. It is ideal to do this when the cat is sleeping or drowsy.

To do everything right, first you should carefully examine the claws from the inside. In most cases, these formations are translucent, so it is easy to see the beginning of the blood vessels. It is necessary to shorten the nails at a distance of up to 2 mm from the sensitive area, which is indicated by the pink shell.

The problem may arise if the claws of the animal are dark. In this case, it is better to cut them in several steps, capturing 1-2 mm at a time. This will avoid damaging the nerve endings.

Step by step instructions

How to cut the claws of a cat with a claw cutter? The algorithm of actions is given below:

• You need to position the pet so that it is as comfortable as possible. To fix this position, you can press the body of the animal to a soft base or hold the paws with your hands. We must not forget that the cause of injuries and cuts is most often the cat's attempt to escape during the procedure.
• The tool is best taken in the right hand, of course, if the owner is not left-handed. With the other hand, you need to gently press on the soft foot of the pet in the center. This is necessary in order for the fingers of the animal to open, the claws to move forward.
• The tool must be held perpendicular to the claw, this will avoid delamination of the plate. The edge is cut in one step. Several procedures will be enough for the owner to gain the necessary experience. Further sessions will only take a few minutes.
• Correction of the edge of the claw is the final stage, the importance of which many people forget. Thanks to this procedure, the animal will not spoil the furniture, catch on its paws when walking.

Wound treatment

Even if the owner knows how to cut nailscat, no one is immune from accidents. For example, the pet may try to escape during the procedure. What to do if the clipping process did not go smoothly, the animal was injured? Staying calm is the key to a situation like this.

The damaged area should be immediately treated with hydrogen peroxide. You can also use another hemostatic agent. It is better to try to avoid such situations, as the pet can get psychologically traumatized. When giving a pet a manicure for the first time, it's best to have someone at home hold it.

If the claws delaminate

The above is about how to cut a cat's nails. It is also important to constantly monitor their condition. Claws can exfoliate for natural reasons, this is due to the renewal of the horny coating. However, there is another possibility - a lack of nutrients that ensure a normal metabolism.

If the haircut goes well, but the claws exfoliate, it's time to enrich the animal's diet with calcium. The right diet will help you choose a veterinarian to whom it is desirable to show a pet.

What else you need to know

It should be remembered that only pets need a manicure. Active and independent animals that are regularly outdoors can take care of their claws on their own. In this case, they should not be sheared, as this will deprive the cat of a protection tool. For example, it will be more difficult for an animal to climb a tree at the sight of danger, to resist an attack.

Teacha pet for a manicure should be as soon as he turns a month old. When the cat is comfortably located on the owner's lap, you can periodically press on its paws. Thanks to such actions, the animal will perceive the procedure as a caress or a game, and will not resist cutting its claws.