Should i clip my cats claws

Your pet should be no different! But indoor or older cats can be more at risk of getting longer claws. Pets who have been there for us during the pandemic deserve somewhere to turn when they need life-saving treatment. Your help will save pets' lives.

Donate Menu. Get help. Find us. Tigger, who was the feline model, has black pads on his toes. The black pads on the bottom of his toes will help you orient yourself as you view the photographs. Most cats do not like having their claws trimmed. Start trimming claws in young animals so that they get used to the process. Some cats will happily sit in your lap or on a table while you trim their claws but many require some form of restraint. To restrain a cat in your lap, use your forearms draped over the cat's neck and hind-end to keep the cat in your lap.

The clipper is held in the right hand. There are several styles of nail trimmers, including a guillotine type, a scissors cut, and a standard human fingernail clipper. Either the guillotine type or a human fingernail clipper are easiest to use in cats. The scissors-type is used if a toe nail is so long that it is curling in a circle. Long claws can grow into the toepad. Cats have retractile claws so you need to gently squeeze the toe between thumb and forefinger to expose the claw.

Most cats have light colored claws, making it easy to see the blood vessels and nerves that supply the claw as a pink stripe at the base of the nail, which is called a quick. You want to cut the claw to within approximately 2 millimeters of the quick. Light colored claws can be trimmed with one cut on each nail.

If the trimmer is placed parallel to the nail cutting from side to side , the nail is crushed and may splinter. The sharper the trimmer, the cleaner the cut. Our veterinarian reveals why the payoff for your pet is well worth any extra work. The friendly and inquisitive LaPerm has an easy-care coat that comes in a variety of colors and patterns.

Check out our collection of more than videos about pet training, animal behavior, dog and cat breeds and more.

Wonder which dog or cat best fits your lifestyle? Our new tool will narrow down more than breeds for you. If the video doesn't start playing momentarily, please install the latest version of Flash.

By Dr. Join the Conversation Like this article? Have a point of view to share? Let us know!