The Everything Cat Book by Karen Leigh Davis

Author:Karen Leigh Davis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: subject
Publisher: Adams Media
Published: 2011-06-27T00:00:00+00:00

Trimming Nails

Outdoor cats generally keep their claws worn by climbing trees, but indoor cats need to have their nails trimmed on occasion. Begin nail trimming when the cat is young, too, so that it will get used to having its feet handled. Most adult cats do not tolerate this procedure well if they've never had their claws trimmed. For them, you'll have to pay your veterinarian or a professional groomer to do the work. Kittens, however, generally learn to tolerate the procedure easily enough, provided you never hurt them by cutting the claw too close to the quick. After the cat is used to the procedure, you should trim nails approximately once a month or every other month, and always before a show or before visiting the vet.

Here's how to introduce nail clipping: Every day for about a month, while petting your kitten, briefly and gently handle each paw. Massage each paw between your thumb and forefinger, pressing down gently on the claws to expose the nails.

Once the kitten is thoroughly used to having its feet and nails rubbed and touched, begin lightly touching each nail with the nail clippers once or twice during the handling procedure. Do not trim them yet. Just continue desensitizing the kitten to the metallic feel of the clippers on its sensitive nails.

After your kitten has learned to accept having its nails touched with the clippers, try to clip just one or two. Don't expect to clip all of them at one time. Also, do not take off more than a sixteenth of an inch of nail. Just clip the very tip ends. Trimming off too much will cut into the quick, the pink area of the nail that has a visible blood vessel running down the center. If you do cut into the quick, the cat will feel pain and the nail will bleed. (Apply pressure or some styptic powder to the nail end to stop the bleeding.) If you hurt the kitten, it will lose trust in you and will not want you to handle its feet again anytime soon.

E-Alert

If the nail-trimming procedure makes you nervous, or the desensitization process is ineffective, it's probably best not to attempt the task on your own. A shaky hand is more likely to make a mistake and cause your kitty unnecessary pain and anguish. It's better to take your cat to a professional groomer instead of risking the loss of his trust.

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