How to cut the claws of your cat?

 Because your cat claws too often at your furniture, curtains, carpets, or upholstery, or because it has scratched you to death, you want to trim your cat's claws. But this practice is divisive because felines need them on a daily basis. How do you know if you should trim your cat's claws? Are there alternatives? How do you go about it? Answers!

Indoor or outdoor cat: a different approach

A cat's claws in the wild

A cat's claws in the wild are a particularly powerful weapon. A weapon that can even be lethal, as a feral cat can use its claws to kill its prey. It also uses them to move around in a sometimes hostile nature. It climbs trees and clings to various natural supports. The environment of a domestic cat is crucial. It must be taken into consideration before making the decision to trim its claws.

Should an outdoor cat's nails be trimmed?

Before you trim your cat's nails, you should take the time to identify its needs. An outdoor cat needs its claws much more than an indoor cat. Trimming is not recommended. When outside, your cat needs its claws to climb trees, run faster, hunt and defend itself. They use them instinctively. If you cut them, you put your cat at risk.

If you want to maximise your outdoor cat's wellbeing, you need to make sure it is not injured and that it is eating properly. Remember to check its claws. It is not uncommon for lesions to be present in these areas.

What about indoor cats?

If your cat never goes outside, it is possible that it is clawing a little too much in your home. In this case, you may want to consider giving your cat a manicure. But be careful, this should only be done as a last resort. Before that, you should try to prevent your cat from scratching in inappropriate places.

How do you stop a cat from scratching at home?

Because it needs its claws, a cat takes care of its maintenance. That's why, among other things, its claws on surfaces that it considers appropriate. Normally, you don't have to take care of them.

To avoid damage, provide your pet with a scratching post. This can also be a cat tree. The scratching area should be vertical so that the cat can assume a natural position. It is a good idea to provide a few toys for your cat. This way, it will not be tempted to destroy your furniture.

Remember, however, that a cat that claws are a cat that marks its territory. To do this, he doesn't hesitate to rub himself all over and even urinate. This practice is called urine marking and is particularly unpleasant.

What if your cat has a behaviour problem?

Sometimes a cat can't control its claws. They pull them out to play without really realising that they can unintentionally alter their environment or hurt others. It is possible that your cat has a behavioural problem. In this case, it is important to make an appointment with your vet or to identify what might be causing your cat stress.

Nail clippers, files... What equipment will you need?

There's no point in attempting the manoeuvre with nail clippers or scissors, as you risk lacking precision and injuring your cat. Ideally, you should use a guillotine-type cat nail clipper. Please take a model of adapted size, not too big if possible, in order to have a maximum handiness and precision.

Some specialised websites also offer electric files for this purpose. This is also a suitable tool, provided that you get your cat used to the noise of operation beforehand.

You can also provide a medium-sized bath towel to cover your cat during the operation in order to calm it down. This towel can be soaked in Feliway Classic or essential oils (use a pet-friendly blend) 5-10 minutes before the operation to help with relaxation.

Finally, if your companion is greedy, you can provide treats to keep him occupied during the treatment.

When to clip your cat's nails?

Sometimes clipping a cat's nails is unavoidable. In fact, it should only be done if it is absolutely necessary. This is the case when the cat gets older. With age, your cat is less active. This can be seen in his claws. The claws become longer, less regular, and can even grow inside the paw pads. To avoid this, as soon as your cat stops clawing, you should trim the claws regularly.

Whatever the age of the cat, it may suffer from a handicap or obesity. This can limit their movements, preventing them from clawing or grooming. You should also know that cats only walk on four toes. The fifth toe, called the dewclaw, never touches the ground and wears less. This claw in particular should be trimmed.

How do you trim your cat's claws?

Do you want to trim your cat's claws? You need to be careful. Your cat will not let you do it! If it's the first time, it may get scared and be aggressive. You may find it difficult to handle. We recommend that you wear gloves to avoid being scratched. Be careful! A cat's claws are not nails. Therefore, do not use nail clippers or scissors. You can find nail clippers in pet shops or at the vet.

To trim a cat's nails, you should:

• Reassure the animal, for example by stroking it,
• Take one of the animal's paws,
• Hold the tip between your thumb and forefinger,
• Press lightly on the pad to make the claws come out,
• Cut off the transparent part,
• Do the same with the other paws.

It is important to cut only the transparent part. If you go beyond that, you risk reaching the blood vessels (pink part). The cut is then painful for the cat and the risk of infection is real. Once you have finished, you should reassure your cat again. This can be done by stroking the cat or giving it a treat.

Are you worried that your cat's nails will not be cut properly? You can ask your vet to trim your cat's nails and, above all, to show you how to do it. If you trim your cat's nails regularly over the months, your cat will get used to it and become more and more docile.

How do you trim a cat's nails?

Ideally, the clipping should be done when your cat is calm and awake. He will have less patience if he is waiting to eat or go out, and can be dangerous if he is excited. Don't surprise him while he's asleep, otherwise, you won't be able to approach him with a claw trimmer afterward!

The choice of proceeding with 1 or 2 people depends on how comfortable you are and how much your pet trusts you. If he trusts you, he will undoubtedly be calmer if you carry out the manipulation alone rather than if he is forced by a second person without understanding why. Don't hesitate to talk to him and stroke him to reassure him.

For your comfort, it is better to place yourself on a work surface or table that you have cleared beforehand. Your cat will then be at the right height and you won't have to contort yourself if it moves.

If you are doing this alone, place your cat with its back to you, between your arms. If someone is holding your cat, try to position yourself to the side of your cat. In any case, avoid placing your face in front of your cat's paws!

And if your cat is fidgeting a lot or is not too comfortable, you can gently wrap her in a towel, loosely, letting out the head and paw that you want to handle. Being contained in this way reassures some felines, who then become calmer and more willing to be cared for. Some cats also prefer to have their head hidden by the towel: it's up to you to try, always with gentle, confident movements, and see what works best.

Once your cat is secured, it's time to take action!

Simply take the desired paw in your left hand (or right if you're left-handed), position it over your clenched fingers, and press gently on the top to bring out the claws. Claws, like our fingernails, contain blood vessels and nerves in the pulp. In cats, the claws are often white: the pulp is then easily visible at the base. It is coloured pink and usually extends over the first third of the claw. We advise you to always cut more than 5 mm from the pulp to avoid injuring your cat.