Trimming Your Cat’s Claws and Living To Tell The Tale

As a cat owner, you love your little kitten and, of course, there’s no gadget she’s without, right? For her comfort, you’ve provided a cushy bed, a self-cleaning litter box, a super treat dispenser, loads of cat grass, every cat toy on the planet and scratching posts placed strategically in every possible place where she might need them. Unfortunately, the only scratching post she seems to enjoy is your sofa and curtains . . . it could make a grown person cry!

You’ve tried spraying the area, you know, with those sprays that ostensibly will cause her little nose to turn away from your furniture still no luck. Without fail, she still wanders over to your sofa on a daily basis to sharpen her claws.

Desperation is beginning to set in so you try the sticky tape trick, you know, the one where you’re supposed to put double sided tape over the spot she scratches so that next time she tries it she’ll be scared away by the stickiness of the tape. Unfortunately, this just makes her go to the other side of the sofa to get her pedicure.

So what is a cat owner supposed to do short of removing her precious claws?

Well, at this point, trimming her nails is probably your best option. Of course, this has crossed your mind before, but each time you wondered how you could possibly do the task and still live to tell the tale? And besides, whenever you get near that little ball of fur with the grooming instrument, she suddenly turns into a spitting ball of claws, and teeth!

So, if you’ve reached the point where you simply must take action, here’s some advice. Once you’ve decided to tackle the grooming of your kitty, it’s important to work up to that big moment. Jumping right in will only create a traumatic experience for your kitten and probably some cuts and bites for you.

So, the place to start is to get your cat accustomed to having her paws touched and massaged. Do this well in advance of any attempts at grooming, so she doesn’t associate having her paws touched with being groomed.

Next, do some research on the proper techniques of claw trimming. One thing you’ll learn is there’s a blood vessel running inside the claw that can bleed profusely if nicked. As well, a wound on her claw can become badly infected because your cat digs with her paws inside her litter box. No matter how clean you keep her litter, there’s always bacteria lurking in there. Therefore, it’s extremely important you avoid clipping too close to that blood vessel.

When you’re ready to attempt doing the clipping, be sure to get all the things you think you’ll need gathered together.

The most important tool is, of course, a set of nail clippers. When purchasing a set, don’t skimp and buy something cheap, and don’t even consider using your own nail clippers. Your clippers will probably just rip the nail and could cause some serious damage. Rather, visit your pet shop and invest in a set of heavy duty Guillotine-type nail clippers made from surgical steel. If you can get a set that comes with an extra blade, all the better since it will allow you to remove the other blade for sharpening.

So now what? It might be a good idea to practice using them before clipping day so you have a good idea how to hold them comfortably. You may also need a towel to wrap up your kitten. If she just doesn’t calm down, it’s probably best to wrap her snugly in a big, soft towel and work on her claws one paw at a time. It may be a good idea to enlist the help of a friend to hold on to your feline friend until the two of you have worked out a routine together. Finally, you’ll need a strong light to see the blood vessel that runs though the claws. Make every effort possible not to cut through this vessel!

Of course, there’s no guarantee you’ll succeed the first time around. If your kitten gets too upset, take a break for a few minutes, hours, or perhaps even days. If you only get one paw done, it won’t be the end of the world. It’s probably better to stop and let kitty regroup, rather than having her traumatized to the point where she runs away whenever you unpack the clippers.

And remember, scolding your cat accomplishes nothing. Cats, unlike dogs, don’t take kindly to harsh words, and they may develop a fear of you if you constantly scold them. The last thing you want to do is scare your furry companion, so be careful to trim her nails with common sense and care!

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Glenn Cutforth is a writer, eBook publisher and graphic designer.

Visit his websites at: The Complete Cat.com and How To Classics.com

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