Among the natural needs of cats, scratching is at the top of the list.
ESSENTIALS FOR CAT NAILS
Scratching serves several purposes. For example, cats scratch to mark their territory. They also scratch to trim their nails. If your cat is an outdoor cat, then they probably use some tree around. However, if your cat is an indoor cat, a scratching post may come in handy. And if you do not have a scratching post … well, then you will find it difficult to stop your cat scratching the sofa - regardless of your opinion about that. Fortunately, we know you cherish both your sofa and your cat. So to make sure they get along, we've put some advice to protect your sofa from your kitty's claws.
Do you need to trim cat claws?
Cutting your cat’s nails at home, will give you an opportunity to get your cat used to a different type of handling. Also, it will allow you to run a basic check-up of their claws and look for any signs of injury, or disease. During a visit at a veterinary clinic, the vet will check the paws too, so if your cat is already accustomed, it will be less of a stress.
How to cut your cat’s claws?
1. Get your cat used to having the paws touched
Do not dive straight to the cutting, you will need to split the handling of the paw in different steps before you can make the paws touching enjoyable. Cats love treats, so use their little weakness to teach them how to cope with the handling. It may be food, or anything your cat likes. To help the cat better learn, a sound like a marker word or a clicker can be used. Your cat will eventually anticipate the reward as soon as they hear the sound, thanks to the repetition. Remember to always do the handling first, and then give the reward for long term acceptance of nail cutting.
Go through the different steps of handling at your cat’s pace. Respect the fact that they may not tolerate handling they will find too intrusive. If your cat shows signs of irritation or struggles, you need to stop immediately the session and allow some time for your cat to rest. When you start again, go back to previous steps your cat is already comfortable with.
2. Get your cat used to having its claws clipped
Cats experience a variety of sensations when their nails are clipped.That is why they need to get used to each of them individually.
Best way to trim cat claws:
- Get your cat used to having the paws handled
- The sight of the cat nail clipper
- The sound of the clipper
- The feeling of the clipper on the claw and the pressure at the end of the claw.
Be careful when you actually cut claws or your cat may be harmed. Make sure not to break a claw, or cut too short. The vet can help you out too.
To avoid any issues, watch the videos on helping your cat having the paws checked and claws clipped by subscribing to the blog. More content is awaiting for you to learn all the ropes of cat handling.