As a responsible cat owner, you know the importance of taking care of your kitty’s sharp little nails—not only for their health but also for your furniture! While our feline companions know how to keep their fur in tip-top condition, sometimes they need help maintaining their nails.
With the right approach, patience, and lots of pets, keeping your cat’s nails healthy can be a pleasant experience for both of you. Here are the steps to follow to take care of your cat’s nails while saving yourself some scratches!
Getting the Right Tools
Keeping your cat’s paws healthy starts with nail maintenance. This is why investing in a good pair of cat nail clippers is essential to make the task of trimming your cat’s nails as smooth as possible. Consider a comfortable grip and a safety guard to prevent cutting too deeply.
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Trimming your cat’s nails at home can be difficult, but having a professional do it can be expensive. With the help of great tools like Hepper’s Cat Nail Clipper Setyou can easily and quickly trim your cat’s nails at home. This set includes two pairs of stainless steel clippers with safety guards and locking mechanisms, along with a built-in nail file and a convenient pouch.
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so we can benefit from the unique designs of this cool cat company!
What Does It Mean to Keep Your Cat’s Nails Healthy?
A cat’s nails are like ours in that they will continue to grow if they are not trimmed. That said, cats can scratch with their claws—sometimes in inappropriate places, like your favorite couch—to keep them at an appropriate size.
However, checking your cat’s nails regularly is important to make sure they aren’t too long. Nails that are not trimmed often can curl in on themselves and become ingrown, which is painful for the cat and can lead to infections. Additionally, their claws can get stuck in carpets, blankets, or other areas, which can lead to injury when they try to free themselves.
Simply put, keeping your cat’s nails healthy means making sure they aren’t too long, injured, deformed, infected, or dirty.
The 5 Steps to Keeping Your Cat’s Nails Healthy
1. Trim Their Nails Once or Twice a Month
The health of your cat’s nails requires regular trimming. The idea is to familiarize your cat with this process from a very young age, but getting an older cat to be good at handling their paws and claws is possible. However, it may take more time and patience!
2. Handle Each Paw Carefully
It’s important to trim your cat’s nails in the position that best suits them, whether sitting, standing, or lying down. Choose a quiet place in your house where your cat is most comfortable, be comfortable, close the door, and most importantly, make sure your kids or dogs don’t come in!
To help your cat get used to holding their paws, try this exercise. When your cat is relaxed, gently touch the top of one of their paws, and then give them a treat. Repeat this several times, touching each foot separately and giving them a treat each time. With training, your cat should become more comfortable holding their paws.
If your cat seems stressed or trying to bite you, stop immediately and let your cat go. You can try again when they are calmer. If your cat seems relaxed and peaceful, it’s time to get a pair of quality cat nail clippers and get to work:
- Place your cat comfortably in the crook of your arm so that you are looking in the same direction.
- Take one foot in your hand and hold it gently but firmly.
- Gently squeeze the tops of their toes to expose the nails.
- Place one exposed end of the nail into the clipper ring, perpendicular to the nail.
- Squeeze the clipper to cut. Stop about 2 mm from the “fast,” as this sensitive area contains veins and blood vessels.
- Cut the tip of each nail.
- Repeat with each foot.
3. Provide Multiple Scratching Posts
You can safely encourage your cat’s natural instinct to scratch by providing appropriate outlets. Invest in scratching posts and other cat litter, available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and textures at pet stores or online. You can also give free rein to your creativity and DIY an original scratching area at a low price! For example, you can cover a post or large cardboard box with carpet or opt for sisal or rope-like materials for cats that tend to destroy sofas.
Place the posts in strategic places near your cat’s favorite scratching spots, such as near their resting areas. Some cat parents make custom scratching posts out of wood, carpet, fabric, or sisal and create cat trees with multiple climbing perches and hanging toys.
Whether bought or made, scratching posts should be sturdy, unlikely to tip over, and at least as tall as your cat when they stand on their hind legs with their front legs extended.
The Hepper Hi-Lo is the perfect alternative to a regular scratching post or cat tower and doubles as a fun and exciting way for them to keep their nails long. Cardboard is the main attraction, as we all know how much cats can’t resist, and the scratcher itself was created to encourage play with its multi-position design.
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If you are looking to keep nail trims to a minimum and your cat entertained for hours, the Hepper Hi-Lo Cat Scratcher is a must-have.
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so we can benefit from the unique designs of this cool cat company!
4. Check Their Paws Regularly
Take the time to check your cat’s paws regularly. Look for any signs of redness, swelling, or abnormalities in the nails or paw pads. Early detection of problems can help prevent potential complications and unnecessary pain for your cat. Furthermore, the more often you check your cat’s paws and nails, the better you’ll be at identifying potential health problems, such as infections, trauma to the nail bed, or ingrown nails. If in doubt, ask your vet for advice.
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5. When in Doubt, Ask for Help
Despite your best efforts, trimming your cat’s nails by yourself can be tricky. So, if you’re not sure how to keep your cat’s nails healthy or if your cat has specific nail-related problems, don’t hesitate to seek professional advice. A pet groomer can show you proper nail trimming techniques, while your veterinarian can make sure there are no underlying health issues that could be affecting your beloved animal’s nails.
Should You Trim Your Indoor Cat’s Nails?
It depends on your cat’s personality and how much they move around indoors, but usually, yes, indoor cats need their nails trimmed. In fact, indoor cats usually don’t fill their nails as much as outdoor cats do. The frequency of trimming depends on your cat’s activity level, how quickly their nails grow, and how much they tear their nails on scratching posts. As a rule of thumb, most vets recommend trimming your indoor cat’s nails every 2 to 4 weeks. However, if possible, avoid clipping your companion cat’s nails if they go outside, as they need their nails sharp to climb trees and escape potential threats.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your kitten’s nails healthy isn’t rocket science, but it does take some skill, practice, and patience. Some cat parents are lucky enough to have docile fur babies who let their paws be touched without a problem, while others may witness their beloved cat turn into a ferocious animal at a moment’s notice. caress In such cases, seeking advice from your veterinarian may be your best bet to avoid any potential injuries.
Featured Image Credit: Nailia Schwarz, Shutterstock
