Trimming your cat’s nails is a necessary chore for any pet parent. Here are the three ways you can get it done.
As luck would have it, none of my cats like having their nails trimmed. It’s almost a Herculean feat to get the job done, but done it must be.
Method #1 – Doing It Yourself
This is by far the trickiest method. You need to know what you’re doing before trimming your cat’s nails yourself. You’ll also need these grooming supplies:
- A cat-specific nail trimmer (we recommend this one from Safari)
- Towel, for collecting the nail trimmings
- Treats
- Styptic powder, in case you cut the nail too short (it will stop bleeding)
- Your cat
The last one is going to be hard to get, but your unwilling participant must be caught. Those of you fortunate enough to have a cat that likes (or simply tolerates) nail trimming should count your blessings.
Familiarize yourself with this instructional video on how to trim your cat’s nails and do your best.
Method #2 – Taking Your Cat To A Groomer
Most people live within driving distance of a grooming salon. If your cat puts up a major fight or you don’t feel comfortable trimming their nails yourself, a professional groomer is an option.
Chain stores like PetSmart offer grooming services, but I prefer private or small chain groomers myself. I’ve heard too many horror stories about Petco.
The average cost of trimming your cat’s nails at a grooming salon is around $10-15, but some areas may be more expensive.
Method #3 – Get Your Veterinarian To Do It
I didn’t even know this was an option until I mentioned to my vet that my cat hated having her nails trimmed. I suppose it makes sense; they do, after all, trim your cat’s nails whenever there’s a surgical procedure.
The cost was surprisingly cheap at $17. Loki the Therapy Cat makes a trip every other week to get his nails trimmed, but Misha and Tippy get too stressed. It’s much less stressful for me to just do it at home. My mother or sister assist me, holding whichever one while I trim their nails.
Which Method Is The Best For Trimming Your Cat’s Nails?
That’s a tough question. As far as getting it done right, I would say that the veterinarian’s office is your best bet. As long as your pet doesn’t get stressed out by the experience, that is. Dr. Khuly made a good point in this article from Vetstreet:
“Let’s be honest: Any pet who gets a nail trim only when it’s time to see the vet is receiving a dubiously beneficial service that often only serves to make him more afraid of the vet’s office… Go anywhere except the place where stress should be minimized at all costs, so a good attitude can be preserved for when injury and illness happen.”
I have the misfortune to live in an area where the local grooming businesses are somewhat shady. The pet store in the next town over has a horrible reputation, and I feel much safer taking Loki to the vet. That being said, the least stressful place to trim your cat’s nails is at home. There, they will be in an environment that they are familiar with, which will help keep them calm.
Wouldn’t It Be Easier To Just Get My Cat Declawed?
The Meow Place is STRONGLY AGAINST declawing. Despite what your veterinarian may tell you, declawing is their big money-maker. They don’t promote it because it’s healthy for your cat – it’s all about profit.
Declawing is more than just removing the nail. Veterinarians amputate everything at and below the first knuckle. It’s like a human having the tips of their fingers chopped off. Remember in the movie Roots when Kunta Kinte had his toes chopped off so that he couldn’t run away? That’s what declawing does to your cat.
This can cause numerous health problems for your cat. Having their nails trimmed won’t save your furniture, but there are a variety of alternatives that help with this problem. Here is a quick list of just a few of them:
Paws need claws! For more information on declawing, visit The Paw Project.
Have you ever tried trimming your cat’s nails yourself? What advice can you give to other pet owners to make the job easier and less stressful for you and your cat? Leave a comment below.
Oh my family is TOTALLY AGAINST declawing, too! MY V-E-T trims my nails at no charge when I go in for my teeth cleaning purr-cedures twice a year. Mom also discovered that I don’t mind when she trims them at home when I’m lounging around the house. The D-O-G on the other hand FREAKS out when Mom & Dad go to trim her claws! MOL!
Our vet does the same! It sounds like your sister doesn’t like nail trims one bit. Oh well. Can’t win them all, I guess? 😛
TW used to have the vet trim all her cat’s claw up until me. I won’t let anyone touch my claws. I keep them groomed by using my scratchers a dozen times a day.
Be careful Meowmy doesn’t sneak up on you when your sleeping and stealth-clip a couple nails! ;D
I have had cats all my life and never ever had to trim their claws but they have all been outdoor cats, as nature intended, and so perfectly able to keep their claws down by climbing and scratching.
Mollyx
Outdoor cats do much better without nail trimmings for the exact reason you just told me. Indoor cats, on the other hand, tend to require close attention to their nails. If they get too long, they can grow into the paw pad and cause a lot of pain. 🙁 Thanks for stopping by!
I also wonder where people come up wit the line, it’s nature to let a cat be in the wild. How can you say you love your fur baby in one breath then expose her to the wilds of nature?
My Vet agrees. He has to treat those poor babies who are attacked by wild animals that roam.
Our cat who got out by mistake was attacked and also had to have his leg amputated.
Sure there are feral cats that have no choice but to fight to survive , but why would a loving pet be Putin that position?
Yeah, once upon a time, before cats were domesticated, they were suited to the wild. Nowadays, however, domestic cats are safer (although it’s debatable whether they’re happier) when kept strictly indoors. If a cat has been kept indoors their whole life, it’s no wonder that they wouldn’t know how to survive if and when they got out. 🙁
It’s actually abuse to let your car wander out
Doors.
I agree with you. I feel so bad not letting my cat outside but I want her safe and germ free…too may fox in our neighborhood.
Nature , is cruel. For humans and for other animals. One of the great pleasures of pet ownership is to keep Nature at a minimum. I’d be thrilled to be cared for by affectionate overlords if it were an option!
Declawing is mutilation. Thank you for sharing that. So many people just don’t know!
A lot of people don’t know because veterinarians never mention it. We live in a world where money is the number one motivator, not the well-being of people, pets and the planet. 🙁
Cats being the incredible hunters that they are; wreak havoc on native wild life when free to roam outdoors. Not to mention the host of dangers your kitty may encounter. I don’t mean to preach to people but it’s important to think about all of the repercussions of pet ownership. ( :
Cats are only a fraction of the natural predators in the great outdoors, and it’s virtually impossible to accurately estimate how many birds they kill per year. As of 2014, 70% of domestic cats are indoor only. With a (very) roughly estimated US population of 10 billion birds breeding each year (20 billion during migration season), and the number of birds killed by cats being, at most, a shakily estimated 3.7 billion (and that includes stray and feral cats, not just owned cats that are killing), I’d say it’s actually a good thing that cats are keeping the population in check. The repercussions of NOT owning a cat, being the loss of life through euthanasia due to cats not being adopted, is of far more concern to me. Nature can take care of itself. As Dr. Ian Malcolm said in Jurassic Park: “Life will find a way”.
I just adopted a 2 year old cat for my 94 year old mother who lives with me. Tulip (our new kitty) scratches her and it’s terrible on such thin, aging skin! I don’t want to take Tulip back to KC Pet Project. What can I do?
First, I would separate the two cats for awhile if Tulip is scratching that hard. Our cats wrestle every now and then, but never hard enough to injure each other, so I think it’s an aggression issue with Tulip. Slowly reintroduce them over a week or so and see if that helps.
Secondly, you could look into getting nail caps for Tulip. I believe they’re called Soft Paws. They do need to be changed out as the cat’s claws grow, but they’ll keep her claws from doing damage.
[…] Grooming is very important for every kitty. Do you know the right way to care for your cat’s claws? Check out the helpful tutorial over at The Meow Place. […]
Trying to catch Misha and Tippy is always such fun. The look of betrayal kind of hurts.
what if the cat hisses at you every time you try to trim her nails?
Cats that react aggressively to nail trimmings should probably be handled by professionals, either at the vet’s office or a grooming salon. If you want to trim your cat’s nails at home, you must first get them used to the idea of having their paws handled.
Over a period of two weeks or more, slowly start to touch their paws more often. Start by simply touching your finger to their paws, then work up to petting their paws, then to gently squeezing their paws to extend the claw out. After that, try trimming one or two nails at a time until your cat gets used to it.
If you still aren’t able to trim your cat’s nails after that, it’s best to just let your veterinarian handle it. I trust the vet’s office more than groomers, to be honest.
When I want to take my cat to my vet for a nail trim, I swear she reads my mind. I don’t even bring carrier into the house, but outside apartment door. Anything I can give her or do to relax her?
Would like a couple thoughts