Do you have a cat and don't know how to stop it from scratching and ruining your sofa, furniture, and home upholstery? Then you should trim its claws!
The choice of whether to cut a cat's claws depends on the environment the animal lives in. It is strongly discouraged, in fact, to trim them for animals used to country life or, in general, to living outside an apartment, as claws are essential tools for their survival. But for those who live indoors, the situation is totally different and it may be necessary to shorten the claws for the health of the kitten and to avoid finding scratch marks on all the home furniture.
But is cutting a cat's claws the right thing to do?
Yes, for indoor cats, the process of trimming claws is useful, easy and safe. Our additional advice is to always have a scratching post handy, as felines naturally scratch rough surfaces to file their claws.
How to cut a cat's claws?
What to keep in mind are choosing the right moment and knowing to be gentle, precise, and calm.
To proceed with cutting, you just need a small animal clipper, and the first step is choosing the right time. Avoid cutting when your cat is playing or fully active, but approach them when they are relaxed or curled up near you. You can also try wrapping them in a towel to hold them more steadily. Remember that it's important that you stay calm so you don't unnecessarily agitate the cat.
At this point, take the paw and gently apply pressure on the pads so that all the claw is exposed and proceed to cut the transparent part of it. Be careful not to cut the pink part of the claw; it is extremely sensitive, so only cut and shorten the claw as needed.
How often to cut the claws?
It depends on the cat's habits, the speed of claw growth, and their health condition. In general, the advice is to cut them about once or twice a month, but check the paws every week and watch for any infections or ingrown claws that will require a veterinarian's intervention.
Cutting a cat's claws isn't difficult, and over time it will become a routine task. We suggest to make the process fun for your little companion, preparing some “treats” like Snack Life to use as rewards for their patience.