A cat may need its nails trimmed to keep them from splitting or breaking, and you may find it productive to trim off the sharp points of your cat's nails, if the cat is prone to kneading, scratching, etc.Once you get your cat used to it, it is fairly easy to trim its nails.Detailed instructions can be found on this page.
Step 1: Pet your cat's paws.
Start by helping your cat get used to having their paws handled.Wait for your cat to relax.Begin gently petting its paws while simultaneously petting the cat in its favorite spots (the back of the neck, under the chin, where its back meets its tail, etc.).For each paw, do this.The cat can either get up and walk away, or it can pull its paws away.Don't force it to do anything, but gently pet its paws when you have the chance.If you handle your cat's paws, reward it with treats and praise to build positive associations.
Step 2: Hold your cat.
Once your cat is comfortable enough to allow you to rest your hand on its paws without pulling away, begin to gently hold it's paws in your open hand.The bottom of the cat's paw should be on the palm of your hand.Give the cat a new treat that will only be associated with cutting its claws, and keep rewarding it with petting and treats.
Step 3: You can massage your cat.
After your cat is used to you holding its paws, start massaging them with your fingers.Rub your fingers over the bottoms and tops of each paw.Give your cat more treats and praise.
Step 4: Look at your cat's nails.
You should be able to gently squeeze the paws to push individual claws out without upsetting your cat.The thick part of the nail is visible when the cat's claws are extended.It is painful for a cat to cut a nail to the quick because it contains blood vessels and nerves.Don't cut a cat's nail close to the toe, your aim is to clip off the sharp point.It will look like a small pink triangle if you look closely at where and how large each quick is.If the cat has dark nails, you should look for one clear nail as a reference point for the others.
Step 5: The nail-trimming position is a good one to have with your cat.
If your cat is comfortable sitting in the right position to have its nails cut, it will put up less of a fight.If you're going to be trimming the cat's nails by yourself, you will need to sit on its rear on your lap, facing away from you, while you hold its paw with one hand.Have your cat sit this way and hold its paws.Press on the nail to extend it.Reward the cat with food and praise.If you need someone to help, they can cradle the cat, or you can hold the paw with one hand and clip it with the other.Have your assistant hold your cat while you gently press each claw until it feels comfortable.Give it treats and praise.
Step 6: Wait for the right opportunity to come along.
When you feel like it, you can't trim your cat's nails.When your cat is coming out of a nap, getting ready to sleep, or resting on its favorite surface is a good time to pick.After your cat has eaten, it is a good time for nail trimming.Don't trim your cat's nails after play time when it is hungry, restless, or in an aggressive mood.The cat won't be interested in trimming its nails.You may see that your cat has a broken nail, but don't cut it right away.If you want to make it worse, make a note of it and wait for your cat to relax before cutting it.
Step 7: Use the right tools.
If you want to cut your cat's nails, you need the right equipment.To trim your cat's nails, you'll need a pair of nail clippers designed to clip cat claws and a styptic pencil.All of the different styles of nail clippers do the same thing.The clippers are sharp, so they cut through the claw.You may end up squeezing the quick, which can be painful for the cat, if you use dull clippers.The scissor and guillotine clippers are the primary styles of clipper.Small and large sizes of scissor clippers are used to cut cat's nails.If you just need to cut the tips, the small pliers are a better choice.Older, tougher nails can be cut with larger scissor clippers.When you squeeze the handles, the Guillotine clippers use a blade that cuts the nail.The blade slides across the slot to clip the nail.Large clippers are better suited to cutting long, thick nails, but these are strong clippers that are good for that.The cat won't feel the quick clip if the clippers are sharp.If you suspect the blades have gone dull, discard them or send them for sharpening.If the nail ischewed by the clippers rather than a clean cut, this is a sign of this.You should have a styptic pencil on hand in case you cut the cat's quick, which is less likely with a cat than a dog.Styptic pencils can be found in the shaving section of a pharmacy.Blood vessels are cauterized when touched to the nail.You can stop the bleeding if you hold the styptic pencil to the claw for 1 - 2 minutes.
Step 8: Put your cat in the nail-trimming position with its back to you and its rear on your lap.
Hold the clippers in one hand and the cat in the other.You can extend the claw by squeezing the top and bottom of your cat's paw.
Step 9: There is a place where the quick and the nail are separated.
The quick will look like a small triangle inside the nail if you attempt to cut it.You should first cut the tip of the nails, and as you get more comfortable, you can cut closer to the quick, but not all the way, or you could hurt your cat and make its nails bleed.
Step 10: The nails need to be cut with the trimmers.
Cut the nails on the cat one by one.The trimmers should be positioned halfway between the quick and the claw.When the nail is cut, the blade cuts from the bottom to the top.This will make it harder to split.Try not to get frustrated.Your cat may protest, meow, and try to scratch you, but don't yell at your cat or rush through the process, or you may end up hurting it and scaring it away from having its nails trimmed again.At first, you may only be able to trim one or two nails at a time.
Step 11: Give your cat something to eat.
You should be rewarded for enduring it if you let you cut its nails.The treat should be special: vacuum-packed salmon or chicken.Cats like sour cream and butter.Your cat will associate a special treat with getting its nails trimmed.It will be less resistant in the future because your cat will want the treat after the nail-trimming part.
Step 12: Your cat's nails need to be checked regularly.
A good rule of thumb is to trim your cat's nails every two weeks and every month so that they don't get too long, split, or break.Keep an eye on your cat's nails, even though it will be sharpening its claws and keeping them in good shape on its own.If your cat has a broken nail, you can help it by trimming it.Older cats have thicker nails that can sometimes cut into the pads.If you have to clip the tip off your cat's nails, make sure to check their nails every week.Allowing the nails to get overgrown can cause them to impact into the pads.The cat will need to see a doctor if this happens.
Step 13: Your cat will trust a person.
If you get a stranger to help you trim your cat's nails, he or she will be even more scared.It sounds good to get your cat used to having its nails trimmed, but many cats will still protest every single time, and you may need some extra help to do it.
Step 14: The cat needs to be held in place by your helpers.
You can try to stand on opposite sides of a counter.Both of you should speak calmly to the cat.Try to keep the cat in place by having your helpers pet it and hold on to it without hurting it or scaring it.The other person can distract the cat from getting its nails trimmed by brushing it.The cat likes to be brushed under its neck or on its head.
Step 15: Hold your cat's paws in your hand.
Push down on the pad to extend the claws while holding the paw.Wait for your cat to calm down so that you can get a good look at the paw.
Step 16: It is normal to trim your cat's nails.
While you trim the cat's claws, your helpers will distract it.If you follow the directions in the previous section, you will be able to give your cat a painless nail trim.Give your cat a nice treat when you're done.
Step 17: It is a good idea to check your cat's nails regularly.
It is a good idea to trim your cat's nails every two weeks and every month so that they don't get too long, split, or break.Keep an eye on your cat's nails, even though it will likely sharpen its claws and keep them in good shape on its own.If your cat has a broken nail, you can help it by trimming it.Older cats have thicker nails that can cause them to cut into the pads.If you have to clip the tip off your cat's nails, make sure to check their nails every week.Allowing the nails to get overgrown can cause them to impact into the pads.The cat will need to see a doctor if this happens.