How to Properly Use Cat Nail Clippers
Pet supplies for grooming come in a wide variety of products, from common pet shampoos and conditioners to special dog grooming scissors. If you are a cat owner, however, you may find that one of the most useful grooming tools in your pet supply kit is your pair of cat nail clippers. Most cat owners can attest to the havoc that a sharp-nailed cat-on-the-loose can cause, tearing up curtains, scratching up furniture, and damaging precious fabrics. For this reason, it’s important to keep your cat’s nails in check by clipping them every now and then. Here is a short guide on how to properly use cat nail clippers:
1. Begin early
The best thing for you to do is to begin clipping your cat’s nails while they are still a kitten. This helps to get them accustomed to the grooming task. Another tip is to pet, stroke, and play with your cat’s paws often, so that your pet gets used to you handling its paws. Using cat nail clippers can get tricky so make sure you do a lot of practice.
2. Make sure you car is comfortable
Once you are ready to begin the clipping, have your cat come to you and sit on your lap. Make sure that your cat is comfortable and not in a playful or restless mood.
3. Expose the claws
Once comfortable, grab one of the cat’s paws and press one of its toes to help extend and expose the claw. Examine the claw and look for the pink tissue on the inside of the claw. This pink tissue is your boundary, so never cut into this tissue or it can cause pain and bleeding.
4. Start the clipping
If you think both you and your cat are ready for the claw clipping, its time to get started. Get the nipper to the tip of the claw, avoiding the pink tissue. Aim to cut the very tip, or at most halfway between the tip and the pink tissue. Hold the cat’s paw firmly and clip the tip of the nail off.
5. Repeat the process for the other nails
Finally, just repeat the process for the other nails. If your cat starts to get restless or tired, it would be best to take a break and continue the task another time.
