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Why trim your cat’s nails?

In general, cats do not need to have their nails trimmed: they are very independent animals that can take care of themselves and their claws, which are essential for most of the movements of daily life.

However, indoor specimens don’t always have the opportunity to properly care for them. Even if they have a scratching tree at their disposal, they cannot walk quite as they would in the wild and therefore do not naturally “wear down” their nails.

For this reason they tend to attack the sofa and furniture. In this case, then we need to run for cover and lend a hand to our faithful ball of fur, cutting the nails with a nail clipper or a small file: cat nail accessories that cannot be missing at home.

Older or sick cats who don’t get much exercise may not wear out their claws as they should and will need to be trimmed from time to time so they don’t feel uncomfortable in everyday life.

How to do?

Per trim the cat’s nails correctly, it is necessary to have the right equipment, otherwise, you risk injuring the animal! That’s why it’s important to choose cat nail accessories that are up to the task.

In most cases these are small scissors adapted to the shape of the animal’s claws which allow the nail to be cut quickly, to the right length, without breaking it.

In addition to having the right accessory, the choice of the right moment must also be accurate. Cats don’t always like to have their nails trimmed and you need to keep Kitty calm when this happens.

First, place your pet in a comfortable position on your lap or on a table. The important thing is that you both feel comfortable.

Take the cat’s paw and gently press the cushion to release the claw, then cut with the nail clipper (only in the translucent part). If you cut too short, you will cut into the flesh, which is painful for the animal.

How to calm a cat while its nails are trimmed?

Cats rarely like to be forced to do anything, so nail trimming is no cakewalk for most felines!

If possible, get your dog used to having his nails trimmed from an early age, so as an adult it will be less stressful.

During each session, reassure him by petting him and talking to him softly. Seeing you relaxed, he will relax too. Remember to give him small reward snacks to get him thinking about something else or to reward his patience.

What are the peculiarities of a cat’s claws?

Cats’ claws have the particularity of being retractable: when the animal is not using them, they are inside the paw pads and come out as soon as Micio wants to grab or cling to something.

They are made up of keratin and contain the pulp with blood vessels and nerves, which is why they shouldn’t be cut too short.

The functions of the cat’s nails they are different: they are useful when the animal wants to climb or jump, but also to hunt and defend itself. Furthermore, Micio also uses them to mark the territory. The claws are therefore used by your little friend in almost all aspects of his daily life and for this reason it is necessary to take care of them in the best possible way.

What are the benefits of trimming cat nails?

It all depends on the lifestyle of the animal. If it’s a house cat, one who lives in an apartment or doesn’t get much exercise, it’s essential to trim its claws from time to time.

If, on the other hand, the animal spends all its time running, jumping and exploring its territory (perhaps outside), its claws will naturally shorten. In this case, there is no need to cut them to make them shorter.

Is trimming the nails painful for the cat?

The answer to this question is no, it’s not painful at allas long as you don’t cut them too much.

You can compare your cat’s claws to your nails: the white part needs to be trimmed, just like the excess of human nails. It is a nerveless excess, so there is no suffering.

The pink part of human nails is, however, very sensitive, if you cut it, it can bleed and it’s not pleasant! The same goes for Puss’ claws: you have to be very careful not to cut into the blood vessel area.