Guillotine nail clipper how to#
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Because your cat's quick is filled with nerve endings, you do not want to cut into it. A vein, called the quick, runs down the center of each nail. Like human nails, a cat's nail is made of keratin, a hard protein. Called polydactyl, cats with extra toes also have extra nails, so make sure you find and trim them all. The back paws each have four claws and no dewclaws.

Guillotine nail clipper plus#

Most cats have four claws on each front paw, plus a dewclaw, which is higher up on the inside of the paw - sort of the equivalent of a thumb. Once the cat is comfortable and you're comfortable handling the nails, go ahead and start clipping the nails.' 'This way, they get used to having their paws handled and their nails exposed. 'If you do it a couple of times a day over a week, eventually the cat sees that nothing bad happens,' Grader said. This might be the time to break out the canned tuna or pieces of cooked chicken breast. Pet your cat and offer some of their favorite treats. They pull the paw away when you clip and then you cannot be accurate.'Ĭalmly sit with your cat and gently touch their paws, toes, and claws. 'One of the reasons accidents happen is because the cat is not calm. 'Some cats have very sensitive feet and some of them don't like having their feet touched,' she said. Grader recommends that you first desensitize your cat to having their paws touched before diving right into nail trimming. If you try to hold your cat too tightly, they will likely struggle to escape. The key to trimming cat nails is to use gentle but minimal restraint. Kwik Stop Styptic Powder is a tried-and-true brand.Īnna Petrova Ilieva-Alikaj/EyeEm/Getty Images If you accidentally cut the quick (the vein that runs through the nail), a styptic pencil or powder can help stop the bleeding.

Look for a grinder made for pets, like the Dremel Cordless Pet Dog Nail Grooming and Grinding Tool or the Wahl Premium Nail Filer.ĭon't forget to pick up a styptic pencil or styptic powder, which are anticoagulants.

Grinders: Grinding tools like a Dremel can work wonderfully to slowly and gently file down a cat's claw. The Resco Deluxe Pet Nail Clipper is a guillotine-style clipper. Squeezing the clipper handle brings a sharp blade down and across the nail to neatly slice it off. Guillotine style: This style of nail trimmer has a fully enclosed loop that you insert the nail through. A classic example of this style of nail clippers is Millers Forge Pet Nail Clipper. Small, curved blade edges come together to clip the nail when you squeeze the handles together. Pliers or scissors style: This style of cat nail clippers looks similar to wire cutters or miniature hedge clippers. You can buy a small-sized pet nail trimmer that's suitable for both dogs and cats, or you can purchase cat-specific trimmers, which are generally small and ideally suited for trimming cat nails.Ĭat nail trimmers come in several different styles: To safely and effectively trim your cat's nails, you need the correct tools.

Guillotine nail clipper how to#

Here's how to trim a cat's claws step by step and what you need to do it: Sometimes, a cat's rear nails don't need to be trimmed at all. You might need to just clip the very tips of the rear nails. This is likely because some cats wear down their rear nails naturally as they run and climb. The nails on the front paws are often longer than the nails on the rear paws.

Trim your cat's nails about every two weeks. If you have all the equipment you need at home, your veterinarian can watch via video conference, offering tips and guidance. Grader said this is something that can even be done virtually, with a telemedicine appointment. Most veterinary staff and groomers are happy to provide a quick lesson. Don't hesitate to ask your veterinarian or groomer to show you how to do it. If you've never trimmed your cat's nails, the prospect of doing so might feel intimidating.

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'This causes injury, infection, and inflammation to the paw pad.'Īdditionally, as all cat owners know, longer nails lead to more accidental scratches on your skin and allow cats to inflict more damage if they decide to scratch your furniture. Irit Grader, DVM, assistant professor of clinical primary care medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. 'If the nails aren't trimmed regularly, what we see, particularly in cats, is that the nail grows all the way around and actually penetrates the paw pad,' said Dr. If allowed to grow too long, they could snag on carpet or furniture and tear, causing painful injuries. A cat's claws grow continuously, just like people's and dogs' nails. All cats need their nails trimmed regularly.