How Do I Trim My Kitten's Nails? | For Beginner (2024)

Cats mostly wear down their nails due to interactions with their environment such as scratching or hunting in the wild. Domestic cats carry these behaviors to a comparatively lesser extent and often have longer nails as a result.

However, it is not advisable to cut your kitten’s nails too short which makes her unable to scratch poles, trees, or scratch-posts. To make sure this should not happen, it is up to you to keep the kitten’s nails in good condition.

How Do I Trim My Kitten's Nails? | For Beginner (1)

Steps to Trim Your Kitten’s Nails

If a kitten’s nail is retracted she will feel extremely uncomfortable and in order to get rid of this feeling she will keep scratching almost everywhere. Therefore it is essential that you cut only the tips of the nails with clippers designed especially to cut feline-nails. Make sure that it is one of the best cat grooming tools from the market.

This way you can avoid causing any harm or injury which is obviously done unintentionally. You can buy best cat nail clippers and filers to cut and file your kitten’s claws. It is also advised to get Styptic powders to apply, in case your feline mate bleeds due to an injury.

Step 1: Wait for the Right Time

Make sure you begin a session when your furball is relaxed. Prefer to begin after a meal or after a long playful hour. If the kitty is calm you can do your job quite effortlessly.

Step 2: One Paw at a Time

Ask a friend to hold the kitty still. Wrap her up in a towel while keeping only her head open. Pull out just one of the paws at a time. This will help minimize the movements and avoid any scratching.

Step 3: Press the Paw Gently

Press your kitty’s paw gently to see the nails hidden in the furs. Try to see the tissues inside the nails which will look pink, red or black. If your kitty has a black claw and you cannot see the tissue then take her to the professional.

Step 4: Cut Only the Tips

You should not cut through the pink tissue which is called quick. You must cut only the tips; make sure not to cut too far. You just need to cut the point so it does not hurt you. Kittens have very tiny nails and therefore you should be very careful.

Step 5: Repeat

Repeat the same process with the rest of the claws. Keep out one paw at a time and wrap all others. This way you could easily do the task. Once your kitty will get used to nail cutting sessions, she will cooperate with you.

Step 6: Give a Tasty Treat

Do not forget to give your cat tasty treats as a reward for staying calm. Give her toys to play with and make the sessions playful and enjoyable for her.

Read | How To Trim Cat Nails And Claws

Other Useful Tips

Touch and massage your kitten’s paws usually, to get her used to it.
It is essential, both you and your feline be calm and patient during nail cutting sessions.
Associate the trimming of claws with positivity by petting her and giving her treats.
Try to relieve her stress and anxiety before beginning.
It is best to start cutting nails since kittenhood. She will grow with this monthly routine and will get completely used to it.
Do not force your kitty else it will end up in scratching or biting.
Never scold or punish your cat. You may train her by talking firmly at times, but also give her appraisal for her good job.

How Do I Trim My Kitten's Nails? | For Beginner (2)

Final Note

Let the nail cutting sessions fun for both of you. Use clippers meant specifically for cats to avoid any needless harm. Be patient and positive. However, if your kitty is getting aggressive then take her to a professional or a vet.

Never opt to retract your feline’s nails. Retracting nails is an unnecessary practice that could affect your kitty negatively. Moreover, declawing can lead to abnormal behavior in cats increasing their stress and anxiety.

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How Do I Trim My Kitten's Nails? | For Beginner (2024)

FAQs

What is the trick for cutting cat nails? ›

Take a paw in your hand and use your thumb and pointer finger to gently press down on the top and bottom of the paw on the joint just behind the claw. This will cause the claw to extend so you can quickly but carefully snip off the sharp tip and no more.

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How do you trim a kittens nails that won't let you? ›

What to do if your cat won't let you cut their nails? If your cat has a tendency to squirm, Miller said create a "kitty burrito" by wrapping them in a towel to give them comfort while you're getting to the nails.

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How do you find the quick on a cat's nails? ›

The pink part of a cat's nail, called the quick, is where the nerves and blood vessels are. Do NOT cut this sensitive area. Snip only the white part of the claw. It's better to be cautious and cut less of the nail rather than risk cutting this area.

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Do scratching posts trim cats' nails? ›

Therefore, a cat scratcher isn't really about sharpening or dulling a cat's nails—it's about removing the outer dead layers. Cat scratchers do not sharpen a cat's nails like you may sharpen a knife. Instead, the old, worn layer is removed to make way for the fresh layer underneath, which is often sharper.

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How do you cut a cat's nails without getting attacked? ›

Don't worry — practice makes perfect.

Put your cat on your lap.
Make sure they are facing away from you.
Take one of their paws in your hand and gently press on the pad until their claw becomes visible.
Cut only the sharp point at the end and avoid the quick (more on that in a bit)

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What happens if you don't trim your cat's nails? ›

If not trimmed or filed down, these nails can keep growing to a point where they are uncomfortable for the cat or may even curl back into their toe or paw pad. In some cases, long nails can get get torn out and cause bleeding or other problems for the cat.

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Is it easy to cut kittens nails? ›

Trimming a kitten's claws is just as easy as trimming your own nails, but you will need a special cat nail trimmer.

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Why do cats hate nail clipping? ›

Cats have very sensitive feet and don't care to have their paws handled. The pressure that a cat feels on the nail from the clippers also may be uncomfortable, though not painful. Cutting a cat's nail down to the quick is painful, however, and will cause a lot of bleeding.

Can I trim my cat's nails with human clippers? ›

Always use a pair of cat nail clippers. Don't use scissors or human nail clippers as they are likely to squash the claws and cause them to split. Hold your cat's paw in a position that is comfortable for them, but also easy for you to see their claws. You might need someone to help you if possible.

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What if I accidentally cut my cat's quick? ›

Also pick up a container of styptic powder or cornstarch. This will come in handy if you clip your cat's quick by accident and her nail starts to bleed. You can dip her nail directly into the styptic powder or first dampen it with a moistened cotton swab to ensure the powder sticks and stops the bleeding.

What are the best cat nail clippers? ›

Best for Safety: Necoichi Purrcision Clippers

They come with a thinner blade, which allows the user to see their cat's nails more clearly. Many happy reviewers report that the cushioned handles are easy to hold.

Do kitten claws fall out? ›

Shedding The Old Nail

When your cat's nail grows past the blood supply, the surrounding layer begins to crack to make room for the new nail. Each claw's nail splits and falls every two to three months on average. The old layer either falls off on its own or is most likely removed by your cat's scratching.

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What happens if you cut kitten nails too short? ›

Note: if you accidentally trim your cat's nail slightly too short, apply firm but gentle pressure with a paper towel or some cotton wool for up to 5 minutes to stem any bleeding. If there's significant bleeding, it won't stop or your cat seems very distressed, you should contact your vet for advice.