If you’re new to cat ownership, you may feel hesitant about handling your pet’s claws. However, they need healthy claws to ensure they can climb and play with ease. Maintaining their nails will also help prevent them from ripping up your furniture. Here are a few tips to help you address this aspect of pet care.

5 Pet Care Tips for Cat Claws

1. Provide Scratching Posts

Cats can receive a lot of their routine claw care independently by using scratching posts or mats. As they scratch at these accessories, they will gradually remove outer layers of the nail to prevent problematic growth. Set up a few of these items throughout your house, so your new pet can easily access their self-grooming tools.

2. Follow a Trimming Schedule

While scratching posts can help with claw control, you’ll still need to trim the nails about once every two weeks to keep them at an acceptable length. You can also tell that your cat needs a clipping if their claws can’t retract or have become curved.

3. Invest in Quality Clippers

If you’re trimming your cat’s nails at home, ask your veterinarian to recommend a high-quality set of clippers. The pet care products should be sharp enough to cut through nails with one quick squeeze of the handle. Using clippers with old or dull blades can be uncomfortable for your pet and cause the claws to split.

4. Take a Gentle Approach

Trying to clip claws when your cat is anxious will stress them out and make them less willing to comply with future trims. It can also trigger an aggressive reaction, which may result in you getting scratched.

To help your furry friend stay calm, adopt a slow and gentle approach. Petting the animal or massaging their paws will help ease their nerves.

5. Block Any Bleeding

Before you clip off a claw, position the blades to rest above the pink area of the nail, also known as the quick. Cutting into this area can cause pain and bleeding. If you accidentally hit the quick, apply styptic powder to the top of the nail to stop the bleeding.

Providing veterinary medicine for cats and dogs, The Pet Clinic will help you start your feline friend off on the right paw. Backed with state-of-the-art pet care resources, this animal hospital can tend to grooming concerns, treat claw injuries, and address dermatological health issues. They also offer kitten vaccinations to help your new companion steer clear of serious diseases. Visit this Honolulu, HI, veterinarian online to learn more about these services, or call (808) 946-5096 to schedule a convenient appointment.