Clipping kittens nails?

[Jellybean83]

I've had my little kitten (8 weeks old) a week now and he has settled in well, such a joy to have around and such a boisterous playful nature but oh my gosh those needle sharp little nails are painful! Although they aren't breaking skin they are giving us all a painful little jab when we play with him.

Just wondering if it's safe to trim his nails with him being so young? What's the best thing to use, as in little scissors, cat nail clippers or nail clippers? I just want to snip the sharp little point off but I don't want to cause any damage. He is going to the vets on Monday for his first injection, should I wait until then and ask him to do it? It's just getting in the way of our enjoyment playing with him, esp DS. So would be ideal if I could just do it today. Thanks.

[Mybeardeddragonjustdied2016]

Scratching post. . I doubt it would be safe to hold a squirming bundle of fur and trim safely!

[Mybeardeddragonjustdied2016]

Scratching post... I doubt it would be safe to hold a squirming bundle of fur and trim safely!! Kittens have sharp claws....thats just really tough luck for us humans!

[Jellybean83]

Thanks for reply, we have a big scratching post for him, we got it the day after we got him, he does use it but it is having no effect on those little razor nails.

[BorpBorpBorp]

I would wait and have the vet do it, I wouldn't feel confident in my ability to do it safely.

[NotAPuffin]

We never clipped kittens' claws. We just said 'ouch!' indignantly and stopped playing if they scratched, and they learned not to use them. If you clip them, they're not going to learn that.

[QuestionableMouse]

I trim kitten nails until they learn to control them better. I use a pair of normal human nail clippers and do it while they're sleepy. I've done this to 5+ cats and never had a problem.

[QuestionableMouse]

Just to add, you only want to take the very top off, just to blunt the nail.

[Jellybean83]

Thanks for all the replies.

My intention is only to take the tiny sharp point off and no more, I'd never go further down the nail. Sometimes even when he's just walking on you the little claws are out and it's pretty painful, he does seem to have trouble controlling it, but I know he's just a baby and these things will come in time.

I might try one nail when he's asleep and see how he reacts, if too distressed or wriggly I'll stop, The last thing I want is to hurt or scare him.

[Lolloveswoody]

I didn't know you could clip cats nails, I always thought part of the 'joy' of having a kitten was the thousands of tiny scratches

[Jellybean83]

I haven't either to be fair, growing up we've always had cats and DP and I did have a cat a few years ago which we got as a kitten and of course you get scratched but this is something else, even my DP with his thick leather like tradesman hands finds his little claws unbearable and has to stop playing with him. Of all the cats and kittens I've had I've not experienced this much pain and the little claws are out all the time.

[QuestionableMouse]

I have a very hyper wiggly kitten and she's always been fine with me trimming her nails. My little foster kitten doesn't mind either.

[cozietoesie]

The trick is to ensure that it's not an unpleasant experience - like starting grooming early on - and carried out as part of a 'love in'. Oh - and to always use clippers that are robust and fast. (Usually means fairly new so that the metal hasn't relaxed beyond redemption.)

[FuzzyWizard]

Scratching posts sharpen their nails rather than blunt them. I have a pair of clippers with a guard thing that makes sure you can only take off a couple of mm at the end of the claw. I just get the clippers out when my cat is chilled out and cuddling and only do a few at a time over a couple of days. She doesn't seem to mind at all and since I've clipped her nails seems to get herself stuck on the carpet far less often. I only do front paws not back though.

[cozietoesie]

I think that they actually 'chew' their back claws - I have to help Seniorboy with his now because not only does he have no serious chewing teeth left but he can only manage to do his 'personal' grooming these days, being very elderly and stiff. I never touched his back claws when he was younger.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

i used to clip my first cat's claws...but he was a huge sook and just loved it!

nail clips and just hold the paw with a little pressure to pop the claws out, line the clippers vertically with the flatter sides and just snick the points off.

[Jellybean83]

Well I bought some small claw clippers from the pet shop today and clipped his nails. I waited until he fell asleep on my legs and gently done one paw at a time, he did wake and gave me a perplexed look but he was very good and sat still, only getting restless as I was on the last paw. Just cut a teeny tiny little bit off the end and I've been running the laser pen up and down his scratching post for him to chase just to smooth the nail in case there are any ragged bits. So thankfully not a trumatic experience for him. Thanks for all the advice.

[cozietoesie]

Well done. He should become familiar with the process soon enough - and you could always try some gentle grooming to get him in the frame of mind for it. A few passes over his back to start off with etc.

[QuestionableMouse]

A couple of dreamies after helps too.