Clipping cats claws - feasible and if so how?

[Galliano]

Our cat loves to make biscuits and sit on laps but his claws are always out so can be a super uncomfortable experience. He can get clipped at the vet on his pet plan but not keen on putting him through the trauma of cat carrier and car if I don’t have to. Does anyone successfully do this at home and if so are there any clipper recommendations or other tips?

I do this at home and use a normal pair of old nail clippers!

Sorry posted too soon- so I use an old pair of human ones. Main thing is to expose the nail fully from their paw so you sort of push down on the top of the nail bed and the whole nail comes out then just clip the top half a cm or so. I've got four cats and it will depend a bit on the cat as to how easy you find it. Two of mine are a doddle but the other two would be less pleased if I tried!

Depends on your cat, but I’ve managed to do it with most of mine. Husband wraps them in a towel and holds them while I do each paw. You can get clippers online which have little guards on so you don’t take too much off. The main thing is not to cut to the quick and cut it at an angle - have a Google for a video 😊

I got mine done at the vet one last time and looked to see how much nail was left intact on each toe when I got home so I could copy.

I did them next time myself (but not cutting off as much as the vet cut off) so I wouldn’t make the mistake of going too far in and cutting the quick as that would hurt and she’d not let me near her again!

I used regular people nail clippers but also got pet ones. I actually found the people ones easier as the others were very blunt.

Little and often worked for me. Even just one paw this weekend and another one next weekend. Etc. that way they were effectively done once a month although each one was at a different time.

If I tried all on the same day she got tetchy. Although sometimes I just got on with it if they needed done it I couldn’t be bothered messing about with it next weekend etc.

The outcome if such a mass clipping was that she sulked later!

Wrap cat in towel. Depending upon the cat, you may also need to cover their face - one of ours tolerates nail clipping (with normal clippers,) one does not and we have to suffer her howls. However, they always get treats afterwards. If I do not cut their claws they rip up my stair carpet, despite having loads of cat scratchers and posts available.

I do mine, I have pet clippers with a guard on so that you can’t clip too much and cause an injury.

I can do one of mine. The other would kill me in my sleep for trying

I've only ever needed to do one of my cats (he was an old boy of 19 and was no longer managing his own claws, so he kept getting his feet snagged on chairs and in the carpet)
I used to do a paw at a time when he was asleep.
Stealth clipping 😼

I have the same issue. My cat is very docile. She doesn't like having her claws clipped but does allow me to do it. I keep a spare pair of clippers upstairs for when she pokes me in the face and it's sharp!

I use these www.amazon.co.uk/OneCut-Clippers-Version-Trimming-Professional/dp/B07V36BTS9/ref=sxts_rp_s_sp_1_0?content-id=amzn1.sym.2f0cc99e-019c-4c32-8bdc-078737ba91db%3Aamzn1.sym.2f0cc99e-019c-4c32-8bdc-078737ba91db&crid=O3VZX2A6XUBH&cv_ct_cx=cat+nail+clippers&keywords=cat+nail+clippers&pd_rd_i=B07V36BTS9&pd_rd_r=36f4cb76-9730-4060-9ed6-9a9a1d65d22d&pd_rd_w=gabcy&pd_rd_wg=lvYMJ&pf_rd_p=2f0cc99e-019c-4c32-8bdc-078737ba91db&pf_rd_r=N7ZSSZ5SQ7DXHSWZHJNW&psc=1&qid=1661614116&sprefix=Cat+na%2Caps%2C83&sr=1-1-30c649cd-33b6-49d1-9f8b-8035bb525ef9here

they’re simple to use. Just look for the vein in the claw and make sure you don’t cut that far down. My cats are very dopey, I turn them over onto their backs and squeeze their paws to make their claws come out and get clipping.

Like others I use human clippers, usually the ones you get in xmas crackers! Perfect for the job. I just sit my cats outside, and lift their legs/paws, push the nails out and cut. I have to say though, that I always start them young, so they get used to it. They don't mind at all actually, much less than having the spot on, the minute they hear the foil they run for their lives. I have to undo it all secretly and then grab them when they are eating.

I guess you all have indoor cats?

Mine are all outdoor but two of them are extremely lazy so only go out to poo/wee and have a sleep in the sun then come back in! The other two are very active so I never need to cut their claws (and I'm fairly sure they wouldn't let me even if I needed to!).

I don't need to use a towel for my two. They just sit on my lap and let me do it. They are softy lap cats.

My cats live indoors but go put so need their claws to climb trees. Only totally indoor cats need claws clipping.

Only totally indoor cats need claws clipping.

Or in my case an old cat who no longer managed his own claws (even though he still went outside)

I'm a vet and I would not recommend it for cats that go outside. You never know when they may need to scramble up a tree or swat a threatening dog.
Old cats tend to retract their claws less and they may snag in carpets or even curl over and grow into the pads, so those can be clipped and need to be regularly checked. Press the 'palm' of the paw gently in your hand and the claws will project nicely to check them.
If you are clipping, use something very sharp as cats claws easily shatter under pressure. They are much more sophisticated structures than dogs' claws.

If your cat goes out don't do this, it's very unfair. They need sharp claws for climbing and fighting.

Agree you do not need to cut their claws if they are going outside. You don’t need to cut cats claws for maintenance - they will shed by themselves. They shed to keep sharp as this is their primary method of defense. If your cat goes outdoors cutting its claws is not advised because they will not be able to defend themselves or flee if needed. They use their claws for climbing & traction for jumping which they might well need if they came into danger. They won’t realise they can’t cling either.. I really wouldn’t do this unless they are indoors only 100% of the time. X

When my soppy girl got too old to manage her claws, I cut them with human clippers. She would give me her paw willingly and I could clip all four in one go but she would growl at me while I did it. I think it was her token gesture of dislike.

We've had our two cats for 11 years and they chew their own claws just like the little people they are!

We tried just clipping but it still pulled all the material and scratched the children. We ended up putting silicone claw caps on her (eBay) as she's an indoor cat.

Yes, mine are indoor cats.

Never heard of these, they look so funny. Does the cat mind them? Do they stay on?

At first she wasn't happy but about an hour later she seemed to accept them. Think it's because we got yellow ones. They drop off naturally as the nail sheds. They all shed at different times but it's quite easy to pop another one on. She hated being held for it though. No regrets however.

Cruel if it's these things
www.vettimes.co.uk/news/claw-covers-cause-for-concern-charity/