Do you have to cut a cat's claws?
Many people wonder whether it is really necessary to trim a cat's claws. This simply depends on whether your kitty is an indoor or outdoor cat. Outdoor cats live a completely different life than cats that are mostly indoors, and often need their claws for practical reasons - for example, if the cat has to climb a tree to escape from another animal. Indoor cats, on the other hand, do not face the same struggle for existence, and trimming a cat's claws can therefore be a good idea to maintain their claws and make sure they do not become too long. You can book an appointment for claw trimming at our small animal clinic if you are in Larvik, or Buy a claw clipper at our online store.
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Potestelle with the outdoor cat
Although you don't necessarily need to trim your outdoor cat's claws, regular paw cleaning is helpful. It can be smart to wash the cat's paws to prevent the cat from carrying dirt and bacteria around the house, while also ensuring that the cat doesn't ingest anything toxic when it washes its paws itself. Paw washing can be done daily using a wet cloth and gentle movements.
Outdoor cats can from time to time also get cuts, chips or wounds on their paws, and then it is good that you as the owner discover this as soon as possible in order to clean the wound or remove the chip. If you should discover blood, pus or a bad smell, we recommend that you contact a veterinarian.
Read how to treat wounds in cats.
Claw clipping 101 - how to cut your cat's claws correctly
First and foremost, the surroundings should be calm and safe when you are cutting the cat's claws. It is also wise to choose a time when the cat is tired and sleepy - not when it is playful.
- Gently take one of the cat's paws in your hand and massage it between your fingers, paying attention to the cat's reaction. If it remains calm, you can give it a treat - but if it pulls the paw away, it's best to let go and try to grab it again when the cat is calm.
- Then take the paw in your hand again and gently press on the pad of the foot so that the claw comes out. Now that you can see the claw properly, it is important to identify the part of the claw that contains the nerves and blood vessels, which is called the pulp. This is very sensitive and should NOT be cut. Only the outer, light part of the claw should be cut.
- If you are unlucky and cut too far in, this is not dangerous – but it is wise to remain calm and stop any bleeding with a cotton ball.
- Now you can cut off the tip of the claw. If it went well for the cat, you can move on to the next claw. Be sure to give lots of love and perhaps some treats as a reward. It is enough to start with a couple of claws at a time to avoid the negative associations.
Claw clipping on cats can, in the same way as nail clipping with us humans, be done regularly every 7 to 14 days.
