Can you trim cats nails

Cat claws are retractable , that means they are viewable only when they are extended hunting, climbing, self-defense … thanks to the flexor tendons. It is therefore necessary for them to sharpen their claws to maintain them.

For an indoor cat, a scratching post allows daily self-maintenance. When ageing, cats become less active. Or, place the animal on a table and lift one paw at a time.

You may even be able to convince a particularly sociable cat to lie back in your lap. Sign up to receive our exclusive e-book full of training techniques, problem-solving and important information about caring for your pet.

Now that you're in position and the cat's in position, put the claw in the right position, too. 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. Don't get too close to the pink part of the nail called "the quick," where blood vessels and nerve endings lie. Just like the pink part of a human fingernail, the quick is very sensitive; cutting into this area will likely cause bleeding and pain.

Release the pressure and immediately treat your cat. When your cat is calm and is comfortable with you touching her paws, you can now trim her nails. Several types of cat nail clippers are available. Organize your supplies: sharp cat nail clippers, a towel and styptic powder if a nail starts to bleed.

Place your cat in your lap with her facing away from you and your forearm over her neck. Gently wrap her in the towel if she starts to squirm. Before clipping, position the clippers perpendicular to the nail so you are cutting it from top to bottom; cutting side to side may split the nail.

Cut only the sharp tip of the nail. Do NOT cut the quick! Cutting the quick will be painful and cause bleeding. Cats having claws is perfectly natural - in fact they're so important to cats that 'de-clawing' is illegal in the UK.

It's always best to give your cat ways to wear their claws down naturally rather than clipping them. If they're given lots of opportunity to scratch and condition their claws, they're more likely to stay a good length so you won't need to trim them.

You can read our top tips to help keep your cat's claws in good condition below. This also means that when they walk, they can do so quietly and without getting stuck on anything.