How to Cut Your Cat's Nails

Plus why you should never declaw

When your kitty’s claws end in sharp points, it’s time to nip the tips, not only to protect you and the furniture but also to prevent a broken claw (ouch) when the sharp point gets stuck in the carpet. Some cats are freaked out when the clippers come out. If you weren’t able to accustom your cat to nail clipping when she was a kitten, ease into it. When your cat is sleepy and on your lap, gently massage a paw and press one or two pads for a few seconds, so the nails are extended. Give her a little treat. Repeat every few days and then bring out the clippers, trimming one sharp nail at a time or more if she didn’t notice and doesn’t wriggle free. And stay on the cutting edge with sharp nail clippers. A trim every two weeks is advised but older and arthritic cats may require a trim more often, advises the Humane Society of the United States.

While declawing your cat may sound tempting to avoid any further destruction to your property, it is most definitely horrible for your cat. Declawing is an amputation; it is not merely the removal of the claws. To declaw a cat, the veterinarian cuts off the last knuckles of a cat’s paw—cutting though bone, tendons, skin, and nerves. In a person, it is equivalent to amputating each finger or toe at the last joint. The surgery is also an extremely painful procedure with associated health risks and complications such as infection, permanent lameness, pain or arthritis. Be kind to your cat, don't declaw.