How to Cut Your Cat's NailsAt first, cutting your cats nails may sound like a scary task, but it's actually quite easy once you know how. You first need to make sure your cat is comfortable with having his/her paws touched. If not, spend a few minutes each day for 2-3 days petting your cat and massaging your cat's feet in the process to encourage this being seen as a positive experience. If your cat seems uncomfortable about it you can always speed up the process with a little bribery! Just dish out treat or two while touching your cat's paws. Next, take your cats paw and squeeze it very gently until you see the claws retract. The nail should be clear at the tips and have a pink area (the “quick”) closer to the base of the nail. Take some nail clippers that are specifically designed for cats (I recommend the 'plier-shaped' ones) and clip the nail between the quick and the tip of the nail. Be careful not to cut into the quick, as this will cause pain and bleeding. If the nail does begin to bleed, you should apply pressure to the tip of the nail with either a cotton ball or tissue, and then apply a substance called “qwick stop” on it, sold at most pet stores. Or, as a substitute you can put a little bit of cornstarch on the tip of the nail and then apply pressure to stop the bleeding. If your cat has black or dark colored nails and you cannot see the quick, I would recommend just clipping the very sharp points of your cats nails or taking your cat to a vet or groomer. You can attempt to do it yourself, in small increments. You'll be able to tell when you are getting close to the quick because the inside of the nail will get darker and softer the closer you get – but trust me, when it comes to dark nails it's pretty tricky, and a vet or groomer will be able to handle the situation best.
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