Starting At The Bottom:
How To Keep Your Cat’s Nails Trim

Many cat owners who pay careful attention to keeping their pet’s coat and skin in great shape overlook a simple, but important, step in their home-grooming ritual: proper nail care.  Keeping a cat’s nails trimmed on a regular basis is critical to the health and well-being of the animal.  Nails that are too long will get snagged in furniture and carpets, and will place undue stress on the joints of  the paws.

You can have your pet’s nails clipped by a groomer or veterinarian, but why not consider doing it yourself at home?  Home nail care will not only save you money, it will also provide you with another opportunity to bond with your pet.

There is no set timetable for trimming a cat’s nails.  Since animal’s nails grow at different rates, the “right” schedule for clipping will vary from pet to pet.   If the ends of a cat’s nails show through the paw when they are retracted, they should also be considered too long.

You should clip your pet’s nails using the specially designed dog or cat nail clippers available at Pet Supplies “Plus.”  Hold your pet’s paw gently, but firmly, and apply some pressure so the nails protrude.  Begin clipping at the very edge of the nail, and work your way in a small section at a time. 

When you clip your pet’s nails, great care should be taken to avoid cutting the quick, the part of the nail that carries the blood supply.  If your pet has clear nails, it will be easy to see the line of demarcation between the pink quick and the rest of the nail.  Unfortunately, locating the quick isn’t nearly as simple in animals that have black or brown nails.  In such cases, it’s a good idea to shine a flashlight on your pet’s nails before clipping to see if you can spot the quick’s demarcation line.

If you still can’t locate the quick, you should trim off only a small portion of the nail.  In some animals, you will see a small black point in the middle of the nail as you trim it. As you continue to trim the nail, this black circle will increase in size.  When the circle becomes so large that it covers the entire end of the nail, you should stop trimming.

Do not panic if you do hit the quick of the nail.  This is not a serious injury, and your pet will recover.  Just follow this simple procedure: Apply direct pressure to the bleeding end of the nail for 5 to 10 minutes using a clean cloth, tissue or gauze pad.  Then apply a clotting formula (available at Pet Supplies “Plus”) to the injury.