Should I be cutting cat nails? Cat claws are often used for hunting and climbing trees. This is also the way to for cats to mark their territories.
When sharpening the cat claws, cats will also secrete pheromones to mark the area they ‘own’. So, should I cut cat nails?
What is cat claws?
Similar to humans, cat claws consist of two parts: the keratinized part and the nail medulla, including the horns, the nerves and blood vessels. Cats will usually have 4 toes on their hind feet, and 5 toes on their front feet.
The fifth toe is the claw, corresponding to the human thumb. This is also the tool that helps cats climb more easily. The other four toes are named as ‘cat nails’.
Cat’s claws can retract and protrude, therefore only when they are hunting, climbing, or defending themselves, they would reveal their claws.
Usually, cats will not let their claws touch the ground to avoid claw erosion.
Should I be cutting cat nails?
With outdoor cats, it’s best not to cut your cat nails, because they may need for self-defense, hunt and climb.
For indoor cats, you should provide them a cat scratcher board, and let the cats scratch daily.
Sometimes, even though you have a cat scratcher board, if your cat still grinds her claws all over the house, you should can cut the cat nails a little shorter to avoid damage if scratching.
You can also use a spray bottle to get your pet scratching in the correct places.
As when your cats get older, they will become less active, but you should still cut cat nails and claws. As your cat’s claws grow longer, they will become more curved and penetrate the padding, which would cause cat nail infections and unsightly furniture.
Should I be cutting cat nails? Benefits of cutting cat nails frequently
- Cutting cat nails helps avoid scratches and injuries
- Cutting cat nails prevents torn clothes and papers
- Cutting cat nails is the best way to protect young children, avoid skin infections, and reduce the risk of cat diseases which can be transmitted to people.
It’s best to cut your cat nails from a young age to create a habit.
When cutting cat nails, you should choose a quiet place to avoid your cats feeling scared, with the following 5 steps:
- Pick up and hold your baby in your arms, letting your baby sit in the same direction as you.
- Gently lift your cat’s hands or feet.
- Gently press on the fingertips or paws to make the claws appear
- Cut the tips of the nail, only cut the clear part of the nail, not the pink path (these are the nerves).
- Grind the nails smooth, and avoid sharp ends, which will be more dangerous.
What if I cut cat nails improperly?
If you cut deeper into the pink part of the cat nail, it could cause a lot of pain for cats, as the pink parts are nerves and blood vessels.
- The cats would avoid you, as the future cuts would be much more difficult.
- Cutting cat nails too deep would make it difficult for your cats to climb and run.
- You can get scratched more easily.
Key Takeaways
So, should I cut cat nails? Absolutely yes. Cutting cat nails helps to limit scratching and destroying furniture. You should check regularly to ensure paws are always clean, trim properly which helps avoiding unnecessary skin infections..
🎉 Check out: How to stop cats from scratching furniture?
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