Trimming your aggressive cat’s nails is probably the last task you want to do on your priority list. However, it’s something that must be done to ensure your cat has strong and healthy paws.
Nails that don’t get trimmed regularly can snag on an object causing your cat to yank hard to release their foot from the situation. This scenario causes damage to your cat’s paws and sometimes leads to a broken nail and unnecessary bleeding.
An aggressive cat can also lash out at pet owners by scratching and damaging the skin. Restraining a cat to cut its nails is recommended by professionals to ensure the pet parent and the cat’s safety.
At this point, you might be wondering how to restrain a cat from clipping its nails. A few techniques only require a bath towel, another person, your cat, and plenty of patience.
The following information will answer important questions and guide to on a safe technique to restrain your cat successfully for their next nail cutting session.
How To Restrain A Cat To Clip Its Nails
Why Cutting Nails Causes Anxiety and Aggression
A negative experience from the past often triggers anxiety and aggression in cats. Perhaps they felt pain when a nail was cut too short during a previous grooming session, or maybe they had an injured paw and didn’t allow anyone to cause it to happen again.
If you notice your cat has anxiety when they see the nail clipper coming towards them, it’s best to calm them down and consider restraining them with a towel or seek professional assistance from a groomer.
How to Gently Restrain Your Cat
The Towel Method
This method is popular among pet parents throughout the United States. It helps keep their cat safely wrapped in a towel which prevents scratches. The following steps will help you use this safe method for cutting your cat’s nails.
- Step 1 – Place a bath towel on a flat surface.
- Step 2 – Place your cat on the towel about several inches from the edge.
- Step 3 – Use the short side of the towel to wrap around your cat’s neck gently.
- Step 4 – Leave your cat’s face open so they can breathe through the process while at the same time pulling the towel over your cat to cover the rest of their body.
- Step 5 – Place the front edge of the towel under your cat’s neck.
- Step 6 – Make your cat feel snuggly in the towel by making sure they are wrapped inside comfortably and able to breathe.
- Step 7 – Once your cat is secured in the towel, you can carefully pull the towel back to expose one paw at a time and clip their nails.
The Two-Person Method
Some cats are challenging to deal with and require two people to get the nail cutting job done safely.
Here are tips for a two-person method for cutting your cats nails:
- Have one person hold the cat in their lap and secure them gently with their arms.
- Once the cat is secure in the other person’s arms, carefully trim each nail, then move on to the other paw.
No Restraint Method
You might be wondering how to cut your cat’s nails without restraining them, but some cats are peaceful and don’t require restraint during the task. If you have a cat that doesn’t mind getting its nails cut, try the tips below.
- Calm your cat by placing them in your lap and speaking softly to them about cutting their nails.
- Pet them and help them doze off to sleep while you gently caress their paw.
- Once your cat is sleeping or calm, trim its nails.
How to Safely Trim a Cats Nails
Safety is essential for trimming your cat’s nails, and using the right tools to do the job safely and correctly is critical.
Consider using the following tools the next time you cut your cats nails:
- Scissor-Type Nail Trimmers: These trimmers look like a standard pair of scissors but have a unique curve that is ideal for cutting nails.
- Nail clippers: This tool looks similar to a human nail clipper and features surgical steel blades and user-friendly handles to make the job easy and safe.
- Guillotine-Style Clippers: This specially designed clipper is professional-grade and should only be used by professionals or pet parents that have extensive experience cutting their cat’s nails.
Bottom Line
Restraining your cat in a towel is an easy and safe way to protect yourself as well as your cat from harm. As a pet parent, you know your cat the best and determine which method suits their personality the best. Always take precautions when cutting your cat’s nails, such as wearing long sleeves and using a pet-friendly nail trimming tool.
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