How to clip your cat's nails.

It is important for all those cat owners to provide proper care, and that includes keeping their nails trimmed.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• nail clipper for cats
• towel
• cat (obviously)

1. Before you do anything you will want to find a quite comfortable space to clip your cat's nails. Lay out the towel and place nail clippers in an easily accessible location. Also be sure your cat is calm. You will find this process will be much more successful if you and your cat are calm.

2. Bring your cat into the quiet room and carefully wrap in the towel (watch the tail- I like to place it to the side of the cat's body). When wrapping the cat think of wrapping like a burrito. Wrapping the cat in this fashion will protect you from the cat's back claws.

3. Hold the cat comfortably in your lap, but not too tight. Easily pull out one of the cat's paws to start clipping it's nails.

4. Place your first finger between the upper and lower pads under the cat's paw. Place your thumb on top of the paw and lights squeeze. At this point four nails should be clearly exposed.

5. Look at your cat's nail and you should see a quick (will appear like a sliver in the nail). Do not cut too closely to the quick. The quick is the blood supply and is very sensitive to the animal.
   Once you are able to find the quick, place the nail trimmer and clip.
   Remember, the faster you are able to clip through the nails the happier your cat will be.

6. After clipping the top nails slide your hand slightly down and inward to find the last nail. Lightly squeeze and clip.

7. Once you're finished with one paw, place it back in the towel. Depending on how calm your cat has been you may or may not have to re-wrap.
   
   Follow steps 3 through 7 on the second paw.

8. Now you will move onto the back legs and easily pull out one of the back paws from the cat wrap.

9. Follow steps 3 and 4.
   *Note that there are typically only four nails on the back paws.

Tips & Warnings

• I know I mentioned this above, but keeping yourself calm will really help the cat.
• I have found doing this process on my bed with the door shut has been successful. The bed is open and comfortable.
• You can do this with one person successfully, but if your cat squirms, then you might want to consider having a second person. One to hold and one to cut.
• If your cat appears to be getting upset quickly, let it go and try the process at a later time.
• Pay attention to your cat's behavior and attitude. If either front or back legs get loose you very well may get scratched.
• Remember, you are dealing with an animal and at times their behavior is unpredictable. There is a chance of you getting bit.