Stay On the Cutting Edge
There are plenty of tools available to trim a cat’s claws; use whichever one works best for you and the animal. Some people prefer a special pair of scissors modified to hold a cat’s claw in place; others prefer human nail clippers, and still others choose plier-like clippers or those with a sliding “guillotine” blade. Whatever your tool of choice, be sure the blade remains sharp; the blunt pressure from dull blades may hurt an animal and cause a nail to split or bleed.
Take Paws
Some cats do well with no restraint at all, but most cats need to be held firmly but gently to make sure that no one gets hurt. Try resting the cat in the crook of one arm while holding one paw with the other hand. It can be best to enlist help and have a partner hold the cat, the cat’s back to their stomach, all paws facing out towards you.
Take a Little Off the Top
Now that you’re in position and the cats in position, put the claw in the right position, too. Take a paw in your hand, gently press down on the joint just above the claw. When the claw extends, quickly but carefully snip off the sharp tip and no more. Don’t get too close to the pink part of the nail called “the quick,” where blood vessels and nerve endings lie.
