Trimming your cat’s claws may be necessary, but it is not an easy task for all cats or for all cat owners. It may look easy and not all cats mind claw trimming, but it can be a huge problem if your cat hates it and gets aggressive. You may even have to restrain your cat to clip its nails but that should only be used as last option.
There are many reasons why trimming is needed, for instance, protecting your furniture from damage and preventing deep scratches for humans.
How to trim the claws of and aggressive cat
Here are 8 tips to follow for trimming the claws of an aggressive cat:
1. Learn the Basics
Trimming a cat’s claws should be as painless as cutting your own nails. If your cat is acting aggressively while you are trimming her claws it might be because you are inadvertently hurting her.
Make sure you not to cut too close to the pink or red tinge at the base of the claw. It is going to bleed a little if you accidentally cut the quick which contains the blood vessels and the nerves. This will cause pain for your cat.
2. Have the Cat Familiarize to the Sound of the Clipper
Cats may freak out when they hear the sounds of the clipper or even when they see it. You might want get her used to its sound before attempting to trim the nails.
This other tip may come handy also. Try putting the clippers in your cat’s bed so he’ll become more used to them. You can also stroke him with the clippers to remove any fears from it. You may try giving him some treats at the same time.
3. Trim While the Cat is Sleeping
This is one of the easiest ways and probably works best for me. Get her when she is relaxed and even sleepy. Place her in your lap and wait until she is comfortable. Then take the paw, gently massage it until the claw appears, and clip them one at a time. This works best if she’s in a deep sleep.
If things go well, by the time the cat is fully awake, I’m half done with the claws. I just stop and continue later when she is asleep again.
4. Wrap the Cat in a Towel
You might try to wrap your cat in a blanket if she is an aggressive one. But coming from experience, wrapping the cat may only make her more agitated and less likely to obey.
5. Trim When the Cat is Curious
A new environment, places she is not allowed to or things she is not used to, are the best distraction for your cat. It may be in the garage or outside on the porch. Fresh air tends to help distract cats too if they are not used to it.
For example, a cat may become so curious inside a vet’s office which can make it easier for the vet to cut her nails very easily.
While doing it at home, I put her on our bathroom counter and she gt so distracted by the new things she saw that she did not care mind trimming at all.
6. Use Calming products such as CBD oil or Pheromones
Many cats react positively to CBD oil such as the Chill Paws.
Another option is to use synthetic pheromones that mimic the natural chemical that cats use to communicate with each other are called Pheromones. They are spreading it whenever they rub up against a couch, the carpet or some other piece of furniture. Recommended product: Feliway Spray.
7. Play with your Cat’s Paws Regularly
Play with your cat’s paws regularly and you can do this while she is awake or sleeping. This will allow her to be accustomed to you touching her paws. Then when it is time for nail clipping session, she is not so supprised to have her paws handled.
You can start pushing the pads of her paws to push her nails out once she is used to. This make her more comfortable and she may even enjoy it.
8. Obey the DONT’s
These are few things you should not do while trimming your cat’s nails:
- If your cat is moody, upset, or overexcited, DO NOT start clipping the nails. Instead wait for her to calm down for a better opportunity.
- DO NOT force your cat. If she suddenly scratches you, DO NOT punish the cat.
- DO NOT declaw. This painful experience will lead to behavior problems since it will leave your cat injured for life.
By following one or several of these tips above, you should be able to make nail clipping and happier and hassle-free experience for both the cat and yourself.
My cat goes ballistic. I’ve got the scratches to prove it. We’ve even tried sedatives from the vet but we can’t even administer those. I’ve had 3 cats who lived over 15 years – all declawed. Never again after this little squirming wild man. He’s Likely on his way to cat prison