How to Cut a Cat's Claw

By their nature, outdoor cats keep their claws from growing too long by scratching on tree trunks, fence lines and wooden siding. Your indoor cat may resort to using its nails on your furniture, door frames or your legs if there are no adequate scratching posts or toys available for them to exercise this natural instinct. The Humane Society of the United States recommends cutting your cat's claws every few weeks as a way of keeping your animal healthy and saving your skin and furniture from damage. Learning how to perform this procedure at home can save you money on vet bills and vexation at this natural feline behavior.

Things You'll Need

  • Nail scissors or toenail clippers
  • Styptic powder
  • Wet cotton swab
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the cat flat in your lap and drape your forearms over its front and hind ends to restrain it. You may need an assistant to hold the cat while trimming if your cat refuses your lap constraints.

    • 2

      Grasp one of the front paws in your non-dominant hand and gently pull the paw forward.

    • 3

      Squeeze lightly down on one of the toe pads with two fingers, extending the claw without hurting the cat. Look for where the vascular area of the nail --- the "quick" that holds blood vessels --- ends. The quick shows as a pink, dense area; the nail is translucent white.

    • 4

      Place your nail scissors or toenail clippers below the area of the quick and cut off the end of the claw. If you accidentally cut into the quick and cause it to bleed, dip a small amount of styptic powder on the end of a wet cotton swab and apply it to the end of the nail.

    • 5

      Proceed doing this to all toes on all four feet.