People who keep cats know how difficult it can be to clip their nails. These cuddly felines are notorious for not wanting to cooperate, and they’ll use all their strength and energy to get away from you when you try to restrain them with any collar or harness.
If done incorrectly, clipping your cat’s nails can result in bleeding, pain, and stress. While many techniques exist to properly restrain your cat so that you can cut its nails, some are safer than others. Get to know how to restrain a cat to clip nails in the best possible ways.
No Physical Force
No matter how much you dislike clipping your cat’s nails, it would help if you remembered that using physical force or causing them stress will only make them more likely to scratch you, move around too much, and even panic.
Instead of pressing down on their paws or trying to physically control them, distract them with treats or laser pointers until they are calmly sitting still long enough for you to clip their nails.
Put It on a Table
Cats are notorious for being uncooperative when it’s time to get their nails clipped. Getting it to stay still can be difficult, but if you pick it up and set it on an elevated surface, your cat feels uncomfortable and may stay in place while you trim its nails.
Wear Gloves
Before you even approach your cat, always wear gloves. Cats’ nails are very sharp and can cause painful cuts if you get too close. Gloves protect you and your pet from any potential scratches. In addition, gloves will prevent bacteria from entering through tiny nicks in your skin.
Clip the Cat’s Front Claws First
This is one of the best answers to ”how to restrain a cat to clip nails”. It’s easier for you to control your cat for nail clipping if you first begin with its front claws. That way, it won’t try to wiggle out of your grip or scratch or bite you because it doesn’t yet feel threatened.
Give Treats
The best way to get your feline pet relaxed with nail clipping is to give it treats when you’re trying out different techniques. This is known as positive reinforcement, and it works wonders for training cats of all kinds.
Work on One Paw at a Time
Work on only one paw at a time. Even though many cats are pretty good about getting used to having their nails clipped, it can still be very stressful for them – especially if they’re young kittens who have never had their nails trimmed before.
Why Clip Your Cat’s Nails?
Long claws can tear up your furniture, scratch you or other animals in your home, and ruin the flooring. Plus, long nails are often uncomfortable for cats, particularly when they’re not trimmed regularly.
Clipping your cat’s nails regularly can help you catch health issues before they turn serious, saving you money and time at the vet, which is why a more significant number of people are searching for tips on how to restrain a cat to clip nails.
The Bottom Line
The best way to restrain your cat is by wrapping it in a towel or blanket. If you don’t have either on hand, try immobilizing your cat with a cat carrier. However, if neither is available, simply pinning your cat down will do.
But make sure not to allow your kitty to thrash around too much as you can inadvertently cause damage. And lastly, remember that even though they can be intimidating at times. It just takes practice and patience. Don’t let your impatience harm your cuddly feline partner.
