When Should I Cut My Cat’s Nails?

SheedMan Chiropractic Dr. Matt Hurst/Flickr

Your cat has a natural flair for art, and it’s no surprise that he also thinks his nail cuts are art. From pink tips to paint splatters to sparkly studs, finding a style that fits his personality can be tricky. But once you nail the right nail shape, it’ll come naturally. That means trimming cats’ nails so they look nicely split and drawn in, as opposed to as cuticles that resemble the tip of a pickle. Here are a few pointers on when to trim a cat’s nails, and how to do it.

Cut short

If you have a medium-sized, older cat with short nails, you don’t need to trim as frequently as you do if you’re looking to trim small, finger-like nails. After the first few years, short, wide-appearing nails will begin to elongate and split before eventually becoming permanent. Think of a growing cat as being like a pair of bellies; when the belly is longer, it becomes a different shape. Nails extend past their natural length once it has become attached to your cat’s body, so it’s probably easier to keep the nail length proportionate to the cat’s overall body size.

Firm cut

When you want to trim your cat’s nails, you don’t want to rip them apart like hair with scissors, so use a metal nail cutters. The brand Neat helps out with making them in those shapes, and they can be found online as well as from pet stores. Neat nylon nail cutters are also good for a place to pair with an item like the Yardstick Tuck drawstring bag that was recently recommended to us by Raquel’s Bag Shop in Elkhart, Indiana. The bag allows cats to hang onto their metal nails without ripping them apart when they’s adopted their new doggie bed. This bag isn’t just for cat nail pets, it’s safe to use on all pets, but it’s especially safe for cats, where the tools they use can be dangerous. It’s always a good idea to never use direct nail files or claws (your cat’s claws will come off on their own at some point) in order to prevent any injury.

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Be gentle

Making a sharp cut in an animal can be troublesome, as the cat might not “see” the point of the nail. Therefore, not cutting the cuticle (where the nail meets the skin) too deeply might be the best approach. It’s better for the cat’s anatomy (which often includes different bones and cartilage on each side) to try and let the nail itself split on its own, rather than being distracted by this process of an animal healing. Dr. Shivan Bhagavatkar, of Suriki Chiropractic and Animal Hospital, tells POPSUGAR that he generally cat “only has to receive a few spines, but if it’s of a dog or a horse then the cat is forced to have a root.” If your cat’s teeth are normally attached to the backs of their nose, then the veterinarian should make sure that the cuticle is fully tucked in place or the cat could develop a tongue split. Do your research and figure out which ends you need to cut, so that you’re helping your cat at the right time.

Splash it on

If you have an older cat and the nails that are currently split are longer than the surrounding tips, then you should trim those tips as well. If you have a top-feeding cat or a cat that frequently has a new source of regular supply, then you can’t just sit back and let the nail length dwindle down. Cutting these tips can then allow your cat to access different areas in order to get milk and water, and so on, rather than getting tunneled into one area at a time. It might be beneficial to apply a special nail lubricant like Miracle Gel. From there, just let them grow back shorter, and you’ll be surprised at how these new tips look.

Add more force

If you get your cat to run his nails back and forth between the two end of your nail, you can watch the natural nail split at an even faster rate. When the tip of a nail pokes out to get a new base, it’s usually at an angle that can help your cat see the edge of the end. This can also cause damage if the cat paws at the nail when adjusting the ends, so he’ll only notice the side.