Can cats cut their nails?

Many experts believe that cutting a cat’s nails is very harmful. After all, for them they are a very important part of the body. In the life of an animal, they perform many important functions. With their help, she can successfully hunt prey, move along tree trunks and other surfaces, mark her territory.

Should I cut it?

When we take a cat or any other animal to us, we automatically assume responsibility for it. Each owner should understand that a cat without claws will be very bad. Therefore, if you want to cut them off for any reason, think, maybe the problem can be solved in other ways.

If a pet sharpens its claws on new furniture, then it needs to provide another place that is ideal for this. After all, she still will not stop sharpening them. This is necessary for the cat in order to remove dead cells.

If the cat often scratches you and the household, you need to watch your behavior. As a rule, animals do nothing for no reason. Perhaps you are behaving too annoyingly, and the animal does not like it. A cat in this way informs you that she does not like something. It is not necessary to cut the claws, you can just change your behavior.

But there are situations when clipping claws is indispensable. But it is important to understand that this is only a shortening of the nails, but not their complete removal. The removal procedure is very severe and is prohibited in many countries.

In what cases can clipping a pet's claws be called justified actions?

Sometimes the claw is sheared because it has broken off or delaminated. For medical reasons, he is carefully trimmed.

Claw structure

A cat can spontaneously release and retract its claws. To do this, she has a whole system, which consists of the claw itself, joints, ligaments, as well as special small tendons and muscles. If necessary, the animal uses this system.

If you do not go into details, we can say that the claw consists of a keratinized shell and pulp, which is the "living part". You can cut only a few millimeters of the keratinized part.

Instruments

Conventional scissors are not suitable for these purposes. After all, the device of a cat's claw is significantly different from the human. If you cut it with scissors, it can cause certain problems.

Today, there are specially designed tools for this. They can be purchased at a special store. They are called “clav clippers” or simply clippers.

1. Special scissors. In appearance, they look like ordinary scissors. The difference is that the edges of the blades are reinforced. They have a shape that allows you to cover the nail around the perimeter, preventing its damage.
2. Special forceps. This is an advanced option. They are slightly better than scissors, as they cut better.
3. Conventional forceps for people.

If you do not have special forceps, but you need to cut the claw of the animal, you can, in extreme cases, use ordinary forceps. But in the future, try to find specifically designed tools.

How to cut correctly

To properly cut the claws of a cat, you need to know a few simple rules.

1. Take the animal and lay it on your lap so that it is comfortable. Wait for the cat to calm down.So that the procedure does not cause unnecessary stress, the animal should be as calm as possible.
2. Take a tool in your hand and check its operation.
3. Take the paw of the pet, and with two fingers squeeze her finger, on which you want to cut the claw. After compression, the claw should be exposed.
4. Inspect the claw carefully. It is important to understand very clearly where exactly the claw itself begins and where the live part ends.
5. Place the animal’s claw in the tool in such a way that in no case hook the pulp, and then with a sharp and clear movement press the lever of the tool.
6. In case you hit a little pulp, no need to panic. The wound must be treated with hydrogen peroxide or other suitable means. Such a wound will heal normally. But the following claws need to be cut much more carefully.

Cut the cat’s claws only when this cannot be avoided. Remember that this gives the animal great discomfort.

Video: Do ​​cats need a nail cut?