[Supervised by a veterinarian] Video explaining how to cut a cat's nails! We also introduce countermeasures when you don't like it

How should I cut my cat's nails?
The procedure and points to be kept in mind are summarized in the video, so please take a look here first.

Cats are animals that can move their claws in and out at will. When hunting or climbing a tree, the claws are put out, and when approaching for prey, the claws are retracted to hide the footsteps.
Cats living outside can freely manipulate their claws to act, so their claws will naturally be scraped off and kept at an appropriate length. However, if the cat kept indoors is left as it is, the claws will be sharp, and as a result, the claws will grow too much.

Some may wonder, "Cats do their own nail clippers, so they don't have to cut their nails." However, nail clippers and nail clippers are different in the first place.
The cat's claws are layered like onions. The act of peeling off the layer of old nails and bringing new nails to the front is the act of nail cutting. Therefore, the length and sharpness of the nail itself will remain the same even if the nail is sharpened.
Regular nail clipper care is needed to keep your cat's claws long and sharp.

Leaving the claws of an indoor cat stretched often causes inconvenience to both the cat and the owner. Let's see what kind of inconvenience will occur.

If you leave your cat's claws stretched and sharp without cutting them, the owner may get hurt by a small act such as flirting with the owner or jumping on his lap. Also, in the case of multi-headed cats, there is a risk that the cats will be injured each other when they play with each other or have a fight.
There is also the risk that the walls and furniture inside the house will be damaged by the cat's claws, although it is not an injury.

If there are certain bacteria on the nails, scratches are not enough, and there is a risk that people will get infections such as "cat scratch disease (bartonella disease)" and "pasturellosis".

Cat scratch disease is a disease caused by Bartonella. Symptoms include suppuration of the wound, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. In some cases, it may be accompanied by fatigue, headache, sore throat and fever.
Pasteurellosis is a disease caused by Pasteurella. The main symptom is that the area where the cat is scratched or bitten becomes swollen and red, but elderly people and people with weak resistance who have underlying diseases such as diabetes may become seriously ill and may be fatal. I have.

There are no symptoms of any of these bacteria, even if the cat carries them. However, be aware that if a person becomes infected, symptoms will occur.

If you do not cut your nails and keep your claws stretched, the cat itself can be at risk. Not only will your nails break or crack unnaturally, but your extended nails may get caught in furniture, curtains, carpets, etc. and break your nails. Careful attention is required as it may break from the root and cause bleeding, resulting in serious injury.

In addition, if the nail grows too much and becomes an incurvated nail and gets stuck in the paws, there is a risk of suppuration from there. The cat's paws are a delicate place. If you leave it as it is, you may feel strong pain or you may not be able to walk well.

Older cats sleep longer and exercise less, so their claws tend to grow more slowly. However, it seems that the frequency of claws is reduced, so some cats do not completely remove their old claws, resulting in thicker claws.
Similarly, cats that don't have a lot of claws often have thick claws. Claws that are too thick will easily stick to the paws. Therefore, it is necessary to check frequently and take care of your nails.

Next, I will introduce what you need to cut your cat's nails. You don't have to have everything, but be prepared for your cat's condition.

For cat nail clippers, use a cat-specific nail clipper. Nail clippers for humans can cause the nails to crack unnaturally and the cat to hurt.
There are two types of nail clippers for cats: scissors type and guillotine type.

・ Scissors type
The scissors-type nail clippers have the same structure as stationery scissors, so even those who are new to cat nail clippers may be able to use it without any resistance. There is also a nail clipper with a stopper to prevent deep nails, and it is also characterized by its compact shape.
Since the cutting edge is recessed in a semi-circular shape, place your fingernail along the curved part and move the handle to cut. However, the cutting force is not very strong, so be careful when cutting the claws of adult cats with stiff claws.

ストッパー付で初めての爪切りにもおすすめ
「necoco カーブ爪切り ストッパー付」はこちら

・ Slide cutter (guillotine type)
Nail clippers for slide cutters (guillotine type) can be cut in one breath by passing the nail through the hole in the guillotine and grasping the handle. Since the force is evenly applied to the part where the guillotine is cut, it can be cut quickly in an instant and the nails are not easily cracked.
However, because the guillotine holes are sized to fit adult cats, kittens' claws can be deep. Also, be aware that old nails may remain and thickened nails and ingrown nails may not pass through the holes.

It's a good idea to have your cat's favorite food, treats, and toys. It is effective when you want to calm the cat before starting nail clippers or when you want to reward after nail clippers.

If a cat dislikes nail clippers and goes wild, not only will it be difficult to cut the nails, but it will also cause deep nails and injuries. Prepare a washing net, a large cloth bag, and a bath towel to calm or retain the cat and make it difficult to move. In some cases, you may want to use the Elizabethan collar for cats, which is a truncated cone-shaped protector. By using a washing net with a relatively large mesh, it is possible to cut the claws while the cat is in the washing net.
In any case, check the condition of your cat and choose what to use and how to use it.

Have clean gauze and cotton ready. This is so that if you cut a blood vessel and bleed, you can stop bleeding immediately.

Once you have the goods for nail clippers, it's time to cut the cat's nails. Please calm down and follow the steps below.

Distract your cat by preparing your favorite food, treats, toys and more.

Hold the cat from behind and place it on your lap. Then hold your toes with the opposite hand of your dominant hand. As for the order, it is generally easier to do it from the hind legs. At this time, if you press it firmly, you may dislike cats and dislike nail clippers. Therefore, try a posture that allows the cat to relax as much as possible while cutting the nails.

Push the paws with your hand holding your toes to expose the hidden nails. Again, be careful not to push the paws too hard.

The part where the nails show through and look pink is called "quick", and blood vessels and nerves pass through it. Avoid that and cut the sharp tip by about 2 to 3 mm. However, cats with black claws cannot see blood vessels, so special attention is required. In that case, use the height of the paws as a guide and be aware of the length of the nail to be cut.
And if you should bleed, immediately press with clean gauze or cotton to stop bleeding. If the blood doesn't stop after a while, go to a veterinary clinic.

When you have finished cutting your nails, give them a treat and give them a lot of compliments. If you can have a positive image in your cat that you don't hate nail clippers, you may be able to cut your nails smoothly from the next time.

ご褒美におすすめ！旨味たっぷり
「キャットSNACK 乾しカマ かに味」はこちら

How often should you cut your cat's nails? There are differences in the timing of nail clippers for adult cats, kittens, and elderly cats.

Generally, for adult cats that are more than one year old, it is recommended to cut the nails of cats once every three weeks to one month. However, the way the claws grow depends on the physical condition and amount of activity of each cat. It is also said that the nails that are often used are easy to stretch. Check the condition of your nails diligently, and if you find any sharp nails, cut them off each time.

Kittens have a lot of exercise, so their claws grow much faster. Therefore, as a guide, cut your nails once every one to two weeks.

Older cats and cats that don't have a lot of claws tend to have thicker claws because the old claws don't come off and tend to remain. Please check it once every two weeks and take care of it. If the number of nails is reduced, it may be due to illness or injury as a reason other than old age. If your nails grow significantly differently than before, you may want to consult your veterinarian just in case.

How can you make your cat's nail clippers successful without being disliked? Next, I would like to introduce some points to be aware of when cutting nails.

Don't cut your nails when your cat is playing well. Cats tend to get excited during active hours, and if you force them down, you will hate nail clippers.
If you get excited and rampage, it is recommended to block your view or wrap your body with a bath towel or washing net, as it may calm you down. Alternatively, you can cut your nails by aiming at the place where the cat is sleeping and unprotected.

If your cat isn't in a good mood, it's a good idea to reward yourself with your favorite foods and treats before you start nail clippers. It is recommended that you relax and start nail clippers when you feel uncomfortable.

If your cat doesn't like nail clippers, you don't have to cut all your nails at once. You may decide to go with only one or two cats a day so that the cat does not go wild. Let's get used to it little by little at the pace of the cat and the owner.

Some cats don't like being touched by their paws, even if they don't have nail clippers. Therefore, it is recommended to get used to touching your feet from your usual skinship. While stroking the neck, back, and chest that the cat is pleased with, try rubbing your legs and touching the paws little by little. Once your cat is in a good mood and touches your paw, you may be one step closer to smooth nail clippers.

In rare cases, it is better to pull out the nails to save the trouble of cutting the nails, but this should never be done.

Blood vessels and nerves pass through the pink part at the base of the claw, so if you pull out the claw, it will cause severe pain to the cat. This can cause terrible pain and stress, which can lead to behavioral problems such as not being able to sprinkle cat litter, which is the sand for excretion, or having a rough phase.
Therefore, in any case, never pull out your nails.

Even if you make various preparations, there may be cases where it is difficult to cut nails, such as when a cat is afraid of nail clippers. Let's see what to do in such a case.

If it's difficult for the owner to cut the cat's nails, it's a good idea to leave it to a professional. There is also a risk that the owner will forcibly press down on the cat that he dislikes and cut his nails, losing the relationship of trust with the cat that he has built so far.
First of all, consult with a hospital or trimmer to have your nail clippers cut, and it's okay to take your time, so it's a good idea to gradually become able to do it yourself.

To make it easier and safer to care for your cat's claws, you have the option of sharpening your claws instead of cutting them. For example, if you have a nail clipper with an electric nail file, you can easily round the toes without deep nails.
It may be said that it is an item of two birds with one stone because it can maintain a beautiful silhouette without the corners of the nail after nail clippers. For cats that are sensitive to sound, you may be surprised by the sound generated by the motor and scraping, so use it with caution.

砥石をあてるだけで簡単お手入れ
「バリカン スモール ネイルケア2WAY」はこちら

What kind of goods can be used for cat nail clippers? Here are two recommended nail clipper goods sold by Petio.

Nail clippers are essential for a safe and comfortable stay, but cats also tend to dislike them. It is important to be well prepared and calm without rushing.
By building a relationship of trust with cats, I hope that you will be able to cut your nails smoothly even little by little.