How To Manage Your Cat’s Claws: 3 Tips For Cat Owners
Cats need their claws. Not only do they use them to get around — to climb, pounce, turn and balance — they’re also a form of defense against other pets or threats. Scratching can even be a form of communication.
While their instinct to scratch is a completely normal, natural and necessary cat behavior, damaged furniture and painful scratches can definitely cause some frustration. Learn how to better manage your cat’s claws with these three tips.
1. Trim, Trim, Trim.
Keeping your cat’s nails trimmed can help prevent injury and protect your household items. Here’s how to clip your cat’s claws:
1. Place your cat in your lap, facing away from you. Take one of their toes and massage the pad of their paw until the nail extends.
2. Notice where the quick — the pink part of your cat’s nail — starts. It’s important not to clip any part of the quick. (It’s full of nerves and blood vessels.)
3. Trim only the sharp part of one nail, and then release your cat’s toe and reward them with a treat.
4. Repeat these steps about every 10 days to two weeks.
If your cat resists or seems agitated, you may need to ease into the habit together. Try clipping only a few nails at a time until your cat gets comfortable. And always reward them with a treat when you’re done clipping. If you’re not sure which kind of clipper is best for your cat, or if your cat simply refuses to cooperate, talk to your vet.
2. Provide A Place To Scratch.
From scratching posts to cat trees to cardboard scratching boxes, there are plenty of options to choose from. It may take a little trial and error to find the one your cat prefers, but once you do, be sure to place the scratcher in the right spot. Much like humans, cats usually stretch when they wake up, so putting one near your cat’s preferred sleeping spot is a good idea. You can also try placing a scratcher close to your cat’s preferred scratching object, like their favorite couch corner or their go-to spot on the carpet.
3. Training And Positive Reinforcement Are Key.
If your cat is scratching somewhere you’d rather they not scratch, try picking them up, taking them to the scratcher and then giving them a reward within three seconds. The reward can be whatever your cat loves: a treat, some catnip or a play or petting session. This positive reinforcement will help train your cat to only scratch on their scratcher.
While cat scratching can be a pain point for many cat owners, these methods will help you manage your cat’s claws. If you have more than one cat, be sure each one has access to water, food, a litter box, a scratcher and toys. Hopefully these tips help!
