Answer: Clipping cat’s claws is usually necessary only if the claws have grown too long. This won’t happen in cat that get plenty of exercise, stalking around the neighborhood and climbing trees, because their claws are continually being worn down. In cats which are unwilling or unable to exercise sufficiently, due to old age, illness or simply because they are kept indoors most of the time, the claw can grow for too long and being to catch on carpets and soft furnishings. A cat may even chew at these long nails to remove the frayed outer cuticle and expose a new claw underneath.
In old cats, the dewclaws on the inside of the front legs just above the paws never receive any wear and may grow so much that they turn a complete circle and being to enter the skin again
It is good idea to check the length of the claws periodically. Bear in mind that those of the hind feet are naturally shorter then those at the front. If the claws are unpigmented (i.e. transparent), the ping quick which contains the blood vessels can be seen inside and normally reaches almost to the tip of the nail. If the nail extends beyond the quick, it is too long and either yourself or your veterinary surgeon can clip away the surplus, taking care not to cut into the quick which will cause bleeding. If the claw is pigmented (i.e. black), the quick cannot be seen and where to cut has to be judged from experience. Remember that there is a slight increase in the length of the quick the claw grow longer, so that to cut back a very long claw to a ‘normal’ length may damage the quick; it is batter to leave the nail a bit longer then usual and to trim it again a fortnight later.
The cat should be restrained on a table top by a helper and the claw of each foot trained in turn. Place the index finger of one hand on the pad below and behind the claw, and the thumb on the skin above the claw and by exerting gentle pressure between them the nail will be retracted and held firmly for clipping. Use a large pair of nail clippers with spring handles, not the folding type used for cutting finger nails. The design with two separate blades is often easier to position then the guillotined type. Never use scissor which will spilt and splinter the nail. Afterwards, ant rough edges can be smoothed with a nail file or on emery board.
Make a clean cut straight cross the nail, not one which slants. If by any chance some slight bleeding point; you could also apply small piece of cotton wool or some inert powder, e.g. talcum powder or flour. Pushing the nail into a bar of soap will often control slight bleeding too. If there is more severe bleeding pressure pad should be applied and veterinary attention obtained.
The only other reason for clipping a claw is if it has been fractured and the broken end is dangling from the rest of the nail. Ideally, this part should be clipped off completely and any hemorrhage controlled as before.
Clipping the claws merely to blunt them and so prevent the cat from damaging the furniture is often futile. The cat will usually sharpen them again at the first opportunity.
