What is the easiest way to trim cat nails by yourself? Try out the 'kitty burrito.'
Keeping your cat's nails in check is an essential part of pet care. With overgrown claws they can hurt themselves or you.
But, what if you're not a pro manicurist? Or you have a particularly squirmy cat?
Worry not, we consulted the experts. This is what Petco's chief veterinarian Dr. Whitney Miller had to say about keeping your kitty's nails short, how often to check their paws and how best to manage a healthy trimming.
How can I cut my cat's nails by myself?
"I think cats are just their own animals," Miller said with a chuckle. They can be finnicky when it comes to nail trimming. First, just make sure you have the right tools at home.
That means having the right trimmers — cat sized trimmers specifically — and Styptic powder on standby if you accidentally nick them.
Safety for both you and your cat are of the utmost importance throughout the process.
It's helpful to start young and go slow with your kitten, creating positive reinforcement with them throughout the nail trimming process.
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What to do if your cat won't let you cut their nails?
If your cat has a tendency to squirm, Miller said create a "kitty burrito" by wrapping them in a towel to give them comfort while you're getting to the nails.
Miller said she's even had folks that use a flowerpot, "they put the cat in the flowerpot so that they can get their paws without the cat wriggling out."
One of the most important ways to prevent harm is to make sure there are plenty of places around the house where your cat can scratch. "A lot of how they maintain their nail health is they slough off their old nails as they grow. Their normal scratching is a behavior that helps do that as well as stimulate, the blood flow and the nerves in their nails," Miller said.
Do cats feel pain if you cut their nails?
They shouldn't.
If your cat hates having their nails trimmed and seems constantly to be in pain, Miller said there's no need to suffer through it — just bring them to a vet or a groomer. "Ultimately, if they're going to hurt you in the process it's not going to be a positive thing for either side."
How often a trimming is in order depends on the cat, but in general, once or twice a month is a good rule, Miller said.
"There's certain cats — especially diabetic cats, hyperthyroid cats or just older cats — a lot of times they won't slough their nails in the same way. So, they're at risk of the nails growing in and around, into the pad," Miller said. Making sure to trim once or twice a month will help you catch it before then.
Miller also cautions that in households with older pet parents, or pet parents who are immunocompromised, keeping a cat's nails short is especially important so they don't accidentally break the skin.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to trim cat nails at home: Expert tips for grooming without a vet
