If you never learned how to trim your kitten’s nails and now have an adult cat, don't worry! It's very simple. All cats need their claws checked from time to time in order for them not to scratch people or furniture when they walk on the floor, as well as to decrease potential pain caused by nails that are too long.
There are a few ways you can make it easier for yourself to trim your cat's nails, such as wrapping them in a towel ("kitty burrito") or allowing the cat to sit comfortably on one's lap. Distractions like playing with toys and feeding food will also help so they don't become stressed out during this process!
Techniques for Adult Cats
If your cat is an adult, it's never too late to start training them to get their nails trimmed. It will still take time, but with patience and rewards, you'll be able to make this experience more positive for both of you. When trimming nails, always choose the position that is best for your cat. Cats like to stand or lie down while you do this so be sure their preferred spot makes sense in order not only to make them more comfortable but also efficiency-wise!
Your cat will not have the patience for all its nails to be trimmed during the first few training sessions, so start this process when she doesn't need a nail trim urgently. Each training session should be kept to less than two minutes. Frequent, short sessions are better than long ones.
When your cat is in her comfortable place, practice holding each paw, followed by a high-value reward such as a tasty treat. If your cat displays signs of stress or gets up to leave, stop your training. In the next session, use a lower level of intensity when working with your kitty to make the experience more enjoyable.
When your cat is comfortable enough to allow you to isolate a toenail, try trimming one nail. Start by clipping the end of the nail, further away from the quick which contains the blood vessels and will be pink in colour. Give a treat immediately after trimming it and then stop the session. Engage your cat in something rewarding like play or a petting session. It may seem difficult, but with enough practice, your cat will eventually tolerate having multiple nails trimmed during the same session.
You can see the red tissue within the nail, and this is called the quick (outlined in red). You can safely trim your cat's nails beyond this red tissue line (blue) without running into the risk of causing bleeding.