Cutting a cats' toenails step by step

Here are some tips to help you with cutting your cats toenails, step by step.

1. Pick a time when your cat is not usually active. It is tough to cut the toenails of a cat that is in an active mode.



2. Have a toenail kit consisting of toenail cutters, headlight(I like the LED headlights, they offer more clarity and brightness) and some styptic powder to stop bleeding if a toenail is cut too deeply.



3. Have a helper, it is almost impossible to cut a cats' toenails alone.



4. Have a towel to hold the pet.



5. Plan on feeding your pet after the toe cutting episode to help associate a pleasant experience afterwards.



6. If the cat escapes before all of its toenails are cut, just calmly put up the kit and try again some other time, it will get done eventually.
   If you have to choose front or back toenails to cut, do the front because while they do scratch with the back, the front does more damage to the other cats',stimulates aggression when they are too long, snag on various items and are tools to destroy furniture and other household items.



7. Post the date and progress in a record book that you keep for your pet, this helps keep up with everything done(skipped toenails etc.), especially in multi cat families.



8. I usually apply ear oil to the cat after I cut the toenails, that way the cat runs away with some of its ear mites treated as well. Remember, long toenails on a cat snag, and can immobilize a cat on carpeting, furniture etc. They also can enable a cat to wound itself or others. I have found that long toenails stimulate aggression as well. Keeping them trimmed is important.