How old before you can clip a cats nails?

My new kitten is about maybe 2 months old and is eating hard food already so is she old enough to clip her nails?How old before you can clip a cats nails?
Yep Yep! You can clip a cat's nails at any age, but they really probably don't need a trim for awhile. 2 months old is fine, though. That's when my little guy had his first nail clipping!


You get a gold star for not de-clawing!





How to do it:


Get her used to you holding and pushing on her paws, I do this a lot with my cats. If I'm just sitting there with them, I'll play with their little paws, pushing on each paw pad, extending the claw, rubbing in between their toes. They purr, like it's a foot massage or something, haha.


Then, when it comes time to clip their nails, they already know that it's a good thing, and they hold still for me. Like, some cats at the shelter I worked at needed two people, a blanket, a flashlight, a backup pair of clippers, and a towel just to attempt it! But my two guys just flop down and fall asleep, haha.


You should be very very careful though, you don't need to cut too much. Just where the claw starts to bend. You can see a little pink part inside the claw, sometimes you might have to use a flashlight, but that's the part that you want to stay away from. That's the blood vessel, called the 'quick'.


Make sure you're in a well-lit area, so you can see what you're doing. Sit indian-style, and put the cat in your lap, facing away from you, with her back against your chest, so you're both looking forward. You can wrap her up with a favorite blanket so she feels safe. If she wiggles a little and wants to get out, just calm her in a soothing voice, and hold her and pet her. Always be saying 'good girl!' soothingly when she sits still and behaves. If she meows like mad and starts to wriggle really hard, then let her go, let her know that it's okay, it's no big deal, she's not going to be forced to do it. But then pick her back up, and start again.





If you already know how to do it, then, well, ignore the whole thing I just typed, haha. Anyways, to answer your question, yes, that's the perfect age to start, so she gets used to it, and won't fight you as much later on in life. It'll just be no big deal. =)





Best of luck!How old before you can clip a cats nails?
Start getting her used to being touched on her paws. When she's sleepy hold her in your lap and pet her gently and work your way down to her paws. Have the clippers near her (with in a foot or two) so that she gets used to them being around. Be patient. It may take a couple weeks. When she seems like she's getting used to this then you can trim her nails. (With dogs being more food motivated it's easier to train them because you can give them treats for allowing their paws to be touched, and then for each nail you trim.) Now is the perfect time for you to get her used to being handled and groomed. I found that with adult cats it it stresses them out a lot more. It takes them a lot longer to get used to it. It ends up being a two person job when you can't get a cat used to being handled.





Best of luck, and remember be patient.





(And if you want to get a little more involved read TTouch books by Linda Tellington-Jones)





P.S. Also, don't forget (since you plan on trimming them) to make sure every couple weeks or so that the outer sheaths are coming out of the toes properly. If they don't it can cause infection. I never had this problem with my own cats (but I trimmed and checked their toes every other week,) but have heard of it happening to other peoples cats.
Yes you can clip her nails. it will stop her climbing your curtains and screens on windows. Remember the squirt bottle and hiss when you squirt, before long when you hiss she will know she is in trouble.





I start clipping my kittens nails at about 5 weeks of age. They start to play then and accidentally cause eye ulcers in each others eyes. Just the very tips in small kittens. As they get older it is easier. You can cut to where the curve starts. I use human nail clippers only where we use them horizontally, turn it up and you will find it really easy. Probably every three to four weeks you will have to do it again. Again hiss if she wriggles and hold her tight like a baby. When she is relaxed start again. It is something that is a lifetime issue so you need her co-operation even when she is older. Hissing works. That is what their mum does and they know to behave. I have a whole household of cats and they all have their claws trimmed regularly without a scratch or bite.





good luck
She probably doesn't *need* it doing. But if you are very gentle about it and couple it with lots of fuss and treats it might not be a bad idea just to nip the very ends off at this early age, to get her used to the idea. It's something that is likely to have to happen later in her life, so the earlier she first encounters it probably the better, as long as it isn't made into a stressful operation for her. Consider it a training exercise, but if she gets at all stressed stop - you don't need to do them all at once.
should be fine. it is just like cutting a baby's nails (although in equivalent age the cat is more like a 2 year old) the earlier you start the easier it is to teach them to tolerate the process which will make it easier for you to do in the future.
When I hand raised kittens i started trimming them VERY young. They were getting claws stuck in my skin. so they were about 4 days old when I very carefully did them. Keep in mind I had years experience doing my other kittens and adults.