When to cut the cat’s nails? A practical guide
Scratching is probably the second favorite activity of cats after sleep, the claws of felines are not only an instrument of play and destruction, but also a defense mechanism and a practical tool that will be useful to the animal in many situations.
- While it is not always necessary to cut the nails of the cat.
- There are cases in which it is necessary to take this regular care.
- Such as cats without access to boxes of scrapers or other objects to sharpen their nails.
- Older cats.
- Etc.
- In this peritoAnimal article.
- We clarify your question: “”.
- Keep reading and find out!.
In nature, cats can maintain the condition of nails themselves, using and sharpening them on various surfaces, such as tree trunks; However, a domestic cat has more difficulty maintaining the condition of its nails when it does not have a scraper board. To avoid discomfort when walking and damaging your furniture, it is necessary to cut the nails to the feline.
Scratching is essential because scratching is instinctive in cats, sharpens their nails to preserve their condition, but also ends up releasing stress through the act, in addition to these two advantages, the cat always communicates with others of the same species when it comes to sharpening its nails.nails, leaving marks indicating their presence and delimiting their territory.
That’s why it’s best to place several scrapers in different parts of the house, so your cat doesn’t sharpen his nails and scratches everything he finds. If you scold the cat for this, preventing it from releasing its instincts, it will affect your pet’s physical and mental health. Teach your cat to use the scraper, even if not all cats want or can’t use this item.
Generally, cats that walk and play outside the house do not need the guardian to cut their nails, unlike those who spend time inside.
The frequency of nail cutting depends a lot on your cat’s activity, its daily play and the need to sharpen your nails without damaging the furniture of the house.
In general, the fingernails of the front legs should be cut twice a month, that is, every fortnight. The hind legs only need a monthly cut in most cases.
Using scratching sticks can delay nail cutting time because, as mentioned above, wearing nails is one of the advantages it offers. To find out if it is necessary to cut the nails of the cat, try to notice if you hear the claws when the cat is running and you hear the sound they are emitting on the ground. In this case, they have grown too large and should be cut.
Now that you know when to cut your cat’s nails, you’re probably wondering how to proceed. It is an activity that requires a lot of care and attention so as not to hurt the cat or cause trauma.
If you would like to read articles similar to, we recommend that you visit our Nail Care section.