Keep Your Cat’s Paws Healthy and Happy
Whether you’ve been scratched by an overstimulated cat or witnessed your furniture getting shredded, you know how important it is to manage your cat’s claws. This guide will help you keep your cat’s claws trimmed, understand their natural scratching needs, and provide practical tips to ensure they stay healthy and happy, without damaging your home.
Why Do Cats Scratch?
Scratching is a completely normal and instinctual behaviour for cats. It serves several important purposes for their physical and mental wellbeing.
- To shed the dead outer layers of their claws
- To mark territory using scent glands located in their paws
- To stretch muscles and keep joints flexible
- To relieve stress and express comfort or excitement
Practical tip: To keep your cat from scratching furniture, offer multiple scratching posts made from different materials such as sisal, cardboard, or carpet. Variety helps satisfy their natural preferences.
Do I Need to Trim My Cat’s Claws?
Yes. While scratching helps maintain claw health, indoor cats often need regular trimming to prevent overgrowth. If claws become too long, they can curl under and pierce the paw pads, causing pain, infection, and difficulty walking.
How often? Most cats benefit from claw trimming every two to four weeks, especially indoor cats. Regular checks will help you spot when a trim is needed.
How to Trim Your Cat’s Claws Safely
Trimming your cat’s claws may feel intimidating at first, but with patience and consistency it becomes a simple routine.
- Get your cat used to paw handling: Gently touch and massage their paws during calm moments so they become comfortable with the sensation.
- Introduce the clippers: Allow your cat to see and sniff the clippers. Gently tap them against the paw so the sound and feeling are familiar.
- Trim the claws: Gently press the paw to extend the claw. Trim only the sharp tip, avoiding the pink area known as the quick.
- Take your time: If your cat becomes restless, stop and continue later. Trimming a few claws at a time is perfectly fine.
Tip for success: Keep the experience positive. Reward your cat with treats, praise, or affection after each session.
What If I Cut the Quick?
Accidents happen, even with experienced cat owners. If you accidentally cut the quick, stay calm.
- Apply styptic powder or cornstarch to stop the bleeding
- Apply gentle pressure and keep your cat calm
- If bleeding continues beyond five minutes, contact your veterinarian
Can’t I Just Declaw My Cat?
No. Declawing is a harmful and unethical practice and should never be considered. Declawing is not the removal of a nail; it is the amputation of part of the cat’s toe bone, similar to removing a human finger at the last joint.
Why declawing should always be avoided
- It can cause chronic pain, infection, and long-term mobility issues
- It often leads to behavioural problems such as aggression or litter box avoidance
- It removes an essential defence and climbing mechanism
Many animal welfare organisations strongly oppose declawing, and it is banned in several countries. Safer alternatives include regular trimming, scratching posts, and nail caps.
Scratching Solutions for Your Home
Scratching is a healthy and necessary behaviour for cats. The goal is not to stop it, but to redirect it.
- Provide scratching posts in multiple materials and heights
- Place posts near areas your cat already scratches
- Trim claws regularly to reduce accidental damage
- Maintain good hygiene with a high-quality litter such as Pacha Litter to keep paws clean and comfortable
Bonus: Keep Your Cat’s Paw Health in Check
- Inspect paw pads regularly for cuts, swelling, or debris
- Keep claws neatly trimmed to prevent accidental scratches
- Ensure the litter area stays clean and dry to avoid irritation
Final Thought
Proper cat claw care goes beyond trimming nails. It’s about understanding your cat’s instincts, offering appropriate scratching outlets, and maintaining consistent grooming habits. By caring for your cat’s claws and keeping their environment clean with Pacha Litter, you create a healthier, safer, and more harmonious home for both of you.
