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If you find trimming your cat´s claws at all difficult, we would strongly advise you tospeak to a vet.
You will probably have noticed that many of your cat´s most instinctive andessential behaviours involve their claws. They are used in hunting, self-defence,climbing, stretching muscles, scratching, relieving stress and marking territory.Although these are completely natural cat behaviours, they can cause damage tohousehold objects and to the skin. Trimming the claws stops them becomingovergrown, preventing these kinds of issues. In this article, we are going explainhow to do this.
Your cat has 18 claws (one on each toe): five claws on each front paw and four on each back paw.
They are made up of superimposed horny layers of keratin and the nail pulp, or quick, the part containing the blood vessels and nerve endings that keep the claws healthy.
The quick is slightly more opaque than the rest of the claw and is pink in colour (this is more obvious in white claws). It is vital that you know how to identify the quick in order to avoid cutting into it as this can cause your pet intense pain and bleeding.
How to know when you should trim your cat’s claws:
Your cat has a variety of needs, such as claw trimming, that you must provide. If you don’t feel confident enough to do this, don’t hesitate to speak to a vet.