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It is a simple procedure to cut your cat's claws yourself, saving money and a trip to the vet for a pedicure, not to mention preventing your furniture from becoming a scratching post. It's best to start getting a cat used to having its toenails clipped while it's young, but you can still handle an adult cat quite easily.
The first step is to be in a calm, quiet environment so as not to scare your cat. If your cat allows you to lift its paws, then the process will be very easy. At this point, lift one of the front legs and press gently on top of the paw to make the claws appear, then take a pair of guillotine pet nail clippers (available in pet supply stores) which will cut the nail cleanly leaving no snags, and start trimming. Be very careful not to clip the nail too close to the blood vessels in the claw. The blood vessels are visible as a red mark in the transparent claw. If you cut the claw where the blood vessel is, it will start bleeding, so it's a good idea to keep a styptic pencil available to stop the blood flow if necessary. Start with the thumb first, since this is a little harder to reach, next, proceed with the remaining toes. Repeat with the other front paw. The rear paws rarely need trimming, but if they do, just follow the same process.
If your cat struggles, you can calm him down by gently wrapping him in a towel to secure him. Carefully apply a little pressure to make him lie down, then reach under the towel and pull out one paw slightly. Then hold the paw somewhat firmly and apply pressure on the top of the paw as mentioned above. Follow the same method discussed before, but keep some pressure on the cat to keep him lying down so he can't struggle and scratch you. Talk quietly to your cat throughout the pedicure.
The trimming process will only take a matter of minutes and will make your cat more comfortable while saving your furniture and your wallet!
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