Under natural conditions, animals quietly get rid of keratinized particles in the process of moving on hard surfaces, while climbing trees, hunting, etc. At home, pets do not have this opportunity, therefore, if the cat is not accustomed to a scratching post, furniture, etc., are used. walls, carpets.
Do not rush to punish the fluffy - just carry out hygienic trimming of the claws. It is performed using a special tool - a nail clipper. You can find several types of this device in pet stores.
Why do you need to do a cat manicure?
Cats' claws invariably grow, and they need to be tidied up - trimmed using a special nail clipper. Overgrown claws can cause discomfort to the animal or cause injury.
In nature, cats walk on hard surfaces or wear down their claws on trees and other convenient objects. At home, animals are deprived of this opportunity and cannot do without human help. Therefore, from time to time they need the so-called cat “manicure”.
Overgrown claws can become ingrown or cause discomfort when walking. The cat may also get caught in a carpet loop or some piece of furniture, which will lead to a finger injury and medical intervention.
When their claws grow long enough, cats begin to grind them down themselves. In the best case – on a scratching post, in the worst – on wallpaper or furniture. Timely manicure is the key to the cat’s health and the integrity of the owner’s sofa.
The best mechanical nail clippers
Hello Pet 20112L
Rating: 4.9
The tool is included in our rating of the best nail clippers for having the largest number of positive reviews and ease of use. Its size is 4.70 x 16.50 cm. High-quality heat-resistant steel ensures Hello Pet 20112L long service life.
Users report no breakdowns even after several years of regular use. The Hello Pet nail clipper is considered the best option for trimming the nails of small dogs and puppies. It provides a quick and safe procedure, does not chew or crush claws. The price of the product is 469 rubles.
Advantages
- quality steel;
- sharp blades;
- reliable spring mechanism;
- does not leave nicks;
- rubberized comfortable handles.
Flaws
- not detected.
TRIOL 181AP
Rating: 4.8
Product size – 130 x 40 x 13 mm. The nail clipper is made of high quality metal and plastic. Stainless steel makes the product long lasting. The tool cuts the animal’s claws so quickly and efficiently that it often does not have time to begin to resist. The model is ideal for small stubborn dogs and puppies.
Rubberized handles with finger grooves make it easy and precise to hold the nail clipper. It was chosen by experts for our convenient blade design, which provides a good overview of the working area. The price for a universal model varies around 220-350 rubles.
Advantages
- universal;
- does not hurt;
- small dimensions;
- convenient to use;
- opening protection;
- safe and easy.
Flaws
- not suitable for cats;
- a tight spring interferes with compression;
- uncomfortable for small hands.
What is a claw cutter
People use nail scissors to take care of their nails. And for cats there is a special accessory - a nail clipper. It differs from nail scissors both visually and functionally. The appearance of a nail clipper depends on the type, although they are all roughly similar. Only the electric nail grinder is radically different.
Description of the tool
There are four types of cat nail clippers. Each one has its own individual appearance and nuances of working with it.
In a veterinary pharmacy or pet store, you will immediately recognize nail cutters: these are small pruning scissors, the blades of which have a recess for the claw. Well, the grinder looks like a plastic handle with a small rod that rotates at high speed and grinds down the claw.
It is optimal to choose a tool with a handle that is comfortable for you: it fits in size, does not slip, and does not squeeze your fingers. The blades must be serrated, sharp, smooth and shiny.
Why regular manicure accessories are not suitable
A human nail and a cat's claw have different structures and densities, which is why different care products are selected. The nail is a plate that does not itself have nerve endings and blood vessels, so when cutting, only the skin and tissue of the finger can be damaged.
The cat's claw has a hollow structure and a crescent-shaped curve. It contains blood vessels and nerve endings that are very easy to damage, causing pain and bleeding. It is much easier to injure a cat with ordinary scissors than with a nail clipper.
Another caveat: human scissors or wire cutters tear apart a cat’s claw, which leads to problems ranging from crumbling to bleeding or ingrown nails. The nail cutter cuts the plate more evenly and sharply, so the claw does not peel off.
Before you begin the nail trimming process, it is important to familiarize yourself with the basic anatomy of a cat's claw and paw and learn how to correctly determine the length that needs to be left.
Types of nail clippers
There are many types of this tool for cat manicure, but most of them belong to one of five groups:
- Scissors. In appearance and structure they really resemble a familiar instrument. Only the blades are very short, made of thick and durable steel and have special grooves for a tight grip on the claw.
- Nippers or secateurs. The operating principle is similar to pliers or pruning shears. They have the same rubberized, widely spaced handles, usually connected by a spring. They end with the same blades with rounded notches. The knives of this accessory are locked using a lever, which makes them safe for storage, especially if there are small children in the house. Most models are also equipped with claw length limiters, which minimizes the risk of injury to the animal.
- Guillotine type. The operating principle of this device is the same as that of the legendary execution weapon of the French Revolution. The tip of the cat's claw is secured in the device and a sharp knife is lowered, cutting off the dead part. This is one of the most popular types today. True, you need to use such a nail clipper very carefully, since the entire length of the clamped nail plate is not visible. In addition, reviews of devices of this type are often negative; people prefer scissors or pruning shears.
- Electric grinders. Most often, this tool is used by professional groomers in pet salons. The tip of the claw grinds down on the rotating abrasive part of the device. Such a grinding machine usually has several different attachments and has limiters on the length of the nail plate.
- With claw catchers. They can be of different types, for example, guillotine. Equipped with a device that absorbs the severed part of the claw.
Types of devices
There are variations of nail clippers of different types, models, shapes and designs. There are some that are very easy to use - they are suitable for novice cat owners, and there are special ones designed for professional breeders and groomers.
Before going to the store, it is better to find out what the differences are between the main types of nail clippers, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
Guillotine
This type of tool consists of two working parts: movable and fixed. Trimming is performed by a moving part, which is installed perpendicular to the claw placed in a special hole. The use of guillotine claw clippers requires certain skills, since when fixing the nail plate it is not visible. However, despite this disadvantage, guillotine-type tools are very popular - especially among owners of large cats with hard claws.
Scissor nail clipper
Scissors are the simplest solution. Outwardly, they resemble human manicures, only with rounded blades and a hole in the middle. It is intended for laying the claw and fixing it during the procedure.
The tool is very easy to use: you place a cat's claw in the notch, the handles close together, and the result is a neat, smooth cut. Suitable for small cats and kittens.
Nail clipper-secateurs
Resembles regular wire cutters or needle nose pliers. The handles have rubber linings, fit comfortably in the hand and do not slip. The spring included in the mechanism also makes working with the accessory easier. The cut is better than that of scissors.
Most models are equipped with a special limiter that sets a certain length and protects against cutting off excess. A special safety lock blocks the cutting surfaces when the pliers are not in use. There are straight and curved models on the pet products market.
Electric nail clipper or grinder
This is a power tool, so it is the most functional and expensive. During operation, the grinder head with an abrasive coating rotates and grinds down the claw plate like a nail file. The device comes with various attachments and limiters.
A beginner without the skill of working with an electric grinder can easily injure a pet by affecting the living part of the claw. Such devices are more often used in professional grooming salons. In stores you can find models that operate on mains power, batteries, and rechargeable batteries.
Features of use
Before the procedure, the owner must calm down, otherwise the pet will feel fear and behave nervously. If the animal is still afraid, then carry out the procedure several times as accurately as possible, however, do not cut the claws. Such preparation is necessary so that the dog understands the procedure and feels more confident. Over time, use the nail clipper on a pencil or other object to demonstrate a special sound to your pet. Trim 1 claw after 5-7 preparatory procedures.
Accompany the preparation process with rewards and treats. The goal is for the dog to understand the procedure and its safety in as much detail as possible.
Rules for using guillotine and pruning tools.
Sterilize nail clippers with alcohol or vodka. You also need to disinfect your hands or gloves. The dog's paws should also be washed and dried. If possible, you can trim the nails immediately after bathing. At this time they are as soft and pliable as possible. Take a close look at your pet's claws. If they are light, the pulp (tissue with blood vessels) will be easy to see
It is important not to touch it when circumcising. The cut should be located 1.5-2 mm from the edge of the pulp. If the dog has black claws, then you need to cut them 0.5 mm at a time.
The procedure should be completed as soon as a pink dot or a place that looks like a wet spot appears in the middle of the claw. Start cutting the claws off the front paws. The dog must stand on the floor or a special non-slip table. With your left hand, press the pad of your finger to extend the claw. With a quick movement, make a cut at a 45° angle towards the inside of the foot by 1 mm. Continue cutting 0.5mm increments until you are the desired distance from the pulp.
You cannot cut the claw straight to the pulp in one movement. The risk of injury is too great. If you touch living tissue, it will hurt the animal. If the dog twitches at this moment, then there is a risk of completely tearing out the claw.
The principle of using a trimmer is slightly different from cutting tools. There is no need to trim the claws, they are simply filed. Grinders have several attachments in a set, which are made from grinding stone.
How to choose a nail clipper for cats
It’s best to choose a nail clipper for cats this way: whichever tool is convenient for the owner, that’s what you should buy. If the nail cutter fits well in your hand, misfires and injuries will be reduced to almost zero.
The second important point is the size of the cat and, accordingly, the size of its claws. For thin and transparent claws, on which the vessels are clearly visible, you can use scissors or nippers. If the claws are thick and large, you must use a guillotine or grinder.
The tool must be of high quality, and its blades must be dense and made of good steel. The nail clipper should not seem too light or heavy to the owner, as this can cause inconvenience and awkward movements during cutting.
What to choose?
Cat accessory stores sell many types of nail clippers: scissors, pruners, guillotines. In addition, each of them will be presented not only in a different shape, but also in size and material. Where should you choose and buy truly suitable scissors for trimming cat claws?
The following recommendations will help with this:
- inspect your pet's claws - for kittens and representatives of miniature breeds, pruners or scissors are best suited to carefully remove the thin edge of the claw. If the claw plate is thick and rough, then a guillotine will do the job perfectly;
- the device should be comfortable for the person who will perform the procedure of shortening the claws - hold the nail clipper in your hand and make sure that it is comfortable to hold and that it will not slip out of your palm at the most crucial moment;
- The blades of a quality tool will always be made of durable steel. Of course, you won’t have to pay the lowest price for such a cat nail clipper, but it will serve you and your pet for a very long time.
Using a nail clipper
A nail clipper should be beneficial for cats and their owners, eliminating harm and stress. To do this, the owner must be fully prepared for the procedure himself. The cat needs to be reassured and ensured that it is feeling well.
Nail trimming procedure
Before starting the procedure, you must wash your hands, your pet’s paws, and also disinfect the nail clipper itself. Next, proceed according to the steps:
- The cat should be calm. If there are signs of illness, it is better to postpone the procedure until better times. You should not cut the nails of an animal that has just eaten or is scared - it may vomit. If the cat gets nervous and struggles, it will jerk its paw and damage a claw or finger.
- It is better to pick up the cat, calmly talk to it and stroke it. This will make her more comfortable. At this point you can begin the procedure.
- The nail cutter is taken in the hand so that it fits comfortably and tightly, and it is easy for the person to control all movements. It is better to take the paw in such a way as not to pinch your fingers and not cause discomfort to the cat, acting gently but confidently.
- To make the claws clearly visible, you need to gently press the pad on the paw in the very center: the claw will come out slightly.
- Next, it is important to determine where the capillaries and nerve endings are located in the nail. To do this, you need to look at the claw in good lighting: this part will be pink. In black cats it may be brownish.
- You can cut off the entire transparent part of the claw, just short of the pink part.
It is better to file the edge with a file or buff so that there are no rough edges or nicks left.
Precautions and possible injuries
It is important to carry out the procedure cleanly and in good lighting so that the “living” part of the claw can be seen. If it is damaged, blood may bleed and the cat will be in pain, so you need to retreat 2-4 millimeters from this place.
In case of severe bleeding, immediately apply a tight bandage and, without wasting time, contact your veterinarian. Mild bleeding can be stopped with hydrogen peroxide.
If your cat has an ingrown claw, you should not try to deal with this problem on your own - it is better to immediately contact a specialist. A good grooming salon or any veterinary clinic will eliminate this nuisance.
Tool storage
A nail clipper can be classified as a pair of scissors or nippers. Due to the presence of blades, the tool is dangerous, even if it has a locking mechanism. It is better to keep it away from children and animals to avoid injuries and accidents.
The nail clipper does not require special storage conditions, but you should not place it with objects that could damage the blades. It is also recommended to keep it away from water and damp places.
Structure of a cat's claw
A cat's paw pad has toes, each of which ends in a sharp, curved claw. There are five of them on the forelimbs, and four on the hind limbs.
Each cat's finger consists of several phalanges and is powerfully entangled with blood vessels, nerve endings, and there are also muscles and joints. When a cat pulls up its claw, a special tendon located in the upper phalanx of the finger works. When the animal is relaxed, the claw is hidden in the soft pads of the paws. When there is potential danger, aggression or excitement, the claws are shown outward.
Their shape resembles a hook, with the help of which the cat is able to tenaciously capture and firmly hold its prey. If you carefully examine the claw, then under the transparent keratinized plate you can see the pulp, penetrated by blood vessels and nerves. That is why it is necessary to trim a cat’s claws very carefully, without touching the “living” part, so as not to injure the animal and prevent bleeding. Actually, this is the essence of the most hygienic procedure for trimming cat claws - removing the dead keratinized part and keeping the pulp intact. If it is damaged, you can even leave your pet disabled. This is exactly the fate that awaits those animals whose “caring” owners completely remove their claws, performing an inhumanly cruel onychectomy operation.
