A1 Savannahs

Trimming Your Cats Nails

Cleo showing how to get her nails trimmed.

Nail Trimming Tips

Let’s talk about those claws. Cats are well equipped beings with very sharp claws. The use them for a number of things like climbing, marking their territory, and self-defense. Because their claws become dull after several times of use, it is necessary for them to get regularly sharpened. Since this is a natural instinct, cats will find what they can to polish up their lethal weapons, whether it’s on their designated scratch post or your lovely leather sofa. 

In order to save yourself from those dreadful cat scratches and your favorite drapes from the nauseating rips and snags, it is important to know how to properly trim your cat’s nails. 

Identifying the Quick on a Cats Nail

Anatomy of the Claw

Cat’s nails naturally retract when they are resting, making it a bit difficult to see their nail. You can gently apply pressure at the bottom of the toe to expose the nail. 

At the base of the nail is a more pink or light red area. This is the quick, make sure you can identify the quick before cutting as this area contains blood vessels as well as nerves. If you happen to cut into the quick on accident it will bleed and be painful for the cat. Make sure you have a clotting agent such as styptic powder to clot the nail, then take a break.

Most domestic cats have five claws on both front paws and 4 on each back paw adding up to 18. However, there are exceptions such as a polydactyl cat. Examine your cat’s paws thoroughly before sitting down for a nail trim. 

Proper technique of trimming a cats nail

Use Proper Tools and Techniques

There are designated trimmers for cats and some people prefer a Dremel drill. However, we like to use human nail trimmers as it is something that is already familiar with, and the cats don’t seem to be as startled when using them versus a drill. Hold the trimmers horizontal when cutting each nail. Cutting vertically seems to be an easier position to cut, however it can splinter the nail and cause what is almost like a hangnail to us. 

Getting a Feel for It

 The best time to start trimming nails in when your cat is a kitten. Kittens are more acceptable to new things and will allow you to mess with their feet more. Touch their feet several times during the day and practice retracting their claws so you and your kitten get more comfortable with it. 

Applying pressure to retract a cat claw.

Of course, not everyone will adopt their cats as kittens. In this case, the best time try for a nail trim is when they are worn out and sleepy. Possibly after a meal or a long play session. Find a dim, quiet room with no distractions. Lay them on your lap and gently massage their paws. This will relax them as well as allowing them to become more familiar with you handling their feet.  

Reward Them for Good Behavior

Cats respond very well to positive reinforcement. When attempting to trim their nails it’s always a good idea to have treats on hand. When they allow you to retract their paws, give them a treat. Try one nail at a time, rewarding them after each complete paw. If they start to get squirmy take a break and try again later or another day.  

Cleo Knows Its Time for Her Mani Pedi

Work as a Team

 Sometimes it’s not always easy to get the nails trimmed by yourself so you might have a friend accompany you. When doing this you are more apt to make the cat nervous since there are more of you than him. Make small movements and use a soft voice which will help calm him down. Take breaks if necessary as you want to keep this a pleasant experience for you cat.  

Practice Makes Perfect

Remember, you and your cat are not going to be perfect the first time. Allow you both some time and practice, be patient and reward good behavior. Take breaks when necessary and never be aggressive or angry with your cat if they do not stay still. Let them have some space and try again another day. You will be pro’s before you know it!

Until Our Next  Cat Convo

- Amanda

We've Been Busy

Hey all!

Sorry it's been a few weeks since I posted last. I have been working on adding our new products to our webpage! They are pretty cool, and we are super excited about them. I didn't really quite realize all the work and effort that goes into adding all of this but its finally done!!! I am not really a computer whiz, so I am pretty proud that I did most of this on my own! Ha Ha. We have a lot of things up our sleeves that we plan for the future so there is more to come! 

See Our Products

You can click the button to the right to check out all the new stuff. I will explain a little about them, so you can get a good idea of what we have to offer. 

First Off, We Have The Cat Collars

The cat collars are extremely neat as they come with a matching bracelet for you. They feature the breakaway collar and are made with animal friendly vegan leather with gold clasps. They come in a variety of colors and patterns which we will be adding more as soon as we get them in stock. We also have a variety of dog collars if you all are interested just let us know by sending me an email at products@a1savannahs.com. I would be happy to show you what we can get. Also, if and when you buy the collars please send us photos of you and your matching kitty! We would like to have a client photo gallery of our products in use.

Second, We Have The Super-Duper Sturdy Cat Furniture 

Okay, so not to brag or anything but this stuff is really cool. Since our Savannah's are pretty large compared to most cats, it's hard to find shelves that accommodate their size and weight. When I found out about these shelves and hammocks I was instantly in love. Most of them can hold up to 65 pounds or more. They have a multitude of variations and you can choose your own stain and fabric color to match your house. Pretty Snazzy! There are products of all price ranges and the good thing about this furniture is that you can always add-on and make your own design. It is elevated off of the ground, so it can also be a safe space for cats that have dog or kid friends. You can add feeders as well as planter boxes which I think is the coolest thing ever, especially for indoor cats. In a later blog post I will let you all know what plants are safe for your cats to nibble on. 

Third And Final Note

We are planning on adding to this collection of products in the near future. We already have some ideas and things in progress that we can't wait to share with all our cat families!

Let us know how you like our stuff so far or have any questions. We would be more than happy to help!

Until our next cat convo

-Amanda