Cats have claws that are sharp and once in a while, or
perhaps frequently, they do end up scratching their human owners. When your pet
cat scratches you and the furniture incessantly, this could leave your sofa as
well as your nerves tattered. You may have scolded your pet in the past but
this may have simply proven futile. After all, you are not dealing with a Saint
Bernard. Rather, you are dealing with some of the most self-sufficient,
pragmatic creatures in nature.
Daily
Scratching
You love your kitty. You look forward daily to coming home
and bonding quietly with your feline companion. You just have a bit of a
problem and this this that you are scratched daily. At this point really,
you hate the pinkish marks on your arms. There has to be better way of
enjoying each other’s company, you think. Yes there is! You just
never thought this could be the solution. Cat’s nails will always be long
and sharp. It is their defence mechanism. It is also their way of
showing pleasure, especially when stretching and trying to touch something or
someone else.
Regular Nail
Trimming
The solution to this predicament is simple. Trim the nails
of your cat regularly. It grows back anyways, so there is no fear of
altering your cat’s appearance. You will need a cat nail clipper to do
the job. Your personal clippers are not appropriate for this. Place
your cat on your lap and gently hold down the skin on their paws. You
will find that the nails of your pet’s claws will elongate. Cut off the
tip. Stop just before the pinkish under skin shows. The pinkish
area is where nerves are attached and cutting this accidentally will produce
bleeding and will become a bad memory for your cat so be very careful.
This is a process and will take a while.
Don’t Rush
the Process
You will need to go slowly so that you do not bruise the paws of
your pet. If you do make the mistake of cutting off more than is
necessary, stop the bleeding by applying pressure under running water. If
the cut is small, this exercise will suffice. If the is big, you will
need to take your pet to the vet for dressing. If you unintentionally
produced a cut and still have other nails to do, you will have to put this off
to another day because your cat will put up a fight and you might end up with
more scratches than you can handle. Go easy and take your time while
doing this. A monthly nail trim for your pet is all that is needed for a
happily pampered pet cat that stops scratching you and the furniture.
Mark
Perissinotto has been a practicing
veterinarian for over 20 years, 14 years of which he was the owner and
principal of a busy multi-vet mixed animal hospital. One of the two co-founders
of Vet Shop
Australia, graduated from the University of Queensland
with Bachelor of Veterinary Science and one of the best retailer of pet
supplies Australia.
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