How To Trim A Kitten's Nails

Kittens can be tricky when it comes to clipping their claws. They’re so squirmy and have such teeny paws – it can be scary to trim a kitten’s nails for worry of harming them. Well, today I learned a tried and true trick at the vet’s office that I want to share with you.

Our new additions, Madison & Jack, are full of life and crazy kitten energy. They love to play, scratch, climb – it’s rare to see them sitting still. Their nails are ‘sharp as claws‘ and the scratches on our legs, arms and backs are proof of this. There’s no way around avoiding scratches when you have two 10 week old kittens.

Aside from the inconvenience of kitten scratches, long claws can sometimes be dangerous to kittens. If they get one stuck when climbing it can rip deeper than it should and cause injury and infection. Since they are so playful, they can also hurt each other. In fact, during a pouncing session Madison scratched Jack’s eye one day and we had to use Oxy-Cat to help heal the sore.

So – you can understand why I’m super excited to learn and share this awesome trick on how to trim a kitten’s nails easily!

At the veterinarian’s office, Madison and Jack were so curious and jumping around the room as we waited for the vet to come in. I had asked for help with trimming their nails because I was afraid of messing up and hurting them. The vet called in her assistant, who came in with complete confidence and said, “let me show you the kitty coma”.

She proceeded to pick up Madison, turn her on her back with her thumbs between her front legs and rub her chin with her fingers. Maddie went limp, purring with contentment. The vet took the paws, pushed out the nails and clipped away. No struggle whatsoever from our girl. She then repeated the same process with Jack.

I stood there amazed.

It’s worth noting – I think this only works for kittens and you will need a partner. Luckily we have two humans in our home and we’ll be able to properly trim their nails each week now!

What tricks do you use to trim your kitty’s nails? Comment below and let us know!