My cat is destroying my furniture. How should I trim his claws?

If your cat scratches the couch or other furniture, you may decide to clip his claws. Kittens can become very tolerant of getting their nails trimmed on a routine basis. But with older cats, you need to go extremely slowly – a claw a day might do.

To help make your cat more tolerant of trimming, start by handling his paws frequently. Then, when he’s calmly resting, gently press on his pad. This helps extend the claws. When you begin clipping, be careful not to cut into the fleshy part that contains blood vessels. And always accompany trimming with treats. Having someone feed your cat while you’re clipping his claws will distract him and make it a more pleasant experience.

– Dr. Larry McDaniel, DVM for the “Purina® Animal Instincts” Podcast Series

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