How Often Should You Trim Cat Nails

Trimming your cat’s nails seems like an unnecessary thing at the beginning, but how often should you actually do it? As you know, your little cat probably uses its claws a lot, so will trimming their claws affect them in any way?

We have already shown you How to Trim Dog Nails, but now is time to ask ourselves an entirely different question: how often should you trim cat nails? In this Your Pet, Your Love blog post, we are going to cover exactly that topic.

Is it Necessary to Trim a Cat’s Claws?

Yes, trimming your cat’s nails is necessary because overgrown nails can have a negative effect on your cat’s health. Cats love scratching, which trims their nails in a fairly natural way.

Almost most cats can naturally trim their own nails, but this is not always the case, which creates the need to take them to the veterinary or trim their nails by yourself if necessary. By the way, check out  the best Unique Cat Names so you can give your little beast a nice name in 2022 and 2023!

What Happens if You Don’t Trim Your Cat’s Nails?

If you fail to take care of your cat’s nails, they might overgrown, which is hurtful for them. Besides, some nails grow in a curved way, which might go directly into their paws.

This, of course, is pretty painful for your cats. If you want to avoid this, then cutting your cat’s nails is more than necessary. The vet also can do it. This way, you ensure that a professional takes care of it, so you don’t hurt the paws nerve and make some blood come out. Also, some owners first learn How to Bathe a Cat before they even dare to clip their nails.

How to Know if You Should Trim Cat Nails

Clipping your cat’s nails is necessary, but you do not need to perform excessive trimming. Cats have certain behaviors when their nails need to be trimmed, so considering the three following signals is really important:

1. The nails are curved: this is the first sign that you must take into account. If the nails are unnaturally curved, then it is time to trim them.
2. Your cat is scratching things nonstop: constant scratching is a sign that you need to trim their nails as soon as you can.
3. You notice signs of pain in your cat: in this case, our best advice would be to take your cat to the vet so they can evaluate the situation.

How Often Should You Trim Cat Nails by Yourself

The answer to the million-dollar question is that you should trim your cat nails every 3 to 5 weeks. Nails do not grow at the same pace in all cat breeds, so it is important to pay attention to them.

Some cats do not need nail trimming whatsoever, so it also depends on the habits of your cats. All in all, the magic number is every 4 weeks, so keep this in mind.

How Often Should Indoor Cats Nails be Trimmed

Indoor cats use their nails and claws less than outdoor cats. This means that you should trim their nails every 5 to 6 weeks, unless you see something weird.

It will really always depend. Indoor cats should have their nails trimmed more often than cats that are always outdoors, so it is really important that you take your cat’s behavior into account.

Pet Recap: How Often Should You Trim Your Cat’s Nails

The most straightforward answer to this question is every 4 weeks. You, as a cat pet owner, should have the final saying by checking their nails every now and then. 

If their nails do not need trimming, then don’t do it. And, if you are too nervous to do it by yourself, then take them to the vet. Make sure that you know what you are doing before you even think about trimming the nails of your cat.

Learning how to trim your cat nails is a story for another day, but don’t worry; we will get to it soon enough.

FAQ

How Long Does a Nail Trim Last On a Cat?

After you clip your cat’s nails, the trimming might last up to 6 weeks. Then again, it really depends on the activity your cat has in its day to day life. Grab their paws and check if you see something off in their nails so you can proceed to trim them without doing so wrongly.