How to Trim a Long-Haired Cat's Nails: Finding the Nail Under Fur

Trim a long-haired cat’s nails every ten days to two weeks, as the ASPCA recommends. Part the fur around each toe, press gently on the top of the toe to push the claw out, and snip only the clear tip. Stay well away from the pink quick, where the nerves and blood vessels are.

On a short-haired cat, the claws are easy to see. On a long-haired cat, tufts of fur hide them, and it is easy to clip fur instead of nail or to misjudge where the quick starts. The fix is good light and a little patience.

How to find the nail under long fur

1. Sit somewhere bright. Daylight or a lamp over your shoulder shows the quick through a pale claw.
2. Part the fur. Smooth the hair on the toe back with your thumb so the claw sheath is visible.
3. Extend the claw. International Cat Care’s method is to gently press the top of each toe to push the claw outward.
4. Look for the pink. The quick is the pink part inside the claw. On dark claws you may not see it, so take off less.

While you are there, check between the toes and pads. International Cat Care lists that area among the places mats form on long-haired cats.

Trimming only the tip

International Cat Care’s instruction is to use claw clippers and “snip off just the transparent tip,” avoiding the blood vessel (the quick) that runs down the center. The ASPCA puts it the same way: trim only the sharp tip and never cut into the pink part.

Do one or two claws at a time if that is all the cat will allow. International Cat Care suggests making sure each session ends on a positive note, and the ASPCA recommends introducing the clippers slowly and massaging the paws first so the cat gets used to being handled.

Choosing clippers or a grinder

Whatever you choose, small sharp clippers sized for cats are easier to control than large dog clippers. On a fluffy paw, a grinder needs extra care: hold the fur back so it does not wrap around the drum.

Cat nail clippers and quiet grinders

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How often, and the signs a cat needs a trim

The ASPCA recommends a trim every ten days to two weeks. International Cat Care gives signs to watch for instead:

• claws catching on bedding, soft furnishings or carpets;
• a tapping sound as the cat walks on hard floors.

Older cats need gentle handling. International Cat Care reminds owners that senior cats may have painful, arthritic joints, so support the leg and do not stretch it.

What not to do

Never declaw a cat to avoid trims. The ASPCA says the surgery amputates the end of the toes and strongly discourages it, and the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, formerly the American Association of Feline Practitioners, strongly opposes declawing as an elective procedure. A sturdy scratching post helps a cat keep its own claws in shape.

Nail trims as part of the routine

Nail trims fit into the daily grooming routine and come before any bath, as the bathing guide explains. If tangles keep forming between the toes, see mats. For a big long-haired breed, the sister site Large Breed Cats covers grooming a Maine Coon, nail trims included.