Trimming claws to protect furniture: A how-to

Kittens can become very tolerant of getting their nails trimmed on a routine basis—starting young is key. But with older cats, you need to go extremely slowly: Try just one claw a day.

To help make your cat more tolerant of trimming, start by handling his paws frequently without attempting to trim the nails. This helps your cat adjust to having his paws touched.

Then, when he’s calmly resting, gently press on the pad of a paw to help extend the claws. When you begin clipping, be careful not to cut into the fleshy part—it contains blood vessels.

Having someone feed your cat while you’re clipping his claws will distract him and make it a more pleasant experience, so always accompany trimming with treats.