# I need to cut my cat's nails. Any help, tips and/or tricks would be appreciated. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 10, 2017, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-cut-my-cats-nails-any-help-tips-and-or-tricks-would-be-appreciated/788627 "2017-06-10T17:49:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-cut-my-cats-nails-any-help-tips-and-or-tricks-would-be-appreciated/788627/21 "2017-06-10T23:46:45Z")
I’ve only been successful trimming a cat’s nails if I was able to star when they were a kitten. Say 6 weeks. for some reason starting with the back legs first works best. I’m not sure why. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-cut-my-cats-nails-any-help-tips-and-or-tricks-would-be-appreciated/788627/22 "2017-06-11T01:26:04Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > If you cut the quick it’s still not the end of the world. They bleed. Then they stop bleeding. Styptic powder or even flour will staunch the bleed. The OP asked for help and tips and that is what I did ! I bet the cat would rather not get it nail quick cut by mistake . ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-cut-my-cats-nails-any-help-tips-and-or-tricks-would-be-appreciated/788627/23 "2017-06-11T14:18:07Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/UK-q7sxB8oQ/maxresdefault.jpg "VET VISIT GONE WRONG!!! Cat Attacks Veterinarian") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK-q7sxB8oQ) Basically, you get a towel, and you actually burrito roll the cat in it. Do it right, and they physically can’t get loose. Though it can be tricky to extract a paw from the roll without letting them escape. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-cut-my-cats-nails-any-help-tips-and-or-tricks-would-be-appreciated/788627/24 "2017-06-11T14:32:08Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > …“That’s not a cat, that’s a tiger.” That’s a horrible thing to say, especially coming from a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine who should know better. Tigers are just wild animals following their instincts. Cats are evil alien creatures. You are just facing the culmination of a long term plot to complete your subjugation. Frankly, at this point you have no hope, your mind is under complete control of the satanic animal, you are essentially posting here on the Dope for the cat. If you find yourself picking up sharp instruments for no reason…well I can’t suggest anything for you to do because you’ve already lost any semblance of free will. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2017, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-cut-my-cats-nails-any-help-tips-and-or-tricks-would-be-appreciated/788627/25 "2017-06-11T14:50:59Z")
I pay the local groomer $12 per cat to do it. I have tried everything, I’m just too anxious about it, they feel my anxiety and then they get anxious, it’s not good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-to-cut-my-cats-nails-any-help-tips-and-or-tricks-would-be-appreciated/788627.md?page=1)