Cat nail clipping: guide, warning signs and salon in Berlin

Trimming a cat's nails is only necessary if they are too long and get caught in the carpet, for example. In that case, you just clip the white tip with cat nail clippers, staying well away from the pink part of the nail. If you're not confident doing this yourself, we can trim their nails at GroomRoom in Charlottenburg, Tuesday to Saturday by appointment. Nail care is included in every cat grooming package from 99 €, and as a standalone service, nail clipping starts at 15 €.

When do you need to trim a cat's nails?

You only trim your cat's nails if they are too long, not just because they are sharp. This is what the British veterinary charity PDSA recommends in their pet care guide. A cat's front claws are retractable, so you usually don't see them at all when they are resting comfortably.

According to the PDSA, these signs indicate that the nails are too long:

• The claws get caught in the carpet when walking.
• You can hear the nails clicking on hard floors.
• You can clearly see the claws even when your cat is resting.

Overgrown nails can curl and grow into the paw pads. This causes your cat a lot of pain and needs to be treated by a vet. If you see blood or swollen toes, you should also call your vet first.

Which cats need help with nail care?

Indoor cats and older cats are the most likely to need help because their nails get too long more quickly. According to the PDSA, active outdoor cats wear down their claws by running, hunting, climbing, playing and scratching, and usually don't need a trim.

For older cats, it's worth checking their paws regularly. If your cat has arthritis, meaning joint wear and tear, scratching might be painful, or they might not be able to retract their claws anymore. An overweight cat also moves less and hardly wears down their nails.

You should check long-haired cats especially often, as the fur on their paws hides overgrown nails. You can read about how we groom long coat types in general in our guide cat groomer in Berlin. For knots between the toes, check out the article matted cat, what to do.

How do you trim cat nails correctly at home?

You clip your cat's claws in small steps, one claw at a time, giving a treat after every clip. The PDSA recommends this process:

1. Get your cat used to having their paws touched a few days beforehand and reward them when they stay calm.
2. Sit with them in a quiet room, ideally with your cat on your lap.
3. Place cushions next to the chair so they have a soft landing if they jump down.
4. Let them sniff the nail clippers and give them a treat for doing so.
5. Gently press the top and bottom of the paw until the claw extends.
6. Look for the quick, which is the pink part of the claw containing blood vessels and nerves.
7. Only clip the white tip, about 3 to 4 mm away from the quick, according to the PDSA.
8. Reward your cat after every claw and stop immediately if they want to get away.

Cornell University recommends cutting at an angle so the little hook at the tip of the claw is removed. Most cats have eighteen claws: five on the front paws and four on the back paws. Don't forget the dewclaws on the front paws.

You don't have to do all the claws in one day. The PDSA explicitly advises spreading the clipping over several short sessions.

Which tool is best for cat claws?

Cat-specific nail clippers or scissors are the right tools for home use. According to the PDSA, household scissors and human nail clippers crush the claw and can cause it to split.

Also, have your cat's favourite treats ready. It helps to have a second person to stroke your cat and give them treats.

What to do if the claw bleeds?

If a claw bleeds, stop immediately and call your vet. The quick contains a small blood vessel, a cut into it bleeds and hurts. Until you reach your vet, the PDSA advises holding some cotton wool around the claw until the bleeding stops.

Cutting the quick happens very rarely according to the PDSA, as the pink part is usually easy to see. If your cat constantly resists, don't force them and get advice from your vet.

How nail clipping works in our salon

At GroomRoom, every cat gets their own quiet time slot with no dogs in the salon. We work without pressure or force and take breaks as soon as your cat needs them. You can watch from the outside through our shop window while we work.

We trim nails in all three cat packages at no extra charge. If you only book your cat in for a nail trim, it's a short individual service without a bath. You can find out how an appointment with us works step by step on the Appointment process page.

If the nails have already grown into the pads, the vet is the right place to go. This also applies if there's blood or swollen toes.

How much does cat nail clipping cost in Berlin?

Nail clipping as an individual service starts at 15 €, and it's already included in every cat package. All prices include VAT.

We'll give you the final price before the appointment after a personal assessment. You pay on collection in cash, by debit card, credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. All packages are described on the Cat grooming at GroomRoom page, and all starting prices are on the Prices page.

You'll find us at Giesebrechtstraße 2, 10629 Berlin, accessible via U7 Adenauerplatz (5-minute walk), U1 and U9 Kurfürstendamm (10 minutes). You choose the appointment yourself, including the package, day and time: Book an appointment online.

How do you keep nails short without clipping them?

Scratching posts and exercise are the best ways to keep claws naturally short. According to Cornell University, scratching is an innate behaviour: cats leave scent from glands in their paws and shed the outer sheath of their claws.

• Place several scratching posts in areas where your cat already likes to scratch.
• Notice whether they prefer scratching vertically or horizontally, and choose the model accordingly.
• If they like sofas with rough fabric, a scratching post wrapped in sisal – a coarse rope made from plant fibres – is a great fit.
• The scratching post should be sturdy and at least as tall as your cat when fully stretched out on their hind legs.
• Play with your cat and keep them at a healthy weight so they stay active.

According to the PDSA, your cat will often scratch more after a trim because they want to sharpen their claws again. Declawing, as Cornell notes, is actually an amputation of the bones at the tips of the toes. To find out how trimming works for dogs, check out our guide on dog nail clipping in Berlin.