Advice on violent kitty...

[dragonchilde]

My lovely little Wobbles needs her nails trimmed.

The only problem is, she does NOT like to have her nails trimmed. Short of going to the vets and let them do it, what do you suggest?

Last time my husband and I tried, she tore BOTH of us up, and we only managed to get two. I've seen her go from those heavy, death-like sleeps where you can pick her head up and drop it down with no reaction to full-out runs when you TOUCH her claws with the clippers.

Are there any suggestions? She's not a terribly affectionate act to begin with, and holding her is a dangerous proposition at best at any time.

[Fuzzy317]

My cats aren't fond of getting nails clipped either, for them all its a two person job. We fostered a cat for a family member, that hated to have her nails clipped. I would put on long pants, my leather jacket, and leather gloves to hold her, and my fiancee would do the clipping part.

Two of my dogs don't like their nails to be cut either.

[Nomilynn]

You might want to try covering her face too.. sometimes if they can't see they give up the fight. I've known people to put their cat in a pillow case as well, with only the paw to be trimmed sticking out It creates some funny pictures in my mind but it might be a traumatic experience for your kitty. Does she claw on the furniture? If she goes outside at all it's best to leave her nails long anyway. Anyway, I hope you can figure something out!!

[yorkster]

I wrap one of my cats in a towel, with just one paw at a time sticking out. Even then it takes 2 of us.
Our other cat however, does not mind a bit.

[lynnestankard]

Heather such a traumatic time for you, hubby and little Wobbles!
We have the same problem with our three stooges and to be honest as their allowed outdoors I don't worry too much. Let them have a strop on trees and fences!!
But maybe if they are too long a trip to the vet might solve it. They may also show you the best way to go about it
Best of luck - and let us know how things go.

Lynne

[dragonchilde]

Well, I normally don't worry about cats' nails if they are outdoor kitties, but my two babies are both indoor-only now. If they went outside as they did at my mothers, I wouldn't worry, because there are a number of other cats and dogs out there, and they are hunters, but indoors, its just dangerous for us, and they hurt us, each other, and themselves scratching things.

*shrugs* I may end up having to take her to the vet....*sighs*

[sasvermont]

Go to the net and do a search on clipping cats nails. There is a ton of information on it.

Personally speaking, you should start with the nails early, early, early, in their life. My two were started as kittens and they really are sweet with it now. Every now and then Miley, the female will put up a fuss, but not Graemer.

Most of the articles will mention touching their paws first. Get them used to your paws on their paws. Massage the paws....hehehehehehe...I bet most of you are in a full belly laugh by now.... anywho.......I would do the towel thing...or my favorite invention when dealing with pilling and cutting of nails with my former cat...was.....I cut off a sleeve of a very, very heavy sweatshirt and used to stuff the kitty down the sleeve, like a sausage, and then go for the paws, one by one.

It is not impossible to do this, although it may seem like it.

Early and often, just like voting!




P. S. I even clip their back nails. They can really damage furniture surfaces.....as you all well know!

[moosmom]

Here's what I do:

I kneel on the floor with the cat in between my legs. I criss-cross my feet so they can't wiggle out backwards.

I then take one paw and while softly talking to them, I clip. Some of my cats don't like it and will growl, but they know they're getting a treat afterwards.

Now my daughter's cat is a totally different story. I have to clip her nails every 2 weeks. My daughter sits on the couch with callie in her lap. She has her by the scruff of the neck and an arm around her middle so she can't move at all. I do all 4 paws at once. She hisses and spits, and growls but she also knows she'll get a treat when she through, going as far as sitting near the cabinet where the treats are.

One more thing I forgot, always make sure the clippers are sharp, because if they aren't, the cat's claws will splinter.

Every cat is different. Some hate it more than others.

[ramanth]

We wrap our little heathens in a towel... and sometimes it still takes two, but you are less likely to get nailed by the three other paws. Good luck!