Update on my girls/need some advice

[orangemm]

When we clip claws, it takes 2 of us. Jeff holds and clips, I hold the two paws that aren't getting clipped. Binky is a struggler, so while Jeff is clipping, I hold a troll doll and rub it on his face. It seems to calm him down a lot! Then after they are clipped, we reward with catnip party!

[sasvermont]

2 people
1 towel
1 counter top or a surface high enough for you to not have to learn over
cover cat with appendage out (head or paw) with one person holding on to that growling, squirming, furry thing that is in major league protest mode.

person #2 either works the mouth open with one hand, prying it open at the corners and back and with the other hand tossing the pill ALL the way back in the throat.....or if clipping, holding the squirming paw in one hand and clipping with the other...the angle is important...so that you can see how you are clipping. I often clip when they are napping in the sun and are relaxed.

The pill thing, well, since they catch on after pill one, I usually try to carry the pill around in my pocket and leap on them when the opportunity strikes...when they least suspect it. Then capture them in the towel and the race begins. If I can do it as one - I suspect you two can do it. Just be firm....but sweet, but IN CHARGE.. Mine are fine at the vets, because they know they cannot get away, but here, its another story.

I would also keep them apart while you are torturing the other one......they hear the howling etc. and then cat #2 is no where to be found..... I have found that hours can go by before cat #2 feels ok about coming around....and then I pounce.

It isn't pretty, but necessary. Miley, bless her heart, perfected the art of looking like she had swallowed the pill, and then would, minutes later, drop it on the floor..........little devil.

Good luck. Hehehehheheheh. Hope hubby's arm gets better soon!

[emily_the_spoiled]

The Pill Pockets are wonderful inventions (I have one cat who gets a pill every day). If that doesn't work, I have put the cat in a sweatshirt sleeve with their head out the cuff (the rest of the body is then trapped). That allows me to open their mouth and shoot the pill in.

To clip their claws I hold them between my legs and basically "sit" on them to hold them in place. Clip their front claws and then have some treats ready...(I don't normally clip the back unless necessary)

[moosmom]

Great advice everyone!! Another hint: when rubbing the cat's throat, blow in the cat's nose. It triggers their swallowing reflex.

When I realized that Izzy and Millie are both Meezers, I thought AHA!!!! Both girls are beautiful!!! My daughter's cat sounds like I'm skinning her alive when I clip her nails. It was such a hassle. We finally decided that it's worth $10 and the ride around the corner to the nearest vet and have HIM do it. I feel your pain, believe me!!!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Since I don't have any one to help me, I've been using the klaw control bag from Drs. Fosters & Smith so that my cats can't run away when I trim their nails. It can also be used when you medicate them too. With Sky, Storm, and Starr I also have to use a home made cat muzzle because they'll bite me if I don't.

I use the chicken flavored pill pockets which I cut up into 4 pieces and I roll them up into little balls. I then use one little ball and wrap the pill in it. Storm, Sky, and Sunny think that they're getting daily treats and look forward to getting their herbal pills each day. With Starr I'm able to crush his pred up into some baby food and he never knows it's in there. I've also used the pill syringe before but it's still a pain in the butt to use. Good luck.

[Taz_Zoee]

I had to pill Taz by myself. I got the pill shooter from the vet. I got on the floor and wedged him between my legs (or just to the side of me). Open his mouth and shoot the pill as far back as possible. Close his mouth, rub his throat and his nose lightly so he'll lick it then he has to swallow.
It was a bit of a pain and I only failed twice. Once he spit the pill back out and it became too slimy to use. Another he actually bit the pill in half.

As others said - each cat and person is different. So you've got multiple suggestions you can try until you find the right one for you and the girls.

[Emeraldgreen]

I use Pill Pockets whenever I can. And if the pill is bitter, which I think Drontal might be, I cut the pill up into quarters and then put a quarter into each pill pocket so it's harder for them to notice it.

I'm going to check out the Klaw Control Bag that Krazyaboutkatz mentioned. Sounds interesting!

[krazyaboutkatz]

Here's the link to the klaw control bag that I bought from Drs. Foster & Smith: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=3159. I actually ended up buying all 3 sizes but now the small one is too small for any of my cats. Pearl is my light weight cat at about 8lbs or so and she fits in the large bag without any problems. All of the rest of my cats need the extra large bag. I don't know why they don't make a medium sized one.

I also bought an extra large bag from a vet's office but I rarely use it because it doesn't have zippers on the bottom of it like the klaw control bag does. If I use it then I can't trim their back paw nails. It does seem more durable than the klaw control bag and I think that they do make them with zippers in the bottom but for some reason I they didn't order one for me. It's called a cat sack and here's a link to it:http://www.fourflags.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.3950/.f. As you can see they do come in 3 different styles and I have what's called the original style.

I also made a homemade cat muzzle out of a plastic cup and string. The string is getting a bit stretched out so I really need to replace it with elastic so that it'll stay on their heads better. I got the idea from this website: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/cat_restraint.aspx. Just scroll down to the bottom and it tells you how to make one. Here's my original thread about it too: http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...ght=cat+muzzle.