Do you think this is cruel?

**pomtzu** · 07-17-2011, 01:54 PM

It's not cruel at all - IMO of course. There have been people here that have used this when clipping nails - and you know how cats just love that!!!

If it settles them down for a short period and for a specific purpose, then I don't see a problem with it. To do it for entertainment - then that's another story......

**Alysser** · 07-17-2011, 02:13 PM

Not really, I think it's the same concept as scruffing a cat, which I don't think is cruel. It better then the cat flipping out and scratching someone or hurting itself and it can be useful in an emergency.

**mrspunkysmom** · 07-17-2011, 03:14 PM

I worry about bruising the skin. Those clips exert a powerful force. And scruffing doesn't work on all cats.

I do understand that a feral cat might need other types of restraints. It's okay for mother cats to pick the kitty up by the scruff, but she can't exactly hold the kitten in her front paws.

We can do better.

Mine don't need it since they imitate an armadillo when afraid.

I would rather hold my cat for you while you trim his nails than let you put a clip on his neck.

**moosmom** · 07-17-2011, 03:19 PM

I know scruffing AustinB doesn't work. He's a wiggle worm. The clips wouldn't have gotten a patent had it been cruel. A lot of veterinarians I know recommend the clips. It calms the cat down, just like they calm down when mama cat carries them that way.

**Taz_Zoee** · 07-17-2011, 03:38 PM

That was a regular binder clip.

I would think that would be too strong to use. However, maybe I should try it on mine. Bruce always has to help me when I clip their nails and he is horrible at scruffing them. I have those large clips at work. Maybe I could find one that isn't quite so strong.

This video was done at a vets office, and they didn't leave it on the kitty too long. So I don't think it was cruel.

**Karen** · 07-17-2011, 03:56 PM

Cindy, you can take a regular big binder clip and a pair of pliers and bend the sides a bit so it's not as strong. I'm guessing that's what has been done with the one in the video, as the kitty doesn't look like it is in pain. Grab a couple, as you might have to experiment a bit, but they are metal, so can be bent!

**pomtzu** · 07-17-2011, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by Taz_Zoee

That was a regular binder clip.

I would think that would be too strong to use. However, maybe I should try it on mine. Bruce always has to help me when I clip their nails and he is horrible at scruffing them. I have those large clips at work. Maybe I could find one that isn't quite so strong.

This video was done at a vets office, and they didn't leave it on the kitty too long. So I don't think it was cruel.

Hey Cindy - how about a plain old bag clip like you would use for chips, etc. Some aren't very strong, but you could probably find a happy medium between those and the office type clips which might be too strong.