Monte, his wittle nails, and I need some lessons!

[catcrazylady]

I'm sure someone is going to tell me that I shouldn't do it this way BUT this is what we do. We use human nail clippers and just take off the sharp tips. I feel like I can see how far back I am a lot easier with those than I can with the real cat clippers. Maybe it's just because I'm inexperienced with using the real thing.

[PayItForward]

Don't forget to trim the dew claws on the front paws at the side of the leg.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by Cataholic
First, I have to 'catch' Monte...

... Monte's feet, as well as the rest of him
are as black as the ace of spades, if not blacker.

So, there will be no easy to see quick...

"Catch" him??

If he's like Boots - not too hard ~
Just *Look in the TUB*!

Black Nails??
Not really a big problem -
Look at the photo -

The part you CUT is much thinner - in the side profile and
in the "top view" - very much thinner.

As for the Rear Wheels -
Monte will keep them worn down to a certain extent;
but they can still be quite *sharp*.
Be careful trimming the Rear Tyres - easier to *quick* him +
back there.

Good Thinkin, PIF !
DEW Claws *must* be trimmed - or they will grow and curl into
poor Monte's legs!!

[RedHedd]

LOL! I'm cracking up at this quote from the SoftPaws clipping instructions:

"If you accidentally clip into the quick, don't panic. The claw may bleed for a moment, but it Will usually stop very quickly. Soothe your cat by speaking softly to tier and stroking her head. If the bleeding hasn't stopped after a minute or so, touch a styptic pencil to the claw end or pat on styptic powder to help staunch the bleeding"

yeah, right ..... If you accidentally clip into the quick, you will be dead or the cat will very QUICKly be at the other end of the house! Don't panic? HAH! The claw may bleed for a moment and then YOU will bleed for many moments!

Touch a styptic pencil to the claw end? Yeah, right - have you ever used one of those things after cutting yourself shaving? Hurts, doesn't it! Imagine what a cat would do!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself as I've been there, done that (all except the styptic pencil on a cat) .... and have scars to prove it

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by RedHedd
... couldn't help myself as
I've been there, done that
and have scars to prove it!

They did sorta *gloss over* the "what if" part!

What always *amazez* me is how -
with a Death Grip on ONE arm/leg...

One Lil Kat can be SOoooo Effective with the
OTHER THREE and a Full Set of TEETH!!

Most of my Klaw Wars Scars have healed over pretty well...

[iloverat]

Briggs undergoes the humiliation of enduring a forced peticure every 2 - 3 weeks. She massages my neck daily, so if we don't keep her nails trimmed, I get an acupuncture session from the cat

Kyle and I use the 2 person approach. He holds and I clip, also using regular people style nail clippers. They were easier for me, too and seem to work just fine on Briggs. She loves to talk to us during this procedure. With each nail clipped, we get a kitty commentary. Actually, Briggs is quite good about the whole thing. Good luck with little Monte.

I kept the tiny clippings from Briggs's first kitten peticure. They are in a special box along with one of her baby teeth and a whisker. Sorry --- just can't help myself.

[Kitty_talker9203]

WEll there is a little pink part on the cats nails you would cut right in front of it. if you cut on the pink part of the cats nail then the cat is gonna mewo in pain other wise you could buy those caps that go on cats nails so you wouldnt get scratched. Or other wise if you are afraid of cutting your cats nails and are afraid you might hurt your kitty. You could call a grooming place and ask if they could cut your kittys nails. if you would not wanna cut your kittys nails or use the kitty caps. you could rub your cats paws and they would not scratch. But i would never declaw my kittys i think its to mean and i dont have to worry about the problem because my kittys dont claw.

[Cataholic]

Uh, thanks everyone for the "help"

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Originally posted by Cataholic
First, I have to 'catch' Monte..since he is usually in overdrive most of the day. Hence his nickname- Monte Carlo SS...he he he..

AND, I looked. Monte's feet, as well as the rest of him are as black as the ace of spades, if not blacker. So, there will be no easy to see quick. I don't know if I will do the back wheels or not. I don't ever do my other guys back wheels....

I have to buy the tiny clippers....and make an appointment for Monte to see the v-e-t...for the big snip! I am also going to ask if they can modify him from a 8 cylinder to a 2 cylinder. My poor other cats are exhausted from him!

Thanks to all for the suggestions...I will keep you updated on the outcome- assuming all fingers are still attached.

Great description of your little guy. I think those are adjectives you used, right?

Sounds like you might want to take him to the mechanic instead of the vet. And funnier yet, that you want to downsize him in power. Don't you know the more horsepower the better...and you can never get enough horsepower? Guess you can tell I live with a car fanatic.

Good luck, and between holding him and trying to clip his nails, if you could get a pic or two in there, that would be even better......
Johanna walks away muttering, shaking her head, rolling her eyes....

[shais_mom]

I really don't have anything to add b/c I have only trimmed Kylie's nails once in the 2 years I have had her and then the last time she went to the groomer who did it for $2.
But I watched the groomer do it and she did it on the table and kind of covered Kylie's with her arms and like she was laying over top of her and held the 2 back feet and snip snip there they went. But Kylie is A LOT bigger then Monte and not as agile and little and fast. But then again I really wouldn't know b/c we HAVEN'T seen ANY PICTURES!!!!!!!!
Good Luck!!!
Remember where I work if You need an xray!!

[Vio&Juni]

I have never clipped Juni's claws. She's pretty good with them, she hardly scratches even by mistake.

Pichu, on the other hand, is very clumsy and he scratches us.

[Barbara]

I have never clipped any claws. I had some very good laughs at this thread but I am sure I would not laugh after trying the clipping program.

[Randi]

Originally posted by Tubby & Peanut's Mom
Sounds like you might want to take him to the mechanic instead of the vet. And funnier yet, that you want to downsize him in power.

Good luck, and between holding him and trying to clip his nails, if you could get a pic or two in there, that would be even better......
Johanna walks away muttering, shaking her head, rolling her eyes....

Giggle, giggle ..... I can picture it!

Originally posted by Redhead
LOL! I'm cracking up at this quote from the SoftPaws clipping instructions:

Me too!!

Originally posted by Cataholic
Thanks to all for the suggestions...I will keep you updated on the outcome- assuming all fingers are still attached.

We sure hope so!! - And good luck!!


Fister has never had his nails clipped, but we have been discussing doing it. John says NO, but I'd like to see if it can be done. Only the front paws! It's a bit late to save our recliner - it's already shredded on one side, but when we get a new one ....


This is Fister's claws.



Do you reckon we'll ever be able to clip them.

[Vio&Juni]

Remembering about John going to hospital because of Fister's claws, I wouldn't dare! But... you never know They are pretty impressive.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Originally posted by Randi
... Fister has never had his nails clipped...
Do you reckon we'll ever be able to clip them.
They are pretty impressive.

Randi ~

YES! You can clip them...

And they ARE *impressive*!

But if you look closely, they remain "slender" from the base
(down at the "quick" near the toe & fur line);
all the way out to the sharp *tip*...

Cat nails don't seem to get "fat" or "thick" like a dog nail does
when it's not trimmed. The "quick" of a cat's nail doesn't seem
to "grow" out toward the tip.

You can safely cut a LOT of that "curved" and thin part of his nail
without hurting him.

I've been know to forget (OK - neglect) to trim Boots for weeks at a time.
I either notice he's getting *stuck* when he claws at someting
(every ONCE in a while - his Scratching Post)
or he reaches out to *grab* something I'm trying to eat and
I spot Those KLAWZ!!

They have been as long as Fister's are in the photos...
and I trim them off to the point shown in the Nail Photos I posted
WITHOUT causing any pain or bleeding.

Da Kat actually does a lot BETTER with his nails trimmed -
he doesn't get "stuck" on the carpet nearly as much as he
does when they are "long".

Of course he can't *shred* the furniture quite as efficiently
for a while; but they ALWAYS grow back!