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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / November 2004Nail Clipping: HELP
I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took me the better part of the morning. I try after he's eaten and has settled down. He seems to tolerate the front claws, (although if it takes me too long he begins to fight) but trying to get to the back claws is a real challenge. I've tried with a treat in one hand and the clippers in another so that when he did allow me to clip I gave him a treat. That didn't work. When he lays in my lap I'll grab his paws and more-or-less massage them but he pulls away with the back ones. Any help will be appreciated. He's already "stolen" the first set of clippers I bought and to this day I haven's found them. Thanks, James > I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's > nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > He's already "stolen" the first set of clippers I bought and to > this day I haven's found them. Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws?  SignatureI.P.Freely I don't know if you have indoor only cats but no matter how many scratching posts, etc. you have, their nails always get a little too long. I do have one cat, however, who 'clips' her back nails by biting them as part of her grooming routine. The back claws are indeed the hardest. If you gently squeeze on the tip of their claws the nails come out. Speed is of the essence and you may not get them all at one session! >> I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's >> nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws? > Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws? 1. To minimize damage to flesh from scratches (accidental or otherwise). 2. To minimize damage to home should they decide to use the couch as a post or try to mark the walls. 3. To minimize damage to carpet when they decide to run around like little bullets chasing each other. Also prevents snagging and damage to nail from catching in the carpet. 4. Some cats (esp. elderly cats) don't wear down the back claws enough and the claws can actually grow around and into the pads. Most of the active posters in this group have indoor-only or outdoors-with- supervision-only cats. Very few have indoor/outdoor cats. There is little reason for them NOT to clip the claws. Myself included. Signature-- ~kaeli~ If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot them? http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace Because He is an indoor cat and I don't intend to have him declawed! >> I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's >> nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws? > > I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's > > nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws? To keep your hands, arms, carpet and furniture from being ripped up. Works better than those sofpaws things and, if you start when they're young, they don't mind it a bit. To the OP, I've found that it really helps if you have another human around until they get used to the idea. Have someone hold kitty in their lap while you attend to their claws. You have to do front claws every few weeks (although sometimes a needle or two will sneak in before that time :-) and the back ones once a month. Good luck! dragon >Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws? Indoor cats do not wear down their nails very much. I have to do my cats every 2 weeks or so. If I wait longer, they can become velcro when trying to walk across the rug. And I certainly don't want them getting stuck on something when I am not around to rescue them. Cats who struggle need to be done a little at a time. Catch them when they are relaxed, and do a couple nails, then let them go. Don't let tem work up into a big deal. Also, many cats, especially more dominant cats, do not like to be flipped over onto their back. Let them sit upright on your lap, so they don't feel out of control. Front paws are easier, as well as the more important ones. I usually do the hind paws, but I occasionally skip them. They rarely get very sharp, but they do hurt when a cat jumps off my lap and digs in. Signature-- Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com > >Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws? > > Indoor cats do not wear down their nails very much. I have to do my > cats every 2 weeks or so. If I wait longer, they can become velcro > when trying to walk across the rug. And I certainly don't want them > getting stuck on something when I am not around to rescue them. Oops sorry, my bad. I never realised there is such a difference between the US and the UK here. In the UK it is far more common for pet cats to be 'outdoor' cats and have catflaps where they can come and go at will. From reading this group more it seems that in the US the majority seem to be indoor cats & I guess there are big differences in things like claws etc to be had. SignatureI.P.Freely > Oops sorry, my bad. I never realised there is such a difference between > the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > to > be had. Yeah, there's definitely a difference in societal habits. NZ, like the UK, is populated by almost exclusively outdoor cats, but in Aus, indoor is becoming more common, not least because of state and local body laws. I certainly find it an enlightening sociological exercise to read the different practices, and an interesting psychological one to read the reactions of those who are so unknowing of any cultures or circumstances other than their own that they pretty much have become evangelists for one true way, or another! Makes for interesting reading :-) I can remember a time when cats were indoor and outdoor here in the US. With the advent of some new diseases cropping up in cats they seem to be kept indoors. Some cats nowadays I believe are living to 20 to 25 years. Maybe I ought go to school to study veterinarian medicine!! James >> >Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws? >> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > to > be had. > I can remember a time when cats were indoor and outdoor here > in the US. With the advent of some new diseases cropping up [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > James When I was a kid most people had indoor/outdoor cats. However, most people only had one car in the family if that and there was a lot more undeveloped space around. Now you can find 3-4 cars parked in driveways and townships are spending taxpayer money to purchase what's left of the open space to preserve it that way. It's not the same world out there for the kitties. Add to that the growing problem of strays and feriles who in some cases are FIV/FeLV + and the growing wild animal population who are being squeezed out of their natural environment by development and it is more responsible to keep your kitties inside and safe. It's a lot more challenging co-existing that way though as people have to provide an environment that will keep the kitty happy and out of trouble. W >Oops sorry, my bad. I never realised there is such a difference between the >US and the UK here. In the UK it is far more common for pet cats to be >'outdoor' cats and have catflaps where they can come and go at will. From >reading this group more it seems that in the US the majority seem to be >indoor cats & I guess there are big differences in things like claws etc to >be had. It has changed over the years. It used to be that a lot of cats were farm cats, and that is still true in the rural areas. But in theurban areas, it has gotten so dangerous for cats, that it is really too dangerous to let them out. I know some people still do, including my sister. But her cats die younger and require more emergency care. She just got a new cat about 6 months ago, and has opted to keep that one as indoor only. Her first cat died at age 15 which was pretty good, but mine lived to be 19 (my cat was the daughter of her cat). Our second cats are brothers. Hers died at 15 after losing weight and becoming very ill. . Mine is still doing well at 18. She has had multiple emergencies with overnight vet service required. Several hundred dollars each. I have had only one such case with 4 cats. Somebody either bit or clawed him on the butt, just under beside his tail. So, he got an abcess. The actual care was less than a hundred dollars, but at the age of 17, we decided to go ahead and do full bloodwork and checkup since he was already there. He did very well, and the vet was impressed. Even his kidneys looked great. Anyway, there have been a lot of changes over the years. I remember growing up and thinking it was normal to let cats out, and I was taught that backyard breeders were the good breeders, and that anything was a "puppy mill" breeder. Since then, my views have changed. I wouldn't dare let my cats outside, and I get them fixed right away. Some of the myths are still around though. a friend of mine had a young female stray that moved in with them. She was pregnant at the time, and the lady didn't get her fixed afterward, so she got pregnant again. After the 3rd time, she decided to get her fixed, but somehow didn't think she could get pregnant while nursing (gee people can, why not cats), so she kept letting her out, and she got pregnant again. After the 4th time, she got her fixed. A month later, she was hit by a car and killed. Her oldest son, age 19, is upset about fixing the cat, saying that spaying her caused her reflxes to slow, and that is why she got hit by the car. He thinks it is more dangerous to spay a cat than to let a cat have 4 litters (16 kittens) by the age of 3, and to let her roam the neighborhood. I feel really bad for them. I know they loved their cat. But their ignorance makes me want to bash my head against the wall. And how do I educate them so that the next cat stays inside as well as being fixed right away? Signature-- Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com > I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's > nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > He's already "stolen" the first set of clippers I bought and to > this day I haven's found them. Well, I can tell you what I do and maybe it'll help. I hold my cats like babies when I clip. I sit on the floor, cross-legged ("indian style"), and put the cats in the little space between my folded legs with their back down, facing me. The head is by my left arm and the tail by my right, so they're kinda across my lap and kinda cuddled between my knees with me leaning over them. All their feet are therefore facing up and I can hold the foot with the left hand while I clip with the right. They're all cuddled in the space between my knees, so they are kinda sorta (but not really) restrained. Also, this prevents me having to pull on their legs and feet in odd ways to try to get them in the right position for clipping. They're right there and pretty much right in the correct position. Just push on the pads to extend the nails and a quick clip and you're done. Takes me about a minute to do all 4 feet. Also, I never use a spring-type clipper. The cats hate the sound and the pressure. I use a large human toe-nail clipper. Signature-- ~kaeli~ Never mess up an apology with an excuse. http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace He does enjoy laying in my lap on the couch. I'll try flipping his royal highness over and see if that works. Thanks much for the advice, James >> I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's >> nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > Also, I never use a spring-type clipper. The cats hate the sound and the > pressure. I use a large human toe-nail clipper. > Well, I can tell you what I do and maybe it'll help. > I hold my cats like babies when I clip. I sit on the floor, cross-legged [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Also, I never use a spring-type clipper. The cats hate the sound and the > pressure. I use a large human toe-nail clipper. I agree with the spring-type clipper. They are less expensive, but make a loud sound which can startle the cats. I've never had much luck with a human clipper--I would usually end up splitting or cracking the nail. I really like the "scissors" nail cutter. It literally looks like a shortened scissors. They cost a bit more but work great, quietly, and quickly. Rene >> Well, I can tell you what I do and maybe it'll help. >> I hold my cats like babies when I clip. I sit on the floor, cross-legged [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >like a shortened scissors. They cost a bit more but work great, >quietly, and quickly. i use this for Shaina http://tinyurl.com/5jtrm they don't make a loud noise, at least neither of us thinks so, but then again, she is not bothered by loud noises. human clippers are not curved to the cat claw shape and do crack them. i find it the easiest to trim her claws when she is napping. then there's no need hold her and struggle (she has an amazing ability to wiggle out no matter how i hold her) and there won't be any hissing and biting. i can do both front paws at once, but by the time i can start on hind paws, she wakes up and starts with the wiggling, hissing, biting. i will try the above mentioned way of holding her, but i imagine she'll escape. -L I never clip the back claws. For a while with my new kitten I just did two claws per day. (No kidding!) -- Barb Of course I don't look busy, I did it right the first time. That's 'bout right. I've gotten his fronts clipped several times but his back only once. Thanks much, James >I never clip the back claws. For a while with my new kitten I just did two > claws per day. (No kidding!) [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Of course I don't look busy, > I did it right the first time. I find the struggle is not worth it with my cat - she will let me do it, but it takes a while (sometimes days - as i try and do only a few per day.) What i usually end up doing is taking her to petco or petsmart and having them do it. It's generally fast (no appointment needed) - although call ahead and see if they will do it. and costs about 5 dollars. we have found this much more bareable - and then I am not the bad guy :) > I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's > nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Thanks, > James If 5 bucks will do it, hell, that would be worth it. Maybe I'll give my local persmart a call. James >I find the struggle is not worth it with my cat - she will let me do > it, but it takes a while (sometimes days - as i try and do only a few [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] >> Thanks, >> James > If 5 bucks will do it, hell, that would be worth it. Maybe I'll give > my local persmart a call. > > James Might be worth it even if it does cost more. Once the cat becomes used to this being done he might be more likely to allow you to do it without a fight. If you do take him to PetSmart watch how they do it and try using the same technique at home. W >If 5 bucks will do it, hell, that would be worth it. Maybe I'll give >my local persmart a call. I do that with my dog. Costs about $9 at my vet, but it only has to be done every couple months, and her nails are black. I have done it myself a few times, but I seem to have a 50/50 shot of making it through 4 paws without clipping the quick. I can do my mom's dog fo rher, since her dog has clear paws. And I can do the cats in less than a minute, no problem. I started most of them young though, so not a big deal. I do photograph cats though, and sometimes I have to clip nails for cats I have never met before. Sometimes, they take a bit longer, but they are usally okay with it. I did a kitten last month that was adorable, but her nails were so long, she kept sticking to the background. She was a bit squirmy, but I was able to do them and get some nice shots of her playing. Signature-- Meghan & the Zoo Crew Equine and Pet Photography http://www.zoocrewphoto.com Having two people definitely makes a difference. We trim our kitties claws in the bath tub. I hold one boy at a time, with his back nestled up against my chest, one arm under his front paws (usually at or near the shoulder) and the other supporting his lower legs and feet. My husband does the clipping, usually back paws first and then front. When we are done, we simply run water to "flush" the trimmings down the drain. It does not cause much trauma to the cats, who rarely fuss. PLEASE be careful not to trim to close to the pink area of each claw--the blood circulation in this area is considerable and a single bleeding claw can leave myriads of little blood droplets all over the place. Having done this once, we are now VERY careful to avoid it! Best of Luck PegNDerek >I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's >nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took "Scientists' say intelligent life sprang from the sea. Really intelligent life returns to the sea now and then." I got my kittens used to having their paws touched so when I started clipping claws it wasn't too difficult. I wait until they are sleeping on my lap then gently take a paw and clip as fast as I can. I rarely bother with the rear claws. My cats are indoor/outdoor and another reason to clip (along with what everyone else has said) is that mine like to massage my bare skin but their little claws hurt so it makes it easier on my skin to clip! |
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