I like the top panel bcs it allows for proper play time, not some baby bs. Kinda like cats vs cats play.
Never needed to clip any cats claws so I can’t sympathise entirely, but I doubt I would have forced the issue if kitties were too against it (especially if the second time they would still be against it).
We trim our cats nails because when we don’t they keep getting stuck on things. They also just accept that being stuck is now their life without any complaint so sometimes it takes us hours to figure out one is now stuck to the sofa and just accepted it vs decided to sleep on the sofa.
This is my boy. He scratches all his posts, his scratchers, everything and is very good about it, but at a certain length he’ll do his usual routine where he’ll gently hook the edge of a blanket and lift it, and drop it to ask someone to tuck him in, and the blanket won’t drop.
He also might catch a claw on the sofa or something. Time to clip claws!
I trim my cat’s nails because they fight sometimes and I don’t want anyone getting hurt. Also because I want them to be able to make biscuits on me if they want to without feeling like I’m getting stabbed.
Be calm, gentle, but firm. No build up, no “I’m sorry kitty, don’t be mad” and try not to be tense. Just do it. (If you’re tense, they’re tense)
Use a treat or food to distract the cat, and hold them firmly (preferably, have a second pair of hands, but I manage just fine on my own)
Proceed with the processes, even if the cat complains, or gets a little feisty (back off if they’re ballistic). Let them know (with your body language) that you’re not stopping because they’re unhappy
Also, make sure they have a good footing. Cats get uneasy if they don’t have their feet on something, or if the ground is slippery (like a bathtub)
Put a towel in the bottom of the tub to give them better footing (not the best solution, but it works)
I have 4 cats and I handle them all without getting scratched while trimming their nails. There is one cat that will bite the nail scissors, she is tricky to handle because of that. When she catches a finger between the nail scissors and her teeth, she bites full force and that does not make a pleasant experience. I tried burritoing her, but it’s just easier to have her on her back and using sleight of hand to distract her.
The big one is just the best. Never uses his claws, not even when getting a bath to destroy the fur-monster of the shedding season. He uses it to pick up food tho. He doesn’t mind getting them clipped.
The little one’s a vocal bastard. But he also accepts, while being not amused and complaining all the tine, the clipping.
That’s so good. My cats have similar dynamics. The big one, as we call her (despite weighing about 9 lbs), allows me to clip her nails in exchange for 1 (one) kiss upon her forehead per claw.
The small one (5 lbs) needs treats and breaks but puts up with it and me.
My stray kitten wouldn’t let me cut her claws so I tried the mobile vet. They handed her back to me and said it wasn’t worth the fight, and her sister was free.
I didn’t have this issue with my 4 cat when i do that, i usually have them belly up on my lap, head facing me, and i trim it that way so their paw won’t be in an awkward possition. They will try to get away, but i’ll just grab them back and give em some head scritches to quiet them down. I sometime will grab their paw when giving them pat and ask “lets check your nail. can i trim this?” and then trim it. Usually they let me trim one or two before getting annoyed.
I did it like this on my sister’s cat as well, works just fine.
“belly up on my lap” I’d be eviscerated trying to achieve this step with the cat I have now. All our previous cats were, well, pussycats about nail clipping compared to her. I finally had to resort to a dose of gabapentin, which barely slows her down but enables me to get one claw at a time over about 3 hours, with a toothy treat after every claw, and plenty of freedom and “da bee” playtime in between to tire her out.
Make a cat burrito. Gently but firmly wrap your cat in a towel with one claw free. Work on the free claw. Get a helper to hold the burrito and to try and confort the cat.
Its not fool proof if the cat fights hard, but it helps on some cats without traumatizing them or injuring you.
memes
Newest
This magazine is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.