I have HAD IT with Tryon and her nail clipping issues. So help me I'm ready to bring her to the shelter if she doesn't KNOCK IT OFF! :onfire::onfire:

Ok sorry.. I would never really do that... I'm just frustrated as all get out.

I can't clip this chicks nails to save my life. I've tried bringing her into another room without the other animals.. no. I can't do it while shes sleeping because she sleeps on top of the kitchen cabinets... so I can't reach her. I can't play with her paws to get her used to it because she doesn't come near us (she's kind of a cranky loner). If I scruff her, she still tries to bite like crazy. And I just tried again to clip her nails and AGAIN I got bit to pieces and have a claw gouge on my thigh that I am SURE is going to leave a scar. :onfire:

And to be honest, I'm worried about taking her to a groomer. She'll fight me tooth and nail over the carrier and I fear she may bite the groomer.

Oh, and she doesn't eat anything besides dry cat food... so treats are out.

Don't get me wrong.. I'm glad I rescued her because she had a tough life... but there are some days I wonder why I went through the trouble if all I'm getting for it is scarred! And I can't leave her nails long because she likes to pick fights with the boys and I just know one of them is going to get a claw to the eye :slant:

:sigh: Ok vent over. But please please someone help me tame my wild nail trimming beast. I'm running out of skin for her to claw off :slant:

Have you tried towel wrapping and/or having someone else (who's willing to sacrifice some skin) help you? Sounds like she's quite the bugger to say the least - especially if just getting her in the carrier is a problem... I wish I had a better answer/suggestion for you - you definitely sound like my mom when she threatens to send our 13 year old black lab back to the puppy farm when she digs in the yard, haha

Oy... I sympathize with your mom ;)

Well here's what I'm worried about with the towel.. and maybe you can help me with this.

If I wrap her in a towel, she still has her head exposed.. which means she can still bite.. and that's really the worst of it. I could probably handle the scratching (even tho it REALLY hurts!) but the biting... she doesn't play bite. This chick means business!

So do you think it would be safe if I put the towel over her head? I know that probably sounds nuts... but like.. not tight enough to suffocate her or anything... I'm just thinking like how wild animal trappers hide the animals eyes so they can't see and it calms them down. Does that even work the same way for cats? Is that even safe? I don't want to harm her... but I'm a little sick of her harming me.

Maybe wear some gloves, thick gloves? Work in a team, get the help of another person to clip so it goes fast. Only do a couple of nails in one session, a couple one day, a couple the next, and so on.
Honestly, this sounds super stressful for her & you too, the whole claw clipping thing, maybe make her wear the Soft Paws instead of clipping her nails would work out better.

I know one person that gives meds to have their dog become more relaxed so they can cut nails. I find that sad personally, baby steps can get you there with a dog and nails, training and conditioning, you don't have to resort to meds. Not sure about cats.

I do mine's nails weekly, the cat that is, but it doesn't stress her out, she doesn't really care much. I wrap her in a towel since I do them after bath time.

I do think things would be better if you could get someone to give you a hand - one person to hold one to clip... cuz if you could get someone to safely wrap her all up in a towel yet have a good hold on her, you could then pull one paw at a time out of the towel to clip.... I know vets use a decent holding technique (used more to draw blood samples)... it's kind of hard to explain, but it's what I was taught when I worked at a vet... one tech would have the cat on the exam table and be the holder... the cat's front paws would be held in one hand and stretched and held over the side of the table, the other hand would be either scruffing the cat's head back or holding the head (keeping the mouth shut) and the arm/body weight of the tech would kind of hold the cat down on the table... this kept the cat in place and kept it from biting the tech or vet who was drawing the blood... it looks kinda funny, but it works and the cat's not being hurt... I'm not necessarily saying you'd want to try this hold without seeing it, especially on a fiesty cat, but I wanted to try and explain, haha.... I would definitely ask the vet/vet tech to quick trim her nails any time you're in there - they should be happy to do it if you explain that it's hard for you... I know we used to do big dog's nails when client's would bring them in for a check up and said they couldn't handle the dog themselves to do it (kinda funny to see 5 vet techs pinning down a rottie that doesnt like his feet touched, haha)... they might also be able to suggest/show you a way to handle her to get it done yourself

I was gonna suggest to cover her head too. But it does sound like a 2 person job - one holds and covers body and head with a towel; the other clips.

Maybe look online for a cat muzzle and put that on her.

Can you you put an E-collar on her? That should keep her from being able to bite you.

That is why I go to the groomer... if you find one who has some cat training... it will be a easy process

Can you you put an E-collar on her? That should keep her from being able to bite you.

Didn't even think of that! That should work really well... would still help to have someone else there to help hold too

Thank you all so much for this!

I'm a lot calmer today now that the throbbing in my hand and leg have subsided a bit ;)

Maybe wear some gloves, thick gloves? Work in a team, get the help of another person to clip so it goes fast. Only do a couple of nails in one session, a couple one day, a couple the next, and so on.
Honestly, this sounds super stressful for her & you too, the whole claw clipping thing, maybe make her wear the Soft Paws instead of clipping her nails would work out better.

I know one person that gives meds to have their dog become more relaxed so they can cut nails. I find that sad personally, baby steps can get you there with a dog and nails, training and conditioning, you don't have to resort to meds. Not sure about cats.

Yeah I'm with you that I'd rather not medicate her. If I do ever go that route it will be an absolute last resort. I'd like to put soft paws on her... but I'm thinking if she won't sit still for this, she probably won't sit still for me attaching those either. But gloves... now there's an idea. I might be able to convince DH to help me if I give him gloves. (He's just as scared of being bit by her as I am :) )

I do think things would be better if you could get someone to give you a hand - one person to hold one to clip... cuz if you could get someone to safely wrap her all up in a towel yet have a good hold on her, you could then pull one paw at a time out of the towel to clip.... I know vets use a decent holding technique (used more to draw blood samples)...

That's excellent! I won't try it by myself, but the next time I go to the vet I'll have them teach me so I know I'm doing it right. Thanks!!

I was gonna suggest to cover her head too. But it does sound like a 2 person job - one holds and covers body and head with a towel; the other clips.

Maybe look online for a cat muzzle and put that on her.

I've actually never heard of a cat muzzle. Are these stressful for cats? I know some people have trouble training their dogs to use a muzzle because it's very stressful for them. I hate to make this worse on her... but if it works, then I'm all over it :)

Can you you put an E-collar on her? That should keep her from being able to bite you.

Ooh good one! I don't have one in the house, but I think they sell them at petsmart. Thanks!

That is why I go to the groomer... if you find one who has some cat training... it will be a easy process

If she wasn't such a :censor: to get into the carrier, I'd probably do this. But to her, that's even worse than me cutting her nails :slant: Whenever I take her to the vet and the receptionist sees me all scratched up carrying a cat carrier she always says "Oh.. I see we have Tryon today!" ...even before she sees the cat! Even they know what a PITA she is.. I swear she's famous :lol3:

But this is all awesome guys.. I can't thank you enough. Maybe one day my cranky kitty and I can clip nails in peace and harmony :bigthumb:

Ooh good one! I don't have one in the house, but I think they sell them at petsmart. Thanks!

I know for sure I've seen the alternative to an ecollar in petsmart/petco - instead of the cone, its a big inflatable collar... same concept but with a little twist (meant to keep them from getting caught on things)...
http://www.petco.com/product/100555/ProCollar.aspx

but I think they carry the conventional ecollars as well - if not, your vet or local shelter more than likely has them

I agree with the team effort. I hold my cats and my daughter clips them. Of course they are not agressive. Her cat is a different story. He also bites and scratches, so she does one or two nails at a time and by the time he figures out what she's doing she's finished. Also we only do the back nails twice a year or so. Just the front 5.

Here's some cat muzzles that might work for you :)

http://www.hunterpet.com/Cats/Muzzle/N907.htm

http://www.pet-shop.net/html/cmuzzle.html

http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=320780++++++++++++++&srccode=COMMJUNC

I would advise trying the two-person towel thing. Bella is our little bitey girl and this has worked fairly well with her. I do the clipping and DH does the cat holding. He keeps the head busy and I pull out one paw at a time.

You can also put the towel over her head, but that's even more stressful. Then again, if it speeds up the process, it may be less stressful in the long run.:confused:

Here's some cat muzzles that might work for you :)

http://www.hunterpet.com/Cats/Muzzle/N907.htm

http://www.pet-shop.net/html/cmuzzle.html

http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=320780++++++++++++++&srccode=COMMJUNC

That first muzzle doesnt look so bad. I may get that one and try it myself. I take my cats to the groomer to get their nails trimmed. 2 of my cats have claws, Max came already declawed. :(

I've never been brave enough to try trimming them myself. Horatio is a biter if you mess with him... so I'd definately invest in that first muzzle :clap:

Would this thing help or would she just laugh in your face?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3159&N=2002+113036

That would work only if the cat was not a biter. The head is still uncovered, but it would help confine them. If the cat bites a lot, the muzzle would work - maybe use both :)

I just started reading at the muzzle part but I assume the original poster is having trouble clipping nails>

I got fed up with Luxor and we just take him to the vet for a nail tril evert 3/4 weeks. depending on how fast the nails grow.

it's $16.

They are talking about nail clipping - but the cat bites when clipping nails - the muzzle would prevent it and you could keep all your fingers when cutting the nails :)

I had a hard time at first too, but it gets easier the more you do it.