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My Cat Won't Let Me Cut Her Nail!!!

post #1 of 10
2/10/07 at 8:50am
Thread Starter 
How do I cut my cat's nails when she won't let me??

She freaks out and revolts!!!

Any suggestions??

Thanks
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post #2 of 10
2/10/07 at 9:23am
A. Either allow the vet assistants to do the 'dirty work' or

B. Get the assistance of another member of your family or a neighbor---

Have the family member/neighbor/friend hold the cat in a towel wrapped all around her leaving only her head and one paw at a time while YOU cut the nails. Remember to hold her firmly (while talking to her lovingly). After a successful nail cutting...she could be given a treat. We do this for Dulcinea and now she remembers that she'll get a treat after the cutting...and is quite happy to surrender to the project.

Good luck!

Fr. Gregg
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post #3 of 10
2/10/07 at 2:50pm
I would try and do only 1 or 2 at a time at first. Anytime I have a cat on my lap I play with their paws, extending the claw so they are used to it.

Try when she is sleeping and relaxed.
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post #4 of 10
2/10/07 at 7:06pm
Have you clipped her claws in the past or is it a recent thing that she won't let you touch them?

I would recommend wrapping her in a towel with just her paws sticking out and clipping them, and starting with just a few claws at a time.

If you don't feel comfortable doing them, groomers and vets usually do them fairly cheaply
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post #5 of 10
2/18/07 at 7:52pm
I sit over my cat (none of my weight on him, just over him so that he can't go anywhere) and just do a few nails at a time. Or maybe just one paw one day and the other a couple of days later.

After I'm done, I give him catnip every time so that he can associate something pleasant with nail clipping.
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post #6 of 10
2/18/07 at 8:56pm
Im having the SAME problem RIGHT NOW!!
I tried everything and came out successful after wrapping him with a towel and doing 2 nails at a time. Giving him a treat after each session. It took me about 1/2 hour, chased him around the house, and got his feet left to do!
Im exhausted! AND I have a million Bite marks all over my hands!! Its a good thing hes a kitten and those bites didnt hurt as much. When he gets older, im taking him to the vet, for sure!! I think it would have been easier with someone else helping me though...
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post #7 of 10
2/19/07 at 5:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by missymotus View Post
I would try and do only 1 or 2 at a time at first. Anytime I have a cat on my lap I play with their paws, extending the claw so they are used to it.

Try when she is sleeping and relaxed.
Yep, this is the best way I've found to do it. I've got two rescue cats with very different personalities. Stanley is normally very laid back --until you touch his paws --then he is a freakin' whirling dervish, it's like he grows extra limbs or something. I have to cut his nails when he's sleepy. I've just gotten him used to the fact that kittys that sleep on my lap wake up with a manicure! It's less stress for both of us, but I usually only get 2-3 nails done per nap (I only do the front anyway). Restraint doesn't work for him and he gives me such a hurt look when I do it.


Bella, on the other hand is a very spirited kitty to say the least, but she is easily bribed. I cut a kitty treat in to little pieces and approch her when she's semi sleepy. Cut a nail, give a piece of treat, etc...slow and steady. Still, I never get them all done at once.
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post #8 of 10
2/22/07 at 12:53am
Put your cat some place unfmailiar, like on top of the washing machine, or a counter top that she doesn't normally get on.

Have a friend hold her, or if she's being fractious, or trying to run away have them hold her scruff. Usually when a cat is on an unfamiliar surface scruffed, they'll sit there and let you do whatever with little argument.

Just FYI to anyone who reads this thread, it's important to remember that when you get a kitten, anything you want to do with them as adults, you need to do as a baby. So ear cleaning, nail trimming, baths etc. It's all good to do it when they are young and first learning what is "normal".
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post #9 of 10
2/22/07 at 8:46am
Zoey hisses and growls at me when I cut her nails. She doesnt scare me though, she's all talk

I sit over her too so she cant go anywhere and I cut as many as I can and then try a few more later. When they're kittens the best time to do it is when they are sleeping or lazy.
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post #10 of 10
2/22/07 at 11:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by foxfire View Post
I sit over my cat (none of my weight on him, just over him so that he can't go anywhere) After I'm done, I give him catnip every time so that he can associate something pleasant with nail clipping.
I do the same thing..but I do all the nails at once. If you give in, then the cat will know that he just needs to squirm around and he will be let go. You should try and do it all at once..IMO.
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