SCREW THIS!!!! I give up clipping his nails

I think you are right on the "not mom/dad" thing. I've lost count of how many times people say they can't clip their cats nails. I just take the cat, hold him/her tight and tell them to "SIT STILL" and proceed to do it.

The owner just stands there with the dumbest look on their face like they can't believe their cat is behaving

Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45

I think you are right on the "not mom/dad" thing. I've lost count of how many times people say they can't clip their cats nails. I just take the cat, hold him/her tight and tell them to "SIT STILL" and proceed to do it.

The owner just stands there with the dumbest look on their face like they can't believe their cat is behaving

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Yeah - I know that look. I wore it the first time I watched the vet tech do Ferris' nails for me.

It isn't even that I'm scared of him - I move with action and purpose, LOL. I'm hoping that after he sees me do Ginger's another hundred times or so that he MIGHT start letting me do it to him.

After all, he DID let me give him a kiss on the nose...once...

We double team. DH scruffs the kitty, and I clip as fast I can. Lily gets scared, and just doesn't move a muscle, Stumpy squirms a bit, but isn't too bad, but Smudge squirms and squeals and acts like we're killing her. As soon as we put her down she's trying to climb up our jeans to see what we're doing again

We've discovered that we can just get her when she's in a deep sleep, and she doesn't mind too much.

I think each cat is very different, and no matter how much you try to show your dominance, there'll always be a kitty who'll act more dominant and scream to the point that your neighbours think you're killing them...

i take BIG towel, wrap him and clip his nails. i use the same tip to wash his paws when they got dirty

When we got the cats from the shelter, they demonstrated cutting Swanie's claws. One of the men held him like a baby, while the other clipped. He seemed very docile about it. No problem.

So we get them home, and it's time to clip. I decided to let him sniff the cutters, held them out toward him, and he went ballistic. I know he knew what they were and what they were used for. Okay, not going to be easy.

Got DH involved - I'll hold him you clip. Yeah, right. Okay, you hold him, I'll clip. I've never seen a cat wiggle like that. Not squirm, wiggle, back and forth rapidly. Just no clipping that cats claws.

So I got on the interenet to research just why it was so important to clip. What I found out was that it was basically to keep him from scratching the furniture and scratching you. Then I asked the vet, and she confirmed that it really wasn't necessary, unless it started to be a problem for them. Based on that information, nobody gets their claws clipped. I provide them with plenty of scratching posts, hanging things, cardboard, and I yell at Swanie when he decides he'd rather use the back of my sofa I find it easier on all of us that way

I am the only one able to clip my mom's cat's claws. Charli tries to bite and claw if mom does it. I get her into a firm headlock sort of hold with my left arm holding her paw with my left hand and while she doesn't really enjoy it, I can get the job done. Mom had such problems for a while that Charli got an ingrown nail. Took me about two minutes to remove it with clippers and a tweezer. She had a little bleeding (like 3 drops) then ran off and wanted a treat. We kept an eye on her to make sure there was no infection.

I clip Nikita's claws if they start to snag on things. She's pretty good at scratching (on scratching posts!) and keeping them down herself though.

I made sure to fondle her paws lots when she was a kitten so she's used to me playing with her feet and pushing the claws out etc. Then I pick a time when she's asleep and relaxed and clip a few claws at a time. It's never been a problem. So I can't really advice those who have a problem with it.

Have one person scruff him and pull him over on his side so he is laying down, while scruffing, have that same person take his other hand and hold the back legs so the cat can't get any leverage to pull away. Then clip.

Just watch the mouth though, he may try to bite.

i'll try it but i foresee luxor having a coniption.....

We've currently got 3 clawed kitties who get regular manicures and pedicures 2 of them I got as 8 week old kittens, and I started right away and there's absolutely no problems. The 3rd (Tinsel), well, that's another story! We found her in a parking lot right before Christmas, and took her home. She was probably around 3-4 months old, and wild as a lion I started by simply clipping one or 2 nails at a time and made sure that we finished on my terms, not hers. I know you mentioned Luxor always having to have the 'last word', but the trick is to stop and give them a pat/treat/good job right before you think they're going to become unmanagable. So if you only get to sit him on your lap and push out a claw before he goes balistic, that's all you do. Don't let it get to the point where HE ends it. That'll just re-inforce the 'if I don't want her to do something I just need to become a psycho-kitty and she'll stop' thinking. I'd just start slow, and don't worry about getting it all done in one sitting, or one afternoon, or one day. The more often you work with him, the more comfortable he'll become. So maybe consider working with his paws/claws 5-10 times a day (with clippers, without clippers, don't even have to try clipping) and then you can decrease the number of times you work with him as he learns to behave (and that he's not going to get his way anyway!) and maybe, just maybe, he'll come around and realize you're not killing him

Originally Posted by Shiraz

We've currently got 3 clawed kitties who get regular manicures and pedicures

2 of them I got as 8 week old kittens, and I started right away and there's absolutely no problems. The 3rd (Tinsel), well, that's another story! We found her in a parking lot right before Christmas, and took her home. She was probably around 3-4 months old, and wild as a lion

I started by simply clipping one or 2 nails at a time and made sure that we finished on my terms, not hers. I know you mentioned Luxor always having to have the 'last word', but the trick is to stop and give them a pat/treat/good job right before you think they're going to become unmanagable. So if you only get to sit him on your lap and push out a claw before he goes balistic, that's all you do. Don't let it get to the point where HE ends it. That'll just re-inforce the 'if I don't want her to do something I just need to become a psycho-kitty and she'll stop' thinking. I'd just start slow, and don't worry about getting it all done in one sitting, or one afternoon, or one day. The more often you work with him, the more comfortable he'll become. So maybe consider working with his paws/claws 5-10 times a day (with clippers, without clippers, don't even have to try clipping) and then you can decrease the number of times you work with him as he learns to behave (and that he's not going to get his way anyway!) and maybe, just maybe, he'll come around and realize you're not killing him

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thanks, i chose poor words, i always end it on my terms, but in my brain i'm just so frustrated. I'd love to just be able to TOUCH his paw. he's never let me touch them with out freaking out since October (when we got him). i think maybe if he starts to get them clipped regularly he'll get fed up with having to go 'out' all the time and just let me do them.

For me the easiest way is what some other people suggested and that is to use a towel or blanket. What you do is wrap them in the blanket then just gently pull out one leg clip that. Put leg back in and repeat until all legs are trimmed. The tricks is to bundle them tightly so that they can't really squirm. I had to do this the first 4 times that i cut my cat's nails but now she just gives up and lets me cut them. Give it a try it might work for you.

I've had some amazing, claw trimming success with Ferris today.

Try this product http://www.klaw-kontrol.com/

Maybe bring him to the vet then. Its a good idea.

Originally Posted by Misty8723

So I got on the interenet to research just why it was so important to clip. What I found out was that it was basically to keep him from scratching the furniture and scratching you. Then I asked the vet, and she confirmed that it really wasn't necessary, unless it started to be a problem for them. Based on that information, nobody gets their claws clipped. I provide them with plenty of scratching posts, hanging things, cardboard, and I yell at Swanie when he decides he'd rather use the back of my sofa

I find it easier on all of us that way

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That's good to hear. I don't "do" cats' claws, and never have (with the exception of one of Jamie's claws that grows crookedly). We have a lot of surfaces to scratch, so the furniture is left alone. A healthy cat can normally tend to his/her claws himself/herself. A very old or obese cat might need some help, epecially with the back claws, but otherwise it's not really necessary.

Originally Posted by jcat

That's good to hear. I don't "do" cats' claws, and never have (with the exception of one of Jamie's claws that grows crookedly). We have a lot of surfaces to scratch, so the furniture is left alone. A healthy cat can normally tend to his/her claws himself/herself. A very old or obese cat might need some help, epecially with the back claws, but otherwise it's not really necessary.

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I don't clip my cats on a regular basis either. There is no real need to do so.

I clip them prior to shows, because it's a show rule to protect the judges and I'll clip if they're going to be loose riding in the car....leather seats, sharp claws and a moving car aren't a good combo.

One of my favorite all-time cat companions considered the restraint portion of claw clipping unacceptable. I struggled with her for years until, one day while she was sitting quietly, I simply picked up one of her forepaws and carefully clipped the nails. After that, it was easy-peasy.

Not saying this will work with all cats. I had a Siamese who could resist claw clipping while wrapped in a towel and held down by myself and two veterinary assistants. Yow!

Another idea: some cats like having their nails filed! I'm not kidding. A couple of them, while relaxed would let me gently file their claws as I pressed on the pad. However, once they got too aroused, it was common to seize the emery board and play with it. Something about the nail dust attracted them.

Originally Posted by Renovia

thanks, i chose poor words, i always end it on my terms, but in my brain i'm just so frustrated. I'd love to just be able to TOUCH his paw. he's never let me touch them with out

out since October (when we got him). i think maybe if he starts to get them clipped regularly he'll get fed up with having to go 'out' all the time and just let me do them.

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Our cat Poe is the same way, He howls like he is being stabbed every time we do it. The last time he sounded like a mac truck running at idle for about 30-45 seconds straight. Really low and even growl. He does not like his nails clipped at all, but I don't like being punctured even less, so I hold him down while my wife clips his nails.

You just hold him as tightly as necessary. If he struggles, just hang on. if you start holding too tightly he'll stop moving and you can let up a bit.

All in all it takes us about 5 minutes to do all his front claws. We've only done his back claws once but we're looking to do it again soon because he likes to bunny kick us in bed when we move our feet around (I'm a foot rubber as I fall asleep) and he's starting to leave scratch marks again.

To us it's just not worth it to take him to the vet. he hates the trip and then we have to pay for the privilege, so we just do it ourselves.

We got him at around age 2 and he was out in the wild for a time, so he's just going to complain regardless because he doesn't like it and is too old to get used to it. It's taken me 7 months to get him used to being combed. (and by used to I mean not kicking and hissing and growling).

P.S. HE doesn't like his paws touched at all. So I can relate. He only tolerates it on his good days for a second or two before getting irritated.

Crazy cat actually likes getting his teeth brushed, and I always assumed that would be the hardest task of all. Go figure.

Ok, we were just at a friend's house yesterday. They have a cat and a dog. She told me that the cat doesn't even come into the room when strangers are there, let alone pet or pick her up.

Well she was in heat (not strong) but enough to overcome her fear....and yes the owners will be getting her spayed very soon

So I reached over and she let me pick her up and hold her a few mins - much to their surprise! I noticed her nails were razor sharp, so I asked for nail clippers (they couldnt' find any) - got MINE out and just sat there and did front and back feet within 2 mins (or less). She grumbled a bit, but didn't try to bite me or anything.

They never clipped her claws cause they claimed they couldn't do it, but I did in in less then 2 mins....after I let her go she just stood there and looked at me like "what just happened here????"