Ms. Long Clause

If you can't clip the claws yourself (which I can't), you'll have to take kitty to the vet. It's not as traumatic as it might seem, and if Zoey is to get her regular jabs and anciliiary visits, she will have to get used to going to the vet anyway.

The vets know how to handle the cat to minimise distress and upset.

If you don't go, it will become increasingly uncomfortable for Zoey, and she might actually tear a claw (painful) if she gets it caught in a carpet look and gets startled.

To keep the claws shorter, also invest in a good scratching post - this doesn't always work but can help a little.

a kitty I had long ago got her claw ripped on the carpet. It bled for a real long time and we had such a hard time keeping her from bothering it. It began to grow abnormally after that, very thick and twisty. If not a vet maybe a groomer?

Have you tried the double team approach? Someone holds kitty while the other person clips kitty's claws? This is the method I use, though my cats are used to it since I have been doing it since they were little. My friend uses the same method and has success with it, and her cat is a bit more annoyed by the claw clipping.

I sit "indian style" and hold the cat in my lap her back to my front. One hand under her front paws, the other above her back paws on her tummy. I am able to hold them like that and hold out their paws one at a time for my friend who does the clipping for me. I think (and this is just my opinion) you have to be consistant about it. I do it once every two to three weeks, and as time goes by they get more mellow about the whole process. We do have set back where one wants to be difficult, I basically don't allow it. I know every cat owner is going to laugh at me and if my cats could read I am sure that they would disagree, but ultimatly I am the human and they are the cats, and this is what needs to be done for them and me to remain healthy and happy . Go on. Laugh. It's ok. Don't get me wrong, the little furrbals trounce all over me most of the time, but in this I don't bend. Nails must be clipped. End of story .

Thank you for your letter Kumbulu. I only have one problem with that. My husband does not know how to clip the nails and has major fear of being scratched due to allergies. I will have to try it again by myself. Thank you

Well, we tried the double team approach last night. My Zoey was so scared that she peed on herself and me. That is what I call traumatic. Does anybody know what to do besides taking her to the vet?

Please do not give up on trying to cut your cat's nails! Today at work I had to assist a vet in trimming a cat's ingrown nails, which were so long that they dug right into his toes and caused an infection, because his owner said she was always too scared to learn how to trim his nails. I don't intend to scold you, but it's not too hard! Even if you trim just one single nail a day, that is better than nothing! If you are scared of hurting your kitty, just trim a little bit at a time until you become more confident.

The type of clipper I use has a guard so that you cannot cut too much off the nail. Try to get one of those. Also, if you wrap your cat in a towel and hold her firmly, her face up towards you in a cuddle, she should feel secure and calm down. You can then sneak one paw out of the towel and cut those nails. I agree, even if you cut one nail a day, you will have achieved something and it will only get better as kitty will learn that this doesn't hurt!

You can also buy a scratching post. Buy one made of natural wood or covered in sissal rope. Make sure it is tall, so the cat can stretch up and exercise her back muscles. The rough cat post will blunt the claws.

Your kitty must of been cut on the quick once while having her claws clipped. They remember pain, no matter how slight. You need to step back and go to square one with clipping claws. Here is the procedure I use when I get new rescues in that need trims:

1. Feed cat a large portion of yummy wet food.
2. Let cat stretch out and relax afterward (they will groom first)
3. Put on classical music soft in the background
4. Walk over and sit next to the cat, or sit on the floor next to her.
5. Pick up one paw and place it in the palm of your hand (she will jerk it away) Pick it up again BUT do not hold it in place. If she jerks, then try this again the next day.
6. Once she accepts you holding her paw, tickle the pads of her feet lightly (most cats will spread their toes and unsheath their claws as reflex)
7. Keep this up, do it several times a day, don't lose patience, eventually she will be able to accept you holding her paw and think nothing of it.
8. Take a pair of claw trimmers and place them near her, do not use them- hold her paw, let her see the trimmers, release
9. Now gently grasp her paw, and place the trimmers near her claws, do not use them. When she accepts they are near her and does not jerk away she is ready to be trimmed. Only take the bare tip off, do not cut into the quick.

This may seem like a long process to some, but I use this on my ferals and it has worked well. Consistently doing this daily will achieve results and within two weeks time you have a desensitized kitty who could care less about having her nails trimmed.

Hissy is absoluteoly right and the "patience" method works for most cats. I have also used this TLC method with rescues. Before long, most cats get used to having their paws findled and will even let you check their toes and nails as part of their cuddle! Building up their trust is still the best way and I have seen only two cases where weeks of patience has still not done the trick. Only in extreme cases do we need to use the emergency towel-wrapping method and since it can't harm the cat, it is better than leaving it with dangerously long claws.