So I think I'm done trimming claws...

So I've come to the conclusion that Dakota will not let me trim her claws, not even one claw (not paw)at a time, maybe once a day over the course of several days. Tonight she stepped up the resistence - she took a couple swipes at my head though her claws were retracted. I think they were warning shots. She would fuss and give the "I'm getting aggitated" meow.

I've read some of the things on here, but I think I'm just going to make the 10 min. drive to the vet to have 'em done for a couple bucks.

Anyone else been fought off from claw trimming? Did you attempt to try to do it again?

Just a thought... do you have anyone who could help you - perhaps hold Dakota (great name!) while you clip her claws? That's what I had to do at the beginning because Baylee did not enjoy it, now that I do it every Sunday she's gotten used to it and I don't need any help.

I have two kitties that would cause massive amounts of damage if I were to try to trim their nails. They scream, growl, hiss and use every means possible to escape. Of course thay are the purrfect angels at the vets! LOL Keep taking them to the vet, it isn't worth the hassle and stress

I do my guys, but if it was a problem I would just take them to the vet. I started when they were babies, maybe that is why. Although Buddy, my formerly feral boy doesn't like it much, I can only do one or two at a time for him. I give lots of treats during and after so actually, my guys think it is worth holding still for. Becky

I gave up as a bad job because even though i was told how to hold them while doing it i still started flapping in case i went to far, plus Rosie wouldn't stay still long enough, so i let the vet do it.

I won't do mine. I will take him to the vet. I am afraid of cutting too far and hurting him.

Katy is the only one who will let me clip her claws. Basically its because she is too fat to wriggle! Tulip and dirt are so little and squirmy it is a battle that is not worth trying to win so its vet trips for them. Also with Tulip being old and getting a bit frail now I am terrified I am going to do some damage Mischa just gets plain nasty and one wrong move and she will take your face off!!!!!!!! Needless to say she has her nails done at the vet or the groomers.

I sure hope I can keep trimming Hunter and Cougar's claws myself. I would hate to have the recurring expense of taking them to the vet or groomer for this. It is a thought that, I hate to admit, makes the idea of declawing a tempting one.

Right now they are little, and although I get some resistance from Cougar, I can still manage to do all the front claws in one sitting. Hunter doesn't fight me at all.

I have trimmed Sierra nails, front and back, once a week ever since she was a baby. It is just part of our routine. I hold her like a baby and just trim them. She doesn't enjoy the process, but tolerates it quite well, especially since she knows she gets a special bonito treat when we're finished!

I can only get Freya to let me do her front claws - she's an angel when it comes to that. Sits still and lets me do both paws in one sitting. But her back paws... she doesn't like me fooling around with her hind feet. XD;

I am leaning towards getting our new cat "Buddy" declawed in the front, but I also decided to give trimming a try. After reading the little booklet that came with him at the time of his adoption, they suggest playing with his paws while he is sleepy and resting, NOT PLAYFUL and get him used to having his paws touched. Be sure to reward him with treats if you have them as well as this only helps to show them that its a good thing! I got lucky with this one in that he likes to sleep in my lap and while he was sleeping earlier I was able to extend his claws and trim a couple without him hardly noticing a thing. Keep pushing on your cats little paw pads and massaging his paw while hes sleeping a little bit, it will pay off and eventually he will let you do what needs to be done, even if its only 1 foot or one claw per "session" or day, its enough to get the job done without paying a vet. Remember, if you make it a traumatic event, that is what will stick in his mind, so never push him to far to fast. A little bit of progress with a positive enviroment goes a lot further then a lot of progress that scares or terrorizes the animal. Best of luck!

I am like you - not a hope in this world that I am going to cut Tipsy's claws and we have even tried it with DH holding him wrapped in something and me trying to cut the claws - yeah right - its never gonna happen!!
I can however cut Cedars claws - he doesnt like it but puts up with it - the problem is that if Tipsy sees me cutting his brothers claws he has been known to come up to me and give me a little nip on the arm

Originally Posted by buckeye23

Anyone else been fought off from claw trimming? Did you attempt to try to do it again?

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Hi Buckeye! I trim my cats' claws when they're fast asleep. They don't even know and sleep right through it! But if they're wide-awake, bah, they'd put up a good fight!!!

Cable doesn't like it, so i wait until she's napping on my chest, then pull out the clippers (conveniently kept clost by) & start clipping. i can usually get thru before she's awake enough to protest!

Jameson just grins and bears it when I clip his claws, hides under the couch for a minute, then comes back and wants petting. Bast, on the other hand, spits, hisses, bites, growls.. etc. etc. Even when I'm just touching her claws she gets really bent out of shape about it. The vet never has a problem, and I asked how she did it, and she said it's just that it's a new environment with all kinds of new smells and people she's not used to that make her a lot more timid than she usually is. I've tried treating while playing with her feet to let her (Bast, not my vet ) know that everything's ok, but then she started growling when she wanted a treat, so I stopped that.

I think my kitten is smarter than me.

I had been taking Merlin to the vets office the first few months. When I first tried to trim his nails he went to far as to put his teeth on me. (Which for him is extreme!) He's polydactyl, and needs trimmed at least every three weeks, and it was getting harder and harder to get him into the carrier. So now I wait until he's been asleep for about half and hour and then I can do whatever I want to him and he won't react.

L.S. I have no problems with as long as I do Merlin first. Then I can trim L.S.'s nails without a fight. Though he really likes to bite the clippers afterwards, as if to show them he's boss.

If you're worried about trimming your cat's nails, just go to the vet's. If I knew I had to fight mine, I'd still be going myself.

Originally Posted by wodesorel

I had been taking Merlin to the vets office the first few months...and it was getting harder and harder to get him into the carrier. So now I wait until he's been asleep for about half and hour and then I can do whatever I want to him and he won't react.

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Try to make his carrier a part of his daily routine. Play with his toys in it, give him treats in it, keep it out and visible and even go so far as to feed him in it or on it. Pretty soon it should become a friendly place for your cat and they wont be quite so scared of "the box".

Hi Buckeye! I trim my cats' claws when they're fast asleep. They don't even know and sleep right through it! But if they're wide-awake, bah, they'd put up a good fight!!!

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That's exactly how I trim Izzie's claws. When she's alseep, it's not too difficult to trim her claws. I also "play" with her paws and push out her claws when she is awake just to keep her used to it. I've been doing that ever since she was a wee little kitten. I just ordered Soft Claws and I'm hoping those are not too difficult to apply.

I think you are all very brave! I'd need to go to Casualty if I tried to clip the cats' claws - it's bad enough doing the guinea pigs!
They do have a sisal scratching post, and their claws tend to trim themselves on that (there are always 'used' claw sheaths around it) so you could try that option if you find it very hard.

Sue

I definitely do it when they sleepy. Not that they mind, as 6 month old kittens they just haven't the patience to keep still for long enough when they're in one of their livelier moods. I'm lucky though, the breeder had done it from them being tiny to get them used to it.