clipping a cats claws

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allie g

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Hiya,

I'm quite new here, I adopted 2 full grown cats from a local shelter last week, there previous owner died and they were in the shelter for 8 weeks but were alone for 4 months previously to that while there owner was in hospital.

Due to this they have both been starved of human company and are a little shy, they will both allow you to stroke them but are not keen on being picked up.

Now to get to the main point, They both really really need their claws clipped, Susie (the female) has already broke 3 of hers on a scratch pad. I can get close enough while she is sleeping to make sure they havent snapped too far down and she has not bled at all so we are ok there.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how i can get trim them without scaring the cats? I'm trying very hard to gain their trust but im worried they will hurt thereselves if i dont deal with the nail problem ASAP.

One other question, Susie has a 5th claw on her hind left leg bit slrange isnt it?
 
cjandbilly

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Originally Posted by Allie G

Hiya,

I'm quite new here, I adopted 2 full grown cats from a local shelter last week, there previous owner died and they were in the shelter for 8 weeks but were alone for 4 months previously to that while there owner was in hospital.

Due to this they have both been starved of human company and are a little shy, they will both allow you to stroke them but are not keen on being picked up.

Now to get to the main point, They both really really need their claws clipped, Susie (the female) has already broke 3 of hers on a scratch pad. I can get close enough while she is sleeping to make sure they havent snapped too far down and she has not bled at all so we are ok there.

Does anyone have any ideas as to how i can get trim them without scaring the cats? I'm trying very hard to gain their trust but im worried they will hurt thereselves if i dont deal with the nail problem ASAP.

One other question, Susie has a 5th claw on her hind left leg bit slrange isnt it?
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If they aren't comfortable with you, and if you haven't done it many times before, I'd take them into the vet to get them done, especially since they haven't really had time to truly get to know you yet.


P.S. All cats have 5 claws on all fours.
 
arlyn

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Originally Posted by CJandBilly

If they aren't comfortable with you, and if you haven't done it many times before, I'd take them into the vet to get them done, especially since they haven't really had time to truly get to know you yet.


P.S. All cats have 5 claws on all fours.
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You know, I just double checked this, all 6 of my cats have only 4 back toes (claws), same goes for the dog. Sounds like this cat has a polydactyl in it's bloodlines somewhere.


As for the orginal question, if the length is bothering you and you need a quick fix, have the vet trim them.
Afterwards just slowly start getting them used to you touching their paws as they sleep until they get used to the idea.
 
cjandbilly

cjandbilly

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Originally Posted by Arlyn

You know, I just double checked this, all 6 of my cats have only 4 back toes (claws), same goes for the dog. Sounds like this cat has a polydactyl in it's bloodlines somewhere.


As for the orginal question, if the length is bothering you and you need a quick fix, have the vet trim them.
Afterwards just slowly start getting them used to you touching their paws as they sleep until they get used to the idea.
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Really? Wow, you're right. Sorry bout that.

OOOOHHHHH... I know where I got confused! DOGS have five in the back! Cats have five up front! Okay... sorry again.
 
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allie g

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thanks for that.

I used to clip my other cats claws every 6 weeks or so, I am quite comfortable doing it.

My major worry is that they will hurt thereselves, susie has already rolled off the couch once while sleepy and caught a claw in it, thankfully its quite low and i was only inthe next room so there was no major harm done and she did let me free her with no wiggling. Think i will be phoning the vet tomorrow for an appointment to get nails clipped
 
sharky

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I take mine to the groomers .. she charges five bucks and it is so worth it
 
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buzbyjlc10

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Originally Posted by CJandBilly

Really? Wow, you're right. Sorry bout that.

OOOOHHHHH... I know where I got confused! DOGS have five in the back! Cats have five up front! Okay... sorry again.
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Not all dogs have 5 on the back feet either... in fact, most don't - there are a few breeds that are definitely known for having 5 on all four (meaning, there are dew claws on the back feet as well) and some mutts will turn up with them due to the appearance of a recessive gene somewhere in their bloodline - not that having extra toes/claws is a problem... just makes your babies unique! I find it cute! I worked with many mutts in the shelter that displayed an extra back toe

Sorry, I hope that didn't come off as mean and know-it-all-ish, CJ... just trying to be informative!
 
flisssweetpea

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Adelaide, the feral/stray that we took in, had very long claws that used to get caught in the carpet. When we took her to the vet to be checked over, we had the vet clip them. Although we could hardly get near her at that time, she let the Vet clip her claws, whilst somebody else held her, without any fuss at all.

Good luck.
 
cjandbilly

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Originally Posted by BuzbyJLC10

Not all dogs have 5 on the back feet either... in fact, most don't - there are a few breeds that are definitely known for having 5 on all four (meaning, there are dew claws on the back feet as well) and some mutts will turn up with them due to the appearance of a recessive gene somewhere in their bloodline - not that having extra toes/claws is a problem... just makes your babies unique! I find it cute! I worked with many mutts in the shelter that displayed an extra back toe

Sorry, I hope that didn't come off as mean and know-it-all-ish, CJ... just trying to be informative!
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Oh, okay... that explains it. Thanks! My dog, and most dogs I've ever seen had five claws in the back, but my dog was a pound dog, and the other dogs I've seen, that I've clipped nails on, are mutts, too.

Thanks again!

Cassie
 
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