A Civil World. Off-topic discussions on a variety of topics. > Time For a Coffee Break!
Our cat and her long nails!
Bijou:
Our kitty, Sherkan, is 21 and doesn't get around much outside. As a result, her claws just keep growing. We finally had to take her to the vet to be clipped and a couple of times they were able to do it, in spite of her protests. The third time, though, they put some kind of weird helmet on her (honestly, it looked like something out of an old dungeon movie) and she went out of her mind. We stopped the process and thought we would try and clip them at home. Well, we can clip some of them, but there are the big thick ones on her front paws and she just won't let us do it. So, today I am taking her back in to the vet to get them clipped and am dreading it.
Does anyone have any tricks for doing this? We have the clip for her neck to make her think her mommie is holding on to her. I've tried holding her scruff of her neck. This just isn't enough control. We could wrap her in a towel but she still has free roaming teeth. We have those little cat nail clippers, too. I'm about ready to give her a bunch of catnip. I thought maybe someone might have suggestions to make it less traumatic for her, or some way to get her to cooperate. We need help!
Thanks.
Chartreuse:
http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/clientED/cat_restraint.asp
How to restrain a cat. As old as she is, I doubt she's going to suddenly decide it's okay for somebody to mess with her paws, if she's always had issues with it. I would suggest that while she's restrained and being trimmed, perhaps you could put SoftPaws on her (only if she's staying inside)? http://www.softpaws.com/ They won't ******* the growth of her claws, but they will protect your house from long nails snagging on everything? You superglue them on, and leave them on until they fall off. Most cats don't mind them after you put them on. I'm definitely a fan.
kathrynne:
Nail-clipping is seen as a two- to three-person job here, especially with certain kitties. Depending on the kitty, it's either DH and I involved, or DH, the vet and I--and that gets expensive.
Catnip's a great start if she's not a mean drunk (we have one mean drunk and two happy stoners). Use the clip, towel tightly and have one person hold the kitty burrito. The person most comfortable and coordinated with the nailclippers is trusted to wield them.
Does Sherkan have favorite scratching posts? Except for one brief period in college, I've never let my furbabies out of the house. We just have lots of scratching posts, including a cat tree with a couple of natural wood "trunks."
This would be a great time for someone to insert the "How to give a cat a bath" thingie. Cats? Cooperate? Hah!
Suze:
I just usually wait till they are napping somewhere and pick them up and cuddle. and while they are all purry - strike
you may only be able to get one claw at a time.
I also play with their toes a lot
Zen:
Our cat is a polydactyl (means she has many toes, more than normal, like 6-8 on each foot) and some of the claws on her many toes just don't work. We clip every week, or she gets snagged on everything. Carpet, screens, other cats.. Anyway, we tried soft claws for a while, but we had problems with putting too much glue in the claws, and them staying on for months, which is not good. My husband and I double team her, since she really hates people touching her feet. H cradles the cat in his arms until she stops trying to kill him, and then I clip. It works best if you do it a lot, because the kitty does eventually realize that its a short procedure that doesn't hurt (her at least), and she gets tuna afterwards to soothe her dignity. :)
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