Nail Clipping: HELP

I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's
nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took
me the better part of the morning. I try after he's eaten and
has settled down.
He seems to tolerate the front claws, (although
if it takes me too long he begins to fight) but trying to
get to the back claws is a real challenge. I've tried with a
treat in one hand and the clippers in another so that when
he did allow me to clip I gave him a treat. That didn't work.
When he lays in my lap I'll grab his paws and more-or-less
massage them but he pulls away with the back ones.
Any help will be appreciated.
He's already "stolen" the first set of clippers I bought and to
this day I haven's found them.

Thanks,
James

"JamesJ" wrote in message
...
I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's
nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took
me the better part of the morning. I try after he's eaten and
has settled down.
He seems to tolerate the front claws, (although
if it takes me too long he begins to fight) but trying to
get to the back claws is a real challenge. I've tried with a
treat in one hand and the clippers in another so that when
he did allow me to clip I gave him a treat. That didn't work.
When he lays in my lap I'll grab his paws and more-or-less
massage them but he pulls away with the back ones.
Any help will be appreciated.
He's already "stolen" the first set of clippers I bought and to
this day I haven's found them.


Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws?
--

I.P.Freely

I don't know if you have indoor only cats but no matter how many scratching
posts, etc. you have, their nails always get a little too long. I do have
one cat, however, who 'clips' her back nails by biting them as part of her
grooming routine.

The back claws are indeed the hardest. If you gently squeeze on the tip of
their claws the nails come out. Speed is of the essence and you may not get
them all at one session!
"I.P.Freely" wrote in message
...
"JamesJ" wrote in message
...
I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's
nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took
me the better part of the morning. I try after he's eaten and
has settled down.
He seems to tolerate the front claws, (although
if it takes me too long he begins to fight) but trying to
get to the back claws is a real challenge. I've tried with a
treat in one hand and the clippers in another so that when
he did allow me to clip I gave him a treat. That didn't work.
When he lays in my lap I'll grab his paws and more-or-less
massage them but he pulls away with the back ones.
Any help will be appreciated.
He's already "stolen" the first set of clippers I bought and to
this day I haven's found them.


Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws?
--

I.P.Freely

In article ,
enlightened us with...
I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's
nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took
me the better part of the morning. I try after he's eaten and
has settled down.
He seems to tolerate the front claws, (although
if it takes me too long he begins to fight) but trying to
get to the back claws is a real challenge. I've tried with a
treat in one hand and the clippers in another so that when
he did allow me to clip I gave him a treat. That didn't work.
When he lays in my lap I'll grab his paws and more-or-less
massage them but he pulls away with the back ones.
Any help will be appreciated.
He's already "stolen" the first set of clippers I bought and to
this day I haven's found them.


Well, I can tell you what I do and maybe it'll help.
I hold my cats like babies when I clip. I sit on the floor, cross-legged
("indian style"), and put the cats in the little space between my folded legs
with their back down, facing me. The head is by my left arm and the tail by
my right, so they're kinda across my lap and kinda cuddled between my knees
with me leaning over them.
All their feet are therefore facing up and I can hold the foot with the left
hand while I clip with the right. They're all cuddled in the space between my
knees, so they are kinda sorta (but not really) restrained. Also, this
prevents me having to pull on their legs and feet in odd ways to try to get
them in the right position for clipping. They're right there and pretty much
right in the correct position. Just push on the pads to extend the nails and
a quick clip and you're done. Takes me about a minute to do all 4 feet.

Also, I never use a spring-type clipper. The cats hate the sound and the
pressure. I use a large human toe-nail clipper.

--
--
~kaeli~
Never mess up an apology with an excuse.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

I never clip the back claws. For a while with my new kitten I just did two
claws per day. (No kidding!)

--
Barb
Of course I don't look busy,
I did it right the first time.

In article ,
enlightened us with...


Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws?

1. To minimize damage to flesh from scratches (accidental or otherwise).
2. To minimize damage to home should they decide to use the couch as a post
or try to mark the walls.
3. To minimize damage to carpet when they decide to run around like little
bullets chasing each other. Also prevents snagging and damage to nail from
catching in the carpet.
4. Some cats (esp. elderly cats) don't wear down the back claws enough and
the claws can actually grow around and into the pads.

Most of the active posters in this group have indoor-only or outdoors-with-
supervision-only cats. Very few have indoor/outdoor cats. There is little
reason for them NOT to clip the claws. Myself included.

--
--
~kaeli~
If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot them?
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

Because He is an indoor cat and I don't intend to have him declawed!

"I.P.Freely" wrote in message
...
"JamesJ" wrote in message
...
I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's
nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took
me the better part of the morning. I try after he's eaten and
has settled down.
He seems to tolerate the front claws, (although
if it takes me too long he begins to fight) but trying to
get to the back claws is a real challenge. I've tried with a
treat in one hand and the clippers in another so that when
he did allow me to clip I gave him a treat. That didn't work.
When he lays in my lap I'll grab his paws and more-or-less
massage them but he pulls away with the back ones.
Any help will be appreciated.
He's already "stolen" the first set of clippers I bought and to
this day I haven's found them.


Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws?
--

I.P.Freely

That's 'bout right. I've gotten his fronts clipped several times
but his back only once.

Thanks much,
James

"Barb" wrote in message
. verio.net...
I never clip the back claws. For a while with my new kitten I just did two
claws per day. (No kidding!)

--
Barb
Of course I don't look busy,
I did it right the first time.

He does enjoy laying in my lap on the couch. I'll
try flipping his royal highness over and see if that works.

Thanks much for the advice,
James

"kaeli" wrote in message
...
In article ,
enlightened us with...
I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's
nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took
me the better part of the morning. I try after he's eaten and
has settled down.
He seems to tolerate the front claws, (although
if it takes me too long he begins to fight) but trying to
get to the back claws is a real challenge. I've tried with a
treat in one hand and the clippers in another so that when
he did allow me to clip I gave him a treat. That didn't work.
When he lays in my lap I'll grab his paws and more-or-less
massage them but he pulls away with the back ones.
Any help will be appreciated.
He's already "stolen" the first set of clippers I bought and to
this day I haven's found them.


Well, I can tell you what I do and maybe it'll help.
I hold my cats like babies when I clip. I sit on the floor, cross-legged
("indian style"), and put the cats in the little space between my folded
legs
with their back down, facing me. The head is by my left arm and the tail
by
my right, so they're kinda across my lap and kinda cuddled between my
knees
with me leaning over them.
All their feet are therefore facing up and I can hold the foot with the
left
hand while I clip with the right. They're all cuddled in the space between
my
knees, so they are kinda sorta (but not really) restrained. Also, this
prevents me having to pull on their legs and feet in odd ways to try to
get
them in the right position for clipping. They're right there and pretty
much
right in the correct position. Just push on the pads to extend the nails
and
a quick clip and you're done. Takes me about a minute to do all 4 feet.

Also, I never use a spring-type clipper. The cats hate the sound and the
pressure. I use a large human toe-nail clipper.

--
--
~kaeli~
Never mess up an apology with an excuse.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

"I.P.Freely" wrote in message ...
"JamesJ" wrote in message
...
I need suggestions on clipping my five-month-old cat's
nails. I've been successful a couple of times although it took
me the better part of the morning. I try after he's eaten and
has settled down.
He seems to tolerate the front claws, (although
if it takes me too long he begins to fight) but trying to
get to the back claws is a real challenge. I've tried with a
treat in one hand and the clippers in another so that when
he did allow me to clip I gave him a treat. That didn't work.
When he lays in my lap I'll grab his paws and more-or-less
massage them but he pulls away with the back ones.
Any help will be appreciated.
He's already "stolen" the first set of clippers I bought and to
this day I haven's found them.

Why on earth would you want to clip your cats claws?

To keep your hands, arms, carpet and furniture from being ripped up.
Works better than those sofpaws things and, if you start when they're
young, they don't mind it a bit.

To the OP, I've found that it really helps if you have another human
around until they get used to the idea. Have someone hold kitty in
their lap while you attend to their claws. You have to do front claws
every few weeks (although sometimes a needle or two will sneak in
before that time :-) and the back ones once a month. Good luck!

dragon