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#1
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Claw clipping question
It's just me and the two cats, and they have shown a marked reluctance to
hold each other down while I trim claws. So how does one person manage a claw clip on a reluctant cat? I have in the past tried to wrap one in a towel (prewarmed for his comfort) but I can only manage maybe two claws that way, before the intrepid feline manages his escape. My vet, when I told her he was a biter, produced a cloth hood-like thingy which she said made the cat quiet, but I think that would be even more stressful. And I'd have to make my own, as I am cash-poor for the foreseeable future. If you're one of the lucky ones who has a cat that doesn't object to claw clipping, well, pbthbththbbtth to you. Do you have a method I can try? Have you ever used a hood? Help! TIA, Chak -- In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent.' I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms. --Stephen Jay Gould |
#2
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Claw clipping question
On 17 Feb 2006 22:03:51 GMT, Chakolate
wrote: It's just me and the two cats, and they have shown a marked reluctance to hold each other down while I trim claws. So how does one person manage a claw clip on a reluctant cat? With Natasha, she doesn't mind me clipping her front claws too much, but absolutely hates it whenever anyone messes with her back legs. Much yanking the foot out of my hand, yowling, hissing, spitting, wiggling, squirming, etc ensues. I used to wrap her up in a towel, and have the foot I was working on poking out with the others inside the wrap. She wasn't to happy with that arrangement, though, and almost always wiggled her way out. So here's the alternative method I've worked out to do this over the years. It works for us, but it requires a kitty that doesn't mind being on her back... I sit on the floor, legs out in front of me. I put Tasha on her back along the length of my legs, then cross my legs at the ankles or higher to support her head. She's not touching the floor, my legs are completely supporting her, and her back legs are closest to me. There's nothing holding her down into position, other than her being on her back and me skritching her from time to time. I clip her front feet first, with much praising and petting as I go. She gets a treat after I finish each foot. Between front claws I'll reach down and stroke one of her back feet (remember, that's her main problem area) to get her used to the idea that I'm going there next. Because of the way she's positioned, when I do her back feet I don't have to actually move them around very much, and she doesn't squirm too much either. Again, much praise and stroking, but this time (because I know she hates this part so much) I give her a treat after every claw or two, even if she's being squirmy. (no, she doesn't seem to mind eating while on her back) I do all of the trimming as quickly as I can, but most definitely try not to be rough about it. Of course, your best bet is probably trial and error in finding out what works best for each of your kitties as an individual. Good luck! Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha ============ http://www.jhedge.com |
#3
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Claw clipping question
Chakolate wrote:
It's just me and the two cats, and they have shown a marked reluctance to hold each other down while I trim claws. So how does one person manage a claw clip on a reluctant cat? This is a good question - I have the same problem. Roxy will usually let me get up to one front paw done before she runs off (and I can later get the other paw), but Smudge starts squirming, meowing and hissing immediately, so I don't even try with her anymore. And with Licky, who I think has a bit of the feral in him, it's absolutely out of the question. One time he saw me clip Roxy's claws, and then I came toward him with the clippers. He gave me a look that said, "Are you out of your MIND?" and was then outta there in a flash. I always hear that it's best to start them getting used to claw clipping when they're kittens. That's all well and good, but I've got 3 adult cats, so what do I do now? I don't consider it urgent, as I don't get scratched very often. Roxy does the most "damage" to me with her claws, as she loves to knead me around my neck and collarbone while cuddling, but then she's also the easiest to clip, so it pretty much works out. Still, it would be nice to know how to do it successfully, on cats who've grown up unaccustomed to having that done. Joyce |
#4
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Claw clipping question
On 17 Feb 2006 22:03:51 GMT, Chakolate
wrote: It's just me and the two cats, and they have shown a marked reluctance to hold each other down while I trim claws. So how does one person manage a claw clip on a reluctant cat? I have in the past tried to wrap one in a towel (prewarmed for his comfort) but I can only manage maybe two claws that way, before the intrepid feline manages his escape. My vet, when I told her he was a biter, produced a cloth hood-like thingy which she said made the cat quiet, but I think that would be even more stressful. And I'd have to make my own, as I am cash-poor for the foreseeable future. If you're one of the lucky ones who has a cat that doesn't object to claw clipping, well, pbthbththbbtth to you. Do you have a method I can try? Have you ever used a hood? Help! TIA, Chak Silver isn't happy about having her claws clipped but she'll let you do it by yourself... I pick her up and lie her in my lap on her back and put my arm across her chest to reach her paw so she can't wriggle too much... Scouty won't have a bar of it! You could try sneaking up on a cat and doing it one paw at a time while the cat is asleep and in a suitable position. There's no law that says you have to do all the claws at the same time, you can rotate... and I never clip the back claws at all - they don't get nearly as long or as sharp as the front ones. |
#5
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Claw clipping question
You could try sneaking up on a cat and doing it one paw at a time
while the cat is asleep and in a suitable position. There's no law that says you have to do all the claws at the same time Excellent idea! LMR -- Message posted via http://www.catkb.com |
#6
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Claw clipping question VERY LONG
Of course, your best bet is probably trial and error in finding out what works best for each of your kitties as an individual. Good luck! Jeanne Hedge, as directed by Natasha Okay, you asked! I believe Jeanne's 'Tasha must be an unusually good-natured, sweet cat from description of her claw-clipping. Also, if I tried doing it here while cats were sleeping, there'd be casualties involved, meaning me. Never played football in my life, but being NFL junkie I do know how, say, a running back carries a football. First off, you need to wrap cat in a BIG (bath sheet-type) towel, forget the warming (cats are warm anyway). Leave only cat's head and whatever paw you want to work on sticking out. *Hold towel-wrapped cat close to your body and fairly tight, just like if it was a football*! Second, you MUST have good light, natural is best, but NOT outside. Under a skylight or enclosed sunny porch is good. Work quickly. Talk to cat during whole time. When beginning, treats might help....I have never given treats. Holding paw firmly in left fingers (if you're a "righty") and clippers in right hand, press gently on each claw's paw end till claw extends out (emerges from paw more fully) and look carefully (here's where good light needed) for pink area on paw end of claw. *THIS IS A VEIN* and you don't want to clip near it's end...firmly holding clippers, clip claw near but not too near pink area, with one firm "clip". You want to avoid "shredding" claw but sometimes this happens....no big deal, it's painless to cat. DO NOT TRY TO USE DOG CLIPPERS ON CAT! as they will "shred" cat claws since they were made for a larger, tougher claw on a different animal. I do front claws first, then back. Dewclaw is hard to push out (little claw on inside of paw) but with practice your cats will get used to the whole business and tolerate it. Cats do communicate with each other and are NOT stupid.....after you are finished with first cat, do not be amazed to find the other hiding somewhere. No big deal; you can do him later or another day. This is long but I'm very good at this and you obviously need advice. Don't abandon ship; be patient. Think of the $ you're saving not having to pay vet fees for this service. |
#7
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Claw clipping question
On 17 Feb 2006 22:03:51 GMT, Chakolate
wrote: It's just me and the two cats, and they have shown a marked reluctance to hold each other down while I trim claws. So how does one person manage a claw clip on a reluctant cat? I have in the past tried to wrap one in a towel (prewarmed for his comfort) but I can only manage maybe two claws that way, before the intrepid feline manages his escape. My vet, when I told her he was a biter, produced a cloth hood-like thingy which she said made the cat quiet, but I think that would be even more stressful. And I'd have to make my own, as I am cash-poor for the foreseeable future. If you're one of the lucky ones who has a cat that doesn't object to claw clipping, well, pbthbththbbtth to you. Do you have a method I can try? Have you ever used a hood? Help! I have twelve cats - about half spend enough time outdoors that their claws seldom need clipping. The other half contains a couple that simply have to be overpowered: wedged between my body and the chair arm, and held securely by my left arm while my left hand holds the paw tightly - I still have to retuck the cat a couple of times. A friend of mine swears by a sock pulled over her cats' heads. That would be like the hood. However, when I go over the process in my mind, I see more opportunity to get hurt than when just overpowering the cat. -- T.E.D. ) |
#8
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Claw clipping question
On Fri 17 Feb 2006 05:03:51p, Chakolate wrote in
rec.pets.cats.anecdotes . 244.170): It's just me and the two cats, and they have shown a marked reluctance to hold each other down while I trim claws. So how does one person manage a claw clip on a reluctant cat? I have in the past tried to wrap one in a towel (prewarmed for his comfort) but I can only manage maybe two claws that way, before the intrepid feline manages his escape. My vet, when I told her he was a biter, produced a cloth hood-like thingy which she said made the cat quiet, but I think that would be even more stressful. And I'd have to make my own, as I am cash-poor for the foreseeable future. If you're one of the lucky ones who has a cat that doesn't object to claw clipping, well, pbthbththbbtth to you. Do you have a method I can try? Have you ever used a hood? Help! I can relate! It's just me and the four cats! Of the four, I can't clip Bonnie's at all. She's a former feral and I can't even pick her up. Her claws are only clipped once a year by the vet. The other three are difficult, but managable. With Shamrock, I put him on the kitchen counter and he mostly cooperates for the front claws. I rarely clip the back ones on any of them because they're just too thick. Vet does those. For Scarlett and Rhett, the youngest ones who've been with me since they were 9 weeks old, I clip theirs on my bed. We do cuddles and they get relaxed and I can usually manage most of them. When any of them get too squirmy, I just quit and do them another time. Even if you can do 2 or 3 claws at a sitting, you're making progress. Try not to look at it as an "all or nothing" endeavor. -- Cheryl |
#9
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Claw clipping question
On Fri 17 Feb 2006 05:49:31p, wrote in rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
): I don't consider it urgent, as I don't get scratched very often. Roxy does the most "damage" to me with her claws, as she loves to knead me around my neck and collarbone while cuddling, but then she's also the easiest to clip, so it pretty much works out. Still, it would be nice to know how to do it successfully, on cats who've grown up unaccustomed to having that done. Joyce, you're so lucky it isn't urgent! With Bonnie, it's like that, because she's docile (for the most part) but with the others, they injure each other with their claws! I've had two eye injuries that needed vet care (not MY eyes) from playing too hard and someone gets a clawed eye. Rhett was the most recent victim, and surprisingly, I think Bonnie did it. I also wanted to add something I forgot to mention in my initial post, and that is to not get freaked out if you accidentally cut one too short and you see blood. Yes, it's painful, but it's an accident, and it happens. Good news is that the pain doesn't seem to last long (think of how much it hurts to break a nail, but the pain fades). It's good to keep styptic powder in the first-aid kit for accidents like these. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...188x006&ctt=64 or http://tinyurl.com/dcbk7 -- Cheryl |
#10
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Claw clipping question
On 2006-02-17, Chakolate penned:
If you're one of the lucky ones who has a cat that doesn't object to claw clipping, well, pbthbththbbtth to you. Do you have a method I can try? Have you ever used a hood? Help! Oscar's my first cat, and I never clip her claws. A vet did it to her once, and she would jump up on the couch and slide right off! It seemed downright humiliating, so I never let them do it again. I guess we're just lucky; she seems fine. She does have a plethora of scratching posts that she uses enthusiastically, so maybe that's why it doesn't seem to be a problem. Do your cats enjoy any form of scratching device? -- monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca |
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