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June 25th, 2009
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If you’ve decided to clip your cat’s nails, you may be in for a surprise the first time.
While some cats will sit quietly while you clip, most are apt to behave, well, like a cat. To restrain your cat yourself, place your lower arm across his neck as he lies on his side on your lap. If he fights this, you can try a cat muzzle. Using cat clippers, work fast. Always take off less if you’re not clear where the quick is. Some people swear by cat restraint bags, which makes your cat into a mummy. Just be aware that while you may get the job done using one of these, there’s a chance your cat may never forgive you. |
My primate grabs me while I sleeping on the floor and sits on me wif hur feet crossed so I can’t back out.
Happens so fast I has no time to react!
I have read, and believe, that the safest clippers to use on a cat are the canary beak clippers. They are smaller and help prevent cutting too far and into the quick of the claw.
Ooo, sitting with your feet crossed is a good idea! Sounds like you are super quick.
Actually, we are very lucky. We have never had to have our cat’s claws cut…he uses trees outside!
Linda:
Thanks so much for the info on the clippers!
Jamilla: Nature’s scatching post.
What about those cool ‘as seen on tv’ cat nail sanders…? No clipping, like fancy nail salon disk sanders
)
I personally restrained our 19 lb male tabby by wrapping him up in a big towel…oh yeah, with a second human to do the dirty work of investigating his wounds. I never did cut his nails tho, he used the 4×4 posts on the stairs.
I clip my cats’ nails all the time. Of course the first time is harder because they are just plain scared! But with gentle talking and encouragement throughout the procedure, I have had no problems. In fact, I recently got a new kitten (he’s not 7 months old) and have clipped his nails since I got him. They really do get used to it and it is a wonderful bonding time for us both!
MOL … I think they’d be more likely to never forget the muzzle than a “mummy bag” could be very wrong though, as I’ve never seen the latter. I don’t worry over bites but rather the scratches. May not be a problem after the first clip but you still gotta get through that one.
I love these short articles, they are very informative … keep um coming
I would love to hear from someone who has those nail sanders. It seems harder not to go down too far to me and it seems slower. A towel, or two or three, is a great idea.
Lorrikeet, I think you’re absolutely right that cats can used to nail clipping, esp. when started young. Or, they could get really good at hiding when they see the clippers coming.
China, Yeah, the mummy bag is scary. I think vets use it a lot. I remember when I was at the vet with my dog and she came in with bleeding arms – it had been a cat patient, not a pit bull.
I got the Perfect Paws sander thing, mainly for the dog. The noise it makes is off-putting to them, and I decided it wasn’t worth it. I sit behind the cats so they can’t back out, or wrap them in a towel if I have to. The back ones are harder, have to have a second person hold them up while I clip the feet, and they take that pretty well. Gotta start when they are kittens, but mine still don’t love it.
Our boys are sweethearts ! Merlyn doesn’t really feel that anything is necessary to struggle with, unless means food ! But, Luci, didn’t like having a manicure right after my hubby passed away……(he took it very hard !)
So, I just started by picking him up, rocking & cuddling him, continually repeating “Oh, What A Good Good Boy You Are Luci !” then followed with some favourite treats !
And now, its no big deal……………..!
(Hey, nothings as bad as a PERM from our MOTHERS now, is it Lady’s ?)
how come it will only lets us share dogster and not the cat tips. i got a bunch of crazy cat lady friends that would love to see these.
Suggestion: begin immediately in kittenhood. We started clipping our kitty’s nails when he was 4 months old, young enough to use the mama cat back of the neck hold. But as he grew, he got more accustomed to it and we began to release our hold on him. Now he just goes along with it, only expressing an occasional “miaow” of slight disapproval. (I also brush his teeth with minimal objection.)
when i have a cat that does not like to have its nails ( this is often the case when i adopt an older cat) clipped i start out by getting the cat use to having it’s paws held and i pretend to clip the nails. then i will start out by only clipping one or two nails at a time. over time i will be able to do all the nails at once. This process takes time but it is less stressful for me and the cat. the main benefit is that the cat gets use to having its nails clipped at a pace it ( the cat) can handle. also the cat learns that clipping the nails isn’t such a big deal.
Heather – I’m not sure. I’ll ask.
Thanks so much for all of the tips. I think we all get kudos for not de-clawing!
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