my cat will not let me clip his nails. vet charges $95.00 to put him out to cut them. what do I do?

Answer 1

All cats will not like to have their claws trimmed as holding a paw is a very threatening and suspicious action to them. But you need to do it as long sharp claws are a danger to himself and people around him. Your cat will usually scratch his ears now and then, and long claws will cause injury and infection may set in. You cat may not be violent, but when they jump from your lap or cuddle, they will set their hind paws into your body to leap, and that's where the hind claws cause injury to you unintensionally.

How old is your cat? If he's still a kitten, slowly train him to get accustom to the trimming. There are many books that can teach you on how to do it. If your cat is older, it is more difficult but you can still do it.

Approach him slowly when he is quiet or sleepy. Gently hold his paws and squeeze it gently to expose the claw. Do it one at a time. Don't cut yet. Get him accustom to you holding his paws. This may take several days. After that, bring the trimmers close and let him examine it. Touch the trimmer to his claws. Again don't cut yet. Let him get accustom to the trimmer touching his claws. At all times, be patient and gently, speaking softly to him, offering treats and praising him.

After that, it's time for the real thing. Again get him during an inactive sleepy time. Cut one claw first. Be very careful as not to cut too deeply until you cut the quick as this will cause bleeding and pain, and he may not let you touch his paws again in future. If no objection, proceed to cut the whole paw. Remember to praise and give him treats with each cut. Stop after one paw. Wait for a few days, then proceed to the next paw. And so on.

Have patience. It can be done. BTW, don't use your own nail clippers. You wouldn't want the bacteria transfered from his claws to yours now. Get a proper claw trimmer.

Answer 2

Your vet charges $95.00 to put him out!!!!!! GET ANOTHER VET. You are not talking about declawing him, are you? Only clipping his nails. You shouldn't have to put a cat out to trim his nails. However, it would be a good idea if the cat was sleeping. Then you can sneak up on him, talk gently to him, give him a few pets to reassure him and then gently take his paw in your hand and start to clip. I am assuming, of course, that you do know how to clip a cat's nails. Oh yes, it is best to trim only the front paws of the cat, not the back ones.

Answer 3

I have 4 kittens 2.5 months old and one adult Cat of 2 years in my home. My adult cat hates getting his nails cut and the way I do it is get my friend to hold him down in a sitting possition and cover his back paws whilst cutting the front paws and when you get to the back paws, your friend can hold the front paws. I hope this help. There is no need to put the cat "out" as that only means they are putting him under forever. Besides, take him to your local pet store where they do dog hair cuts and ask if they are qualified to cut cat nails. For a cat wash and nail cut runs $30 up!
Good luck and never use a Vet unless your pet is sick or injured, they are far too expensive!

Answer 4

There are a couple ways to do this. My vet told me to try clipping their claws while they were asleep, I said fat chance. Here is the other way I have tried and was sucessful. I wrapped him in a towel and either straddled him or had someone else hold him while I clipped his nails, this way he cant get away and you have less chance of you getting hurt. The cat I have now is good with regular nail clippers but I recommed clippers for cats if you are not comfortable with it yet.

Answer 5

I agree with the scratching post, I don't like the card board ones, they are a mess when they get through with them. Petland in FL has a deal where if you buy a memeber ship, which is a discount card for a bout 10 bucks a year they will clip the cat's nails for the term of the membership for free. It's a really good deal.

Answer 6

I usually touch my cat's nails while I petting her that makes her get used to having her nails being touched. Try to put your cat in front of you and facing you on a table height. Normally cats will try to run away when you took out the nail clip... (they are smart and sensetive :)) Talk to your cat and make him/her sit. (They now will hide their hands and feet under their abdomen...)

Now you need to be more dominant and take their front hands first slowly and press their paw slightly, and you will see their nail stretch out. Remember only to clip their nails in the gray part and not too deep or their nails bleeding, and clip it when you are sure about to. You may try to start clipping their nail only a little bit part of gray area at first couple times as practice.

Cat's nails normally grow fast, I clip their nails one or two weeks a time. (I also put scratching post for her leisure.) Do not give up, maybe it seems like fighting at the first or second times when you do the clipping. It will go smooth after couple times practice and the nail clipping will then only take you few minutes.

Good luck!

Answer 7

have you checked out the prices at different groomers like petsmart and stuff? they might be cheeper. and no, it's not cruel to trim a cat's nails - it is actually good for them! the scratch post idea is a really good one too, but you'll probably still need to clip them every now and again. If you can't find a cheap enough groomer, get a friend to help you do the job - they hold it and you clip - just be careful not to clip too short.

Answer 8

Go to the vet and tell them you are traveling and you need some meds so your cat will sleep through the trip. Then give the cat a pill and after it goes to sleep clip its nails.

Answer 9

you shouldn't need to cut them. Get yer cat a scratchin gpost and it will take care ot it on it's own. And to heck with the vet. a pet groomer will do it for not much. Pet Smart will trim them for less than 15. I forget exactly what it was.

Answer 10

give it a little bit of children's tylonol or buy sedatives from the vet. it will be totally asleep and you could clip it's nails. ask the vet before you do it though, you need a proper dosage.