My kitten (9months but already looks full grown) has always been a wild one when it comes to nail clipping. He scratches, kicks, and bites even when I wrap him in a blanket, have another person helping, or try to distract him with treats. I have to cut them when he is asleep which is getting harder to do as he grows older.
I need HELP!!!! His nails are so sharp they hurt when he plays :( I'm not interested in declawing, and softpaws (nail caps) are impossible to get on him. If anyone has any tips I would REALLY appreciate them! Thanks :)
2007-01-22 15:29:23 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Hi Jay...hopefully this instructional video can help you be able to trim your cat's nails more successfully: http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/trimming_claws/full_movie.shtml
The idea is to go very slowly to help your cat become desensitized to the experience and making it more rewarding for him. Begin by just touching the paws every day when playing ...not clipping any nails. It's helpful to get your cat used to having his paws touched. Then you can progress to the next step by touching the nail with the clipper but not clipping and then reward with a treat. Again...progress to the next stage by clipping only one nail and then treat...etc.
2007-01-22 15:58:36 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
They aren't being naughty, they are uncomfortable with the process. Most dogs have been quicked (the nail taken down too far) which can be very painful. Think about clipping your nails too much. This will make a dog not wanting to have his nails trimmed. You need to change their association to the job to one of a positive experience. Start slow and only take a small bit off at a time. After each nail, stop and praise. If it takes a couple days to get all of them done, then so be it. If they have white nails you can easily see the quick (it is a pink color within the nail). Leave a little white before you get to the pink. If you are not sure, err on the side of caution and cut them a little long. Remember if nails aren't clipped on a regular basis, the quick will grow long too. Another good way to keep them trim is to take the dogs out for good long walks or a run every day. This will help keep the nails trimmed naturally as they are filed down by the terrain.
2016-03-28 22:08:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make cat muzzles and Elizabethan collars to prevent biting. I would suggest a towel and a muzzle, personally. First, the cat muzzles fit over the entire face, with a breathing hole for the nose, but they cannot bit nor see, which tends to calm them down a little. If he's muzzled and wrapped in a towel, it should be easy to pull his feet out one at a time and clip the nails. If he thrashes a lot, carefully re-wrap the towel each time to tightly pin down the 3 legs you don't need and only leave one poking out. Hold the towel so you're applying light pressure to the part that's around his chest, this will help keep him from sneaking paws out. And for cats, it's always best to have a helper anyway.
If you're really fed up, try a vet or groomer.
2007-01-22 15:47:04 · answer #3 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Start by talking softly to him and gently but firmly handling his paws when he is calm.
After he will calmly accept the handling of his paws, begin to gently extend his claws one at a time. Start by only doing one at time and always try to release him and end it on a good note.
Proceed to holding the nail clippers in your hand while petting him and talking softly (to help associate that the clippers are not bad!) Then to gently but firmly touching his paws and extending his claws one at a time. Again, try to release him and end it all on a good note.
Finally, when he calmly accepts the above - clip one nail at a time and talk gently to him. At first, it may take a couple of days to get all the nails clipped, but with patience and practice - he can learn that nail clipping is a positive experience and to accept it without struggle!
Good Luck!
2007-01-22 15:44:39 · answer #4 · answered by Tasha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem with my girl Lexie. The only solution short of sedating her was to have the hubby scruff (hold her up by the scruff of the neck) while I cut the nails. He would use one had to scruff her while holding her in his lap with her paws facing me. If scruffed properly, the cat is unable to move but not injured.
2007-01-22 15:38:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i use to wrap my cat in a large towel and have someone help in clipping her nails ,then i read a artical that said not to clip a cats nails because it makes them scratch even more to resharpen them.it made sence to me and i stopped. they also said that to clip the nails was taking away the cats natural way of defending it's self.hope this helped
2007-01-22 16:19:31 · answer #6 · answered by moonie5353 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wrap him in a towel by another person and you take one paw in a time to clip.
2007-01-22 15:39:05 · answer #7 · answered by Speck Schnuck 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Use a cat sling. His paws will hang through and you can cut them easily. :)
2007-01-22 15:50:56 · answer #8 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go to the vet and have his nails cut or cut them yourself
2007-01-22 16:02:53 · answer #9 · answered by Sammy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i carry my cat and holds her down hard so she'll calm down..then i hold her hand and squeeze the paws and use my elbow to keep her down.....she keeps meowing though...but i hold her down as hard as possible and make sure it can't move....try using ur elbow to keep him down...or tap his nose or slap his butt to make it calm down...i try that with my cat...
:)
2007-01-22 15:49:23 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋