I need to clip my cats nails but she goes crazy when I try, can I give her a sleeping pill or other sedative?

Question

I have some Unisom, which is an over the counter sleeping aid.

Answer 1

Hi Ken...cats cannot metabolize human medications and most can be lethal if not prescribed by a veterinarian. A veterinarian will sometimes offer to prescribe a mild tranquilzer that is used commonly for pets called Acepromazine (aka ACE) to help lower the anxiety/stress. http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_acepromazine.html

Here's an instructional video by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for Feline Health on how to trim a cat's nails: http://www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu/trimming_claws/full_movie.shtml

Here are the steps we use to densitize our exotic cats when preparing them to get used to having their claws clipped.
Begin by touching their paws regularly while you are playing or resting together. This is to densitize them so they learn that touching the paws isn't a stressful event. Over time you can begin to gently squeeze the paws to extend the claws and then let go...offer a cat treat so your cat learns to associate that a good treat always follows handling of her paws. Next step is to extend the nails and tap on them and then give a treat. After this, you can touch a clipper next to her nail (not clipping them) and offer a treat. Once she shows she is comfortable with having her nails extended and tapped on with the clippers you can then snip a tip and then quickly offer her a treat aftwards. Sometimes only one nail per treat can be done is best to minimize the stress.

Answer 2

As long as it is a prescribed by a vet. Dosages are normally determined based on body weight, so your vet can figure out the appropriate type and amount of a sedative to give. Another suggestion is to have someone help you by scruffing the cat very tight with one hand and then holding the back two legs together tightly with the other. Use a heavy towel or wear long sleeves and you hold one of the front feet down with your forearm while trimming the front claws first. Then, once those are trimmed, trim the back claws while your helper continues his/her original hold. I would suggest trying this before giving her any type of medication. If you must, again, please call your vet. This is pretty typical and they will most likely give you the medication without even having to see the cat, unless there is a history of medical problems. In that case, they would want to do bloodwork, as any type of sedative on an internally unhealthy ANYTHING could cause SERIOUS side effects.

Answer 3

Never give a cat human medications.

I have a cat that is just like this. I wait until he is in a "natural" deep sleep. I test this by lifting his paw up slightly and if it drops back down with no resistance he's out. Gently push out the nail and carefully snip the tip (don't go anywhere close to the pink area). I can usually get both front paws trimmed before he stirs and realizes what I'm doing. Back paws usually take a separate session but they tend not to grow as quickly.

Answer 4

Your vet would be the best person to ask about a sedative. Other ideas:

1) Clip her claws while she's sleeping, or right after she wakes up and she's still half-asleep. You should be able to do a nail or two before she realizes what's happening.

2) If she likes catnip, try clipping her claws when she's coming down from a high and is likely to be pretty mellow.

Answer 5

You must NOT use human medications with a cat. You can get something from a vet like amotriptyline or even a pain narcotic to relax your cat.

When your cat is comfortable and relaxed in your lap get in the habit of massaging her paws which cats usually like. Then you might start using the clippers one nail at a time till she accepts your cutting them. That obviously may take a while and it is good place to start. If she needs to go to the vet for an annual exam or a rabies shot the vet techs are very experienced in cutting the nails - they can do it quickly and usually are experienced in handling a recalcitrant cat. That would take care of the problem for now and you can work on her accepting your doing it for the future.

Answer 6

No, you can not give her a sleeping pill! All you have to do is wrap her up in a towel so she can't move and gently pull out one leg at a time and clip her nails. If that doesn't work then take her to the vet to have them clipped. It only costs a couple bucks. If you are able to do it, make sure you don't cut down into the quick.

Answer 7

I had 2 dogsit my friends dog once and he needed a pill 4 allergies. So we just cut a little bit of a hotdog and put the pill in there. I know he's a cat but it still should work. Stick in something he likes like fish or treats. If none of this works i would contact ur vet. He needs his pills.

Answer 8

Absolutely do NOT give your cat any over-the-counter or any other medication for humans. It could kill her. Their nervous systems are completely different than ours so nix that idea right away.

As far as clipping her nails, their paws can be extremely sensitive. If you can get her to calm down, be very careful how far up you cut - their nails are just like ours - cutting too close to the quick can be very painful for them. If they aren't white nails and you can see where the "cuticle" is - the part you don't want to cut - I'd recommend not even trying. Better to let her walk on hard surfaces - it'll wear her nails down. Or take her to a professional who can cut them.

Answer 9

NO! And especially DO NOT give her any OTC human medication! You need to find someone to help you with this and try this trick.

My wife and I have a tough time clipping our 5 month old's claws too, even putting ear mite meds in her ears. So we wrap her up in a towel and while one of us holds her the other puts the meds in her ears. When it comes time to clip the claws, we pull one leg at a time from the towel and wrap up the rest of her in the towel and while one holds her steady the other trims her claws carefully.

We've had great luck with this for the past 3-3½ months of her being with us and will continue to do so until she "outgrows" this anxiety she has about being restrained for meds and claw clippings.

Answer 10

No you cannot give your cat a sleeping pill. Do you wish to kill her or damage her organs? If you can't do it, I am sure the vet will do it for hardly any money. Or go to petco over the weekend when they have pet adoptions and someone there will do it for free. BUt don't be a doctor without a license. That is animal abuse.