We have a siamese cat (7 yrs., old) that has to be sedated ta' trim her nails (gets to rowdy). Vet's charge an "arm and a leg", for the procedure annnnnd was hopin' that someone could give me some sound advice on an over-the-counter medicine (safe for the cat), that would assist me in doin' the trimmin' myself. I've heard that St. Josephs Baby Aspirin works but to reiterate, I need ta' know from all ya' cat owners & lovers : ), if there is something that is SAFE to use for the cat. Pre-thanks are in order...
2007-02-25 05:00:49 · 4 answers · asked by FishSteelhead 6 in Pets ➔ Cats
I am asked to trim nails for these type of cats all the time when cats are dropped off for boarding. One thing I always do is wait till the cat is comfortable this takes a few days usually. This type of cat never does well taking them to the vet. They are very nervous and uptight not good to try and add restraint to a scared uptight cat. That is why I wait till the cat is comfortable. At home this should not be and issue. Then there is the clippers we use the type that open and cut more like scissors. Not DOG nail clippers. Also to make things a little better for you try a cat muzzle they have them now at PetEdge online or they have a catalogue. They cover the kitty face with soft cloth this keeps him calmer and will help you stay calmer since you do not have to worry about the mouth BITTING, just the feet. Then slowly do one claw at a time very carefully. If you ever hurt the kitty with cutting to low he will never trust again. I have been doing this for 12 years and have never cut too short ever. Sometimes they could be a little shorter but it is best to get them shorter once you get better at this and more comfortable with the procedure. Also I agree with a previous post give rewards and treats after, will help.
2007-02-25 06:04:39 · answer #1 · answered by KittyCondos 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely do NOT use aspirin in cats, ever!! Their body metabolizes drugs veeeerrrryyyy slowly, so aspirin is very dangerous. Additionally, it wouldn't help to sedate her anyway.
The only over the counter thing that may be safe for your cat is Benadryl. Check with your vet for a dose and to make sure it is safe for *your* cat before administering--could be dangerous if your cat has any other health problems. You should also know that there is a slight chance that it could have the adverse reaction and make your cat more frenzied. This is rare, but it happens. In some instances, it will have no effect at all.
Another thing that you can try is wrapping your cat up in a blanket or towel like a burrito, and take one paw out at a time and trim it. Even if you can only do one paw at a time like this, you can just trim a different paw every few days. Also try sneaking up on her while she is sleeping and see if you can just clip a few toenails at a time.
You can also try trimming her nails with minimal restraint--perhaps being restrained is what freaks her out so much, and not so much the nail trimming. Try having someone just gently hold her still while you trim her nails.
2007-02-25 05:16:01 · answer #2 · answered by Biz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to take your time and give your kitty positive re-enforcement. Maybe you need to do a little research on how to cut the cats claws. But if you keep at it and do not get mad at the cat it Will eventually know that you are not trying to hurt it and will let you clip it's claws without a fuss. It will take some time and patience
Try cliping it's nail when it is tired or sleeping!!
2007-02-25 05:18:49 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, absolutley not. You cannot use medication intended for humans on your cat. The dosage will most likely be too much for thier much smaller bodies. Perhaps your vet can perscribe something that would be at a safe dosage for your cat, but it probalby wouldn't save you much money.
2007-02-25 05:12:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋