Ayrad (crazy) first reaction to nails clipping...

[John Popp]

I use the guillotine style clippers and they have worked great for me. I've used regular nail clippers in the past and the guillotine style is just quicker. I also use a big potato chip bag clip as a third hand scruffer which works great. The biggest thing is that I make sure the cat sees me as very confident in what I am doing, make it as quick as possible and if something goes wrong, just quit and return to it a few hours later. They are all fine with the process, and they know there's treats at the end, so as soon as they are done they run to the cupboard where they reside.

As for the pooping thing, not an issue with that, but our girl will poop every time she gets a bath or goes to the vets office. She doesn't seem overly stressed, just decides she is going to drop a deuce in hopes that it will put an end to the shameless torture she has to undergo.

 

[NikkiA]

Our F3 boy Jarvis used to be a challenge when he needed his nails clipped. He hates being wrapped in towels, and he hates having his paws touched. The first few times we tried we had battle scars and an ANGRY kitten.
He has mostly grown out of his anxiety over manicure time.
Recently, I've been able to take him into the bathroom myself, hold him on my lap, and do his paws without help, and without him getting upset. If he starts to get upset, I stop clipping, put him down, give him a minute to calm down, and a treat, and depending on how calm or upset he is either we continue or we put the clippers away and clip them the next day.
Give your kitty time, and take it easy.

 

[Wyldthingz]

Sometimes I think all the restraint is worse. I brought my stud cat in to do a blood draw last week. I could feel him tense up anticipating something horrendous coming. Instead, the tec, who I know as a long time friend as a skilled at venipuncture, held him with one hand and drew with the other, little restraint. and he sit there like a soldier. Next time, try to just clip his nails without all the drama of towels etc. It may take some skill and speed but practice makes perfect and he will freak out less. If someone wraps you in a blanket with no explaination and expects you not to struggle, I think you would panic too! PS. I use toe-nail clippers. They are fast, easy to hold, and don't dull down like the dog type.

 

[SV Dad]

Patience, patience. Good advice to handle the paws and get the claws to extend without clipping initially. Keep doing this. Eventually you will be able to clip them. Give a treat at the end. Every cat in our herd is easily clipped and are more happy with the back and belly rub afterwards than the treats.

 

[John Popp]

I certainly agree on the restraint issues! Before most people have a towel wrapped around their cat and have them positioned to clip their nails, I am already on paw #2. Your cat will definitely sense your stress and the bigger the production the less chance you have for success.

As many other people have mentioned, know when to give up. If you only get two nails done and they are panicked, let them go, give them a treat and start again when they don't have any recollection of the grievous bodily harm you were putting them through. It eventually becomes routine and satisfying your sadistic desires is a cheap price to pay for getting a couple treats.