Trimming claws?

[Dantes]

Hi all,

Duma is pretty low maintenance, but I'd still like to brush his teeth and trim his claws. Tooth brushing seems to be going as well as can be expected...slowly lol...but the nail trimming isn't going very well. He is fine with letting me touch his paws and extending the claws, he just sits in my lap and has no problem with it.

The minute I pick up any nail trimming device...nail clipper or dremmel (it doesn't even have to be on) while holding his paw he goes bonkers! I can hold the device (dremmel turned on) with him in my lap, without extending claws. I can hold his paw with claw extended. But I can't seem to get to that first contact point of extended claws + nail clipper or dremmel in other hand.

The minute I pick up a clipper or the dremmel, Duma becomes so wiggly and crazy, I can't hold him. Dante doesn't much like having his nails trimmed either, but the worst I get from him is turning his paw the wrong way so it takes me longer. He doesn't wiggle out of my lap. Well, he does, but not with the same amount of frenzy.

At the rate I'm going, I get one nail done every day or two lol

Any ideas?

 

[Breheart]

How does Duma do with laying on his back? and any treat motivation around these tools to get him more comfortable around them? With Keljin I had the same problem, he was fine with me touching and extending his claws, but once I had a tool in hand it was a giant wiggle fest.

I just patiently kept trying with treats, waiting til the perfect time when he is tired (sometimes I would play with him til he is panting and plopped on the floor done, then try the nails after that), rolling him with tummy up and laying him in my lap so he was wedges in between my legs made it harder for him to get up. Gave him a few treats so he would stay, and eventually over time he gave up on moving and it totally used to it now. It turned into a good bonding grooming time, he just licks my arms now and lays there like a good boy

 

[Dantes]

til he is panting and plopped on the floor done

Haha, I have yet to be able to exhaust him! Never seen him panting...but I think he's learning plopped on the floor from Ragdoll behavior

He's fine if I put him on his back in between my legs. At least for a bit. Pick up a tool...and I can barely handle him, I swear he turns to jell-o.

 

[WitchyWoman]

I do two of mine when they're in their deep sleep afternoon nap. They wake up and squint at me but are too somnolent to run away. Kind of like a vampire in the daytime. Maliik is like Duma. I get to trim about 1 claw a week and I've given up. If they get long enough to cause problems, I'll have to take him to the vet where he'll be anesthetized. I hate doing that if there aren't any problems. Anesthesia scares me.

 

[Michelle Anderson]

I've been having problems with Shyla too.....sometimes she lets me cut them with no problem, and other times it takes 2 to 3 days to get them done; she'll just wiggle and squirm.

 

[Eolsurion]

What is the purpose of trimming a cat's nails? They take care of them theirselves pretty well don't they? I'm pretty sensitive to the whole issue with declawing a cat, and if the reasons for trimming nails is the same, to protect furniture or what not then my response is ... If you can't train a cat not to claw furniture then ... DON'T have a cat. Doesn't get any more simple than that ... If there is another reason that is actually for the benefit of the cat please share.

 

[Dantes]

He doesn't deliberately claw furniture. But he wreaks havoc on 1. my comforter when climbing in and out of bed, 2. leather sofa, just by walking on it with sharp claws (but at this point I don't mind) and 3. my skin, when he makes a sudden takeoff.

It's not all about the furniture, or vanity, or train-ability. If you've read any of my posts you'd know that my cats are fairly well trained.

But there's nothing wrong with a well groomed cat, either. Grooming is part of training, and vice-versa.

 

[WitchyWoman]

If you can't train a cat not to claw furniture then ... DON'T have a cat. Doesn't get any more simple than that ...

Yeah, well the world isn't that black & white. If you have to train a cat not to claw furniture then don't have a cat. Most of us prefer them to use litter boxes too rather than free wheeling it all over the house. Sometimes compromises have to be made in order for two different species to co-exist in the same abode.

My vet prefers my cats' claws be clipped prior to a visit because they are large cats with large claws who are sometimes difficult to handle and she doesn't want to get injured.

Sometimes claws need clipped if they keep getting caught in carpeting or other fabric to prevent injury to the cat.

I keep my cats claws clipped because they sometimes play very hard with each other and have injured their eyes or caused abscesses from clawing each other so I do it for their health.

 

[Breheart]

What is the purpose of trimming a cat's nails? They take care of them theirselves pretty well don't they? I'm pretty sensitive to the whole issue with declawing a cat, and if the reasons for trimming nails is the same, to protect furniture or what not then my response is ... If you can't train a cat not to claw furniture then ... DON'T have a cat. Doesn't get any more simple than that ... If there is another reason that is actually for the benefit of the cat please share.

I only trim a little bit off, I am against de-clawing as well but I think a simple trim is no where near as severe as removing the whole nail itself from the base both emotionally and physically. He doesn't mind it at all. I just do it for maintenance, so that when Keljin runs around to keep them from getting caught on carpet,fabric, my clothes, or my skin if he is "launching" off me. I have never heard anything evident about trimming a cats nails to be a bad thing though? If there is out there I'd like to learn of course. I always just thought of it as regular grooming and maintenance like I would do for a dog, or trimming my own nails.

 

[Eolsurion]

I certainly understand and agree whole heartedly about a vet requesting a sv nails to be trimmed. Not having a pair of sv yet, i don't know about how hard they play. I've had multiple domestics all my life tho and can say if they are drawing blood or doing damage to each other they aren't playing. I play rough with Zeus and havent gotten a mark yet from his claws (key word being play ... Play doesn't hurt either party). He keeps them retracred when playing. =} He has tried to climb me like a tree a couple of times, but this is aomething I discourage. I can admit to having a scrarch or two because of being a launching pad for when Zeus takes off after something. I certainly understand the occasional claw getting caught in things and am sure it is an annoyance to them on occasion. As far as grooming a cat, the only cats I've seen that haven't been meticulous about grooming themselves have been sick. I truly am trying to learn here bout reasons people trim sv's claws. I would imagine if they are anything like dogs claws it could be a source of discomfort if done wrong, but don't see how it is a bad thing if done in away that doesn't cause pain. At this point unless asked to by my vet I don't think I would trim Zeus' nails. But am sure is a personal preference.