My cat refuses to let me trim her nails

[ailsagirl]

And it's really gotten to the point where it's critical I do. She keeps getting them caught everywhere but when she sees me approach her, somehow she manages to unhook her nail and run like hell. I could take her to the vet but, not surprisingly, she hates being put in a carrier. Besides, I need to be able to trim her nails myself.

Also, she used to be a feral kitty (which may have a lot to do with her freaked-out behavior).

There are these little contraptions sold on Amazon wherein she'd be buckled in and allowed to hang by a doorknob. Somehow, I don't think it will work in her case.

[bamagal62]

1. Lol! That contraption! My cat has no problem because I started

Her as a kitten (lessons learned from previous cat). But, my dog will NOT let me do it. I take my dog to the vet for nail trims. Ask your vet if they’ll do it.

[ailsagirl]

9. Thank you for posting

[wnylib]

36. My cat's vet won't even clip her nails

because she is so difficult to do. She screeches so loud that you can hear her all the way down the hall and into the waiting room. She wiggles free of any hold, bites unless they put a muzzle on her, hisses, growls, etc. The last time, they finally sedated her in order to finish and then charged me $150 to discourage me from taking her in again for a clipping.

She has been like this since she was a tiny kitten. Hates being combed or brushed, too. She has slapped the brush right out of my hand.

She likes being petted and kissed. Just don't go near her with a comb, brush, or nail clippers.

[ailsagirl]

2. Looks as if I'll have to

I would have trained her as a kitten but she was fully-grown when I adopted her, so no luck.

Thanks for your reply

[bamagal62]

25. My previous cat was also not a kitten

When I got her. She was 2. No way she was going to let me touch those claws. But, I read that if you start massaging their paws and doing clipping as kittens, they let you. My now cat actually likes when I do it.
So, it worked.

[ailsagirl]

31. Glad to hear it

[SheltieLover]

3. Try wrapping her snugly in a towel & putting her up on counter or table?

Just a thought. Poor kitty & poor you...

[ailsagirl]

10. But I would need her front legs to be free in order to clip

Thanks for your response

[SheltieLover]

12. Yes but if you can wrap all but 1...

Just a thought. Tough with cats.

You might have to get doorknob thing. 😏

[ailsagirl]

16. I'll keep on keepin' on !!

I included it in my original post because I couldn't believe there was even such a thing

[SheltieLover]

18. Ikr!

Wouldn't work here. Fat kitty would likely bend doorknob.

That would likely terrify cat into shredding door & human.

[ailsagirl]

19. *sigh*

[SheltieLover]

26. Try Uppity's method

Or the food coma method.

[ailsagirl]

27. I'll keep on looking-- thanks, Guys!! 😊

[SheltieLover]

28. Good luck!

[Phoenix61]

4. If you can get a friend to help.

Wrap her up like a burrito and have your friend hold the cat-ritto then do one paw at a time.

[SheltieLover]

5. I've got a Pittie who needs nails trimmed

But I'm putting it off due to covid.

[ailsagirl]

11. I've put this off too long

I don't know how I managed last time, but I did.

This time I put four drops of Rescue Remedy into her water in hopes that would work

She drank some but she's still impossible

I even put on soothing cat music from youtube.
Zilch

[SheltieLover]

15. Rescue remedy is a great idea!

Maybe you should take some!

A lot of it, I believe, has to do with attitude.

I cannot tet my elder kitty to alliw nail trim. For grandson, she behaves perfectly. Same equipment, same bathroom where nails get clipped.

Have you tried just a matter of fact attitude about it? Maybe even some cattitude?

I hope you can get her nails trimmed!

[ailsagirl]

17. LOL-- yes, perhaps I should drink the water myself!!!!

I'll keep on trying. Thanks for your response-- back atcha!!

[SheltieLover]

20. 7 drops for any age / size mammal

Seriously, if you are feeling fear, the acrid scent might enrage kitty.

[wnylib]

37. What is Rescue Remedy? Never heard of it.

[Merlot]

6. I had trick to outsmart my cat. He wasn't feral, but he was fierce.

I would give him a really big meal, larger than usual and when he'd go into that deep, well-fed sleep I'd trim his nails while he was asleep. I'd usually get about three paws done before he would wake up. I'd be very sneaky and gentle when lifting his paws and pressing to extend the nails.

May not work for all cats, but it did the trick for that one. As for that cat-traption, I wouldn't suggest it. Even if you could (fat chance) get the cat into it, his legs would still be flailing and scratching. You would not win, he'd make sure of it. Plus it would scare him so much he'd be afraid of you for a while after if he's anything like my feral cat who has a very long memory.

[ailsagirl]

13. You're right about the cat-traption

It would make her even more fearful.

She's not a big eater so your first suggestion might not work-- but I'll try it

[SheltieLover]

21. Food coma is a great udea!

Could work!

[JudyM]

7. What SheltiLover and Phoenix61 said.

I used to cuddle mine in my lap on the floor, gently secured between my knees, and slowly work up to it, cooing along the way. I used to be able to gently brush her teeth that way, too. You could also consider giving her a CBD treat like one of these https://www.discovermagazine.com/lifestyle/25-best-cbd-cat-treats
… and/or intermittent truly special treats as you go so she’ll get something enjoyable out of it and be more open next time. Maybe just clip the very tip of one or two nails the first time so she doesn’t completely wig out. Good luck!

[uppityperson]

8. Lol, looks dangerous. I had to put mine in a pillowcase, towel didn't work

Then pull out 1 limb, twisting the case around it, put them in the fold part of a chair with a knee on them to hold them down.

They sure did cuss me out, but forgave me after some treats. Only way I could avoid massive lacerations.

[ailsagirl]

14. Oh, yikes

I'm definitely not the only one.

[uppityperson]

22. I tried all the suggestions and ended up doing this. Cat was a sweety otherwise.

But those claws!

[SheltieLover]

23. No, you aren't the only one

And it's scary when claws tet stuck on things.

[SheltieLover]

24. Better than kitty ripping a claw!

Sounds effective!

[niyad]

29. If not rescuevremedy, petco sells something called "quiet moments" soft, mushable

Little treats that contain melatonin. Calms them down nicely. I keep it on hand for stressful situations.

[ShazzieB]

32. Oh, I think I'll look into those!

I can usually get Willow's claws trimmed, but she hates it, and it's a struggle. Those treats sound worth trying.

[niyad]

33. Le me know how it works for you.

[TomSlick]

34. Our cats seem to keep their claws under control with scratching posts.

The dogs are my problem. I am profoundly color blind and cannot see the “quick.” The last time I trimmed a dog claw, I thought the poor thing would bleed out.

I have abandoned my red neck pride and have the vet techs do the job.

[love_katz]

35. You have my sympathy regarding trimming a cat's nails.

Kicking for visibility in hopes that someone will have a good workable solution. And for including the door knob catraption . I get mental pictures of shredded door, shredded human, and one very p.o.'d kitty. Nope!

[Random Boomer]

38. Two out of Six

I can trim the nails of two of our cats, but not the rest. Most of them are feral rescues and messing with their paws is out of the question. We provide plenty of scratching posts and just hope for the best.