How do I trim my wiggly cat's nails?!?!?

[Snoozan's twin]

Any ideas how to get a squirmy, wiggly cat to stay still to have her nails trimmed?? She HATES to have her nails trimmed even though it's painless - I only trim the ends and don't get near the nerves in her nails! Right now, we're down to having my DH pin her down on the counter while someone bravely takes her little paw and quickly cut a couple of nails at a time, all the while she is wiggling and meowing loudly! Anyone have any suggestions that won't be as painful for me????

 

[DocRafiki]

Do you know how to scruff a cat?

 

[smileybrat]

I sit on a kitchen chair and put my cat belly up on my lap with her back in my leg crack. I put my left arm on her belly trying to cover as much of it as I can to stop squirming. Using a little pressure to hold her down, I use my right hand to clip her nails and use my left to stick them out.

 

[chell]

You guys are so brave. I can't stand cutting my own nails, let alone my cat's or my dog's. I have to take them in to have it done. I did try it once with my bunny and I had to wrap him in a towel first and just let his little head and the paw I was working with stick out. He seemed to enjoy it though so it wasn't so bad on me.

 

[Tina]

With a firm grip and careful precision. Honestly, catching them is the hardest part for me. Once they see the clippers come out of the drawer they disappear. I can also only do one cat in a day's time. The other one always finds a good hiding place while the unfortunate one is being tortured. Once I've got them, I hold them like a baby, supporting their lower back on my thighs while sitting. They know that there's no use in fighting once I get them into position. They just give me the evil eye while I trim them.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I never trimmed my cats nails. Just had a scratching post in the house. I can just imagine what a time you're having!

TC

 

[Rajah]

I'm afraid I won't be much help, other than also suggesting scruffing them as Doc suggests. I got all of mine as kittens and was able to train them from an early age to allow me to trim their nails, so the only one that gives me any trouble at all is Sienna, who we only got when she was 5 months old instead of 3 months. And the worst she does typically is growl and warning-bite.

What my friend does who has 3 once-stray cats is she waits until they're asleep, sneeks up while they're asleep and trims one or to nails quickly, then sneaks away before they really realize what's going on. It takes a while to get all claws that way, but it works for her. You also can't be nervous about approaching or you'll alert the cat.

 

[Twigs]

I was always able to trim my old cats nails easily, but now with my new kitten he pulls away and squrims a lot. I have been doing what Rajah suggested, when he is in a deep sleep I start trimming them, he does wake up, but is still somewhat sleepy so I can do them all usually at this point, but if he is just having a light cat nap it won't work. I have thought of wrapping him in a towel and having someone else hold him, I would get one paw out at a time and trim those nails, but haven't actually tried this yet. Good Luck.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

all 4 of my cats are long gone....but they never seemed to mind getting their nails cut....i would sit "indian style" on the floor and clip....clip...clip....until done. Kinda same with my dog now (bullmastiff).....just did them last night......good luck

 

[Rajah]

Originally posted by Twigs
I have thought of wrapping him in a towel and having someone else hold him, I would get one paw out at a time and trim those nails, but haven't actually tried this yet. Good Luck.

I tried that while training, and it can be tricky. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, so good luck. LOL!!

 

[Snoozan's twin]

Thanks for all the suggestions - I will try the "sneaking up on them while sleeping" and if that doesn't work, she will be swaddled in a towel!

 

[peg2001]

DH is an expert at this. He even trims the nails of other peoples dogs and cats if they ask.

For our cats, he initially wrapped them tightly in a towel and did one paw at a time. They eventually decided it was easier to just be still and let him do it without the towel. Now, he can just scoop them up, hold them "baby style" on their backs and snip away.

 

[KristaTX]

It works for me to sneak up on either of my two cats (Bert & Ernie) while they are sound asleep in a chair in our living room. Usually I just do one cat at a time since they are both wide awake by the time I finish one. Sometimes I miss a few claws and have to get them later.