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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

I'm going to try to cut their class this evening. How much are they going to hate me?

45 replies

Rockbird · 20/10/2018 16:11

Just that really. We've had them for a month now and they're getting used to us but it's time for some paw maintenance. Either that or we get rid of the rugs and carpets...

I have clippers, I have Dreamies. I have watched YouTube videos. I have a towel to wrap them in if necessary. Anything else I need or is it just an iron will and the luck of the Gods?

OP posts:
Original poster
Rockbird · 20/10/2018 16:12

*claws FFS Hmm

OP posts:
CarryOnScreamingValenta · 20/10/2018 16:16

I had pictures of your cats sitting disappointedly in front of a chalkboard, waiting for you in vain.

Back to your question - do you have a helper? That would be the only thing I'd add to your list.

Cataline · 20/10/2018 16:17

If you're willing to put some time in and gage a lot of patience, you can train them to willingly come to get their claws cut.

I did it with my feisty cat. I trained her to stand on the edge of a wooden box (which helped to splay her claws out more) then very slowly got her to accept me clipping a claw at a time, really slowly and with lots of dreamies and a clicker.

It took about a week of very short (minutes) sessions but then she realised she could get dreamies on demand by going to the box, standing on the edge and meowing for me.

She now runs to the box when she spots I have the clippers out!

MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours · 20/10/2018 16:25

one of mine was a really cuddly cat and was really good at having his claws trimmed....he'd let me take his little feet and stretch his toes out for me!

the other one i had to catch him asleep and would get one paw done at a time!

and for some reason I haven't bothered with the cats we have now....they seem to manage their own Claw-icures. :o

BertrandRussell · 20/10/2018 16:26

I really wouldn't. If they have trees and scratching posts they shouldn't need it. And either you or the day or probably both are going to get hurt.

dementedpixie · 20/10/2018 16:27

I have never ever trimmed ours. They do go outside and scratch trees and wooden posts

sirmione16 · 20/10/2018 16:29
  1. Pop yourself in a room with the door shut so they can't escape and run round the house! Let the cat walk away and round the room throughout this if she/he wants - this will hugely reduce the fear or anxiety, rather than being pinned down or held tightly. The last thing cats want generally is to be restricted, they need to feel in control and safe and having a sense of not being held down will reduce this possibility.
  1. Take your time! You may only get one claw clipped before they want to go away, that's fine! Let them, then get another. If cat is especially stressed, one aim to do one paw today and do the other another day this week.
  1. Be aware of your energy. They pick up on it hugely, so if you're nervous or worried or scared, they will pick up on it and the whole thing becomes a million times worse. Don't be afraid, keep your energy calm and relaxed - keep talking all cutesy to them and reassuring them, it'll be comforting and if you use the same tone of voice which you use when awarding a treat or giving pets, it's a positive association
  1. Use the treats as positive reinforcement. Don't just lay them out - make a point of "you get a treat when you've stayed still here/when a nail is clipped" they'll come back and tolerate it more if they know there's pay off!

If it helps, my fluff ball now lays on her back on my lap like a baby to have her nails clipped! Took us years to get to this point. Good luck!

I'm going to try to cut their class this evening. How much are they going to hate me?
OlderThanAverageforMN · 20/10/2018 16:33

Scratching trees and posts don't wear their claws down, that strengthens them. My cat is an outdoors cat and his claws get so long he trips up on the rugs, so I have to cut them, he also clicks on the wooden floor.

We've always done all out cats, and never had any problems. Our now cat, a half Bengal, so quite feisty, doesn't mind at all. I just pop him on the table outside, hold him firmly under my arm, squash his claws out and give them a clip. He always gets Dreamies after.

BertrandRussell · 20/10/2018 16:38

How strange! I've had cats all my life and never clipped a claw yet. I wonder why not?

Original poster
Rockbird · 20/10/2018 16:51

Thanks sirmione that's really helpful.

They aren't going outside yet. They're still due some vaccs and Bramble hasn't been neutered yet as she's too small. If I can ever get hold of their Cats Protection foster mum who still has all their paperwork etc then I can sort out their vet visit. But in the meantime they really do need trimming. They're getting caught in everything.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rockbird · 20/10/2018 16:51

Oh and DH will be chief cat holder if necessary!

OP posts:
NC4Now · 20/10/2018 16:54

I’ve never clipped mine either

PiggeryPorcombe · 20/10/2018 17:03

I’ve also had cats all my life and never needed to clip any claws. I didn’t know people did actually.

SmiledWithTheRisingSun · 20/10/2018 17:13

I w never clipped a cat's claws.
What are dreamies?

Toddlerteaplease · 20/10/2018 17:39

I need to do Cheddars. Not rude it with her before. But she should be fairly amenable. Never once has she used her claws in anger.

HirplesWithHaggis · 20/10/2018 17:40

Dreamies are crack cocaine for cats.

WinkysTeatowel · 20/10/2018 18:12

I need to do ours too. They hate it, haven't tried with treats though... good tip.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 20/10/2018 18:32

Bertrand I've never done it before but we were talked into it by our previous vet and I'd never do it again. I felt guilty as they are one of his lines of defence and as he doesn't have many teeth I was worried about him if he got into a fight. We've cat proofed the garden now so that's not an issue but I still won't do it again.

Babdoc · 20/10/2018 18:37

I’ve had cats for 40 years. The only time I ever had to clip claws was for my poor 21 year old tom, who had senile dementia and had forgotten how to strop his own claws. One curved claw grew right into his pad, and he was limping, so I had to clip him. But otherwise, no, it’s not necessary if the cat goes outdoors and/or has a scratching post.

Yogagirl123 · 20/10/2018 18:50

Not something I would have ever tried with my cats, I like being in one piece! Good luck OP!

Proseccoagain · 20/10/2018 21:58

I have indoor pedigree cats and the breeder advised clipping their claws regularly. All went well at first - DH would wrap them in a towel and hold them firmly while I clipped them. Sadly DH passed away and no-one else could manage them. I took them to the vets to be clipped, but it was so traumatic for them that the vet's nurse said they needed to be sedated. However at their annual check up the vet said just to leave them, and that few cats had problems unless they were very elderly, (over12). .They do have scratching posts indoors, and I sometimes catch them unawares when they are sleepy on my lap and will manage just one claw! They also don't mind a nail file!

PlateOfBiscuits · 20/10/2018 22:08

I’ve also never clipped my (indoor) cat’s claws. The vets have never said a thing about it and I just wouldn’t think to do unless it started being a problem.

Having a good scratch on her post/mat is one of her favourite things to do though so maybe she sorts them out herself...

toomuchhappyland · 20/10/2018 22:12

I’ve never clipped a cats claws either. They do periodically pull out on the scratching post so I think they naturally drop off after a while, like hairs.

Hoppinggreen · 20/10/2018 22:14

Another one here who has never clipped at cats claws and I’ve had cars for around 40 years. Never heard of it before

Hoppinggreen · 20/10/2018 22:15

Had CATS for 40 years ffs
I’ve had cars for much less time