Conference misery::feline_v1

    I use the kind that look like a little pair of scissors.  They have
    two little blades at the end.  I think that they are made by Washington
    Forge (or something like that) and they cost me about $6.00 at the
    feed store.
    
    When trimming the nails you want to just trim off the points.  Avoid
    the pink area, or quick, (is it black on your cat?).  I keep a steptic
    pencil around when trimming the nails just in case of an accident.
    You can buy one of those in the shaving dept of your local drug
    store.  It will help stop the bleeding if you accidently cut too
    far.
    
    I usually cut my cats nails about once a week.  It is amazing how
    fast they grow back.
    
    Jo    
    

    I love it..!!!!!
    
    I absolutely agree with note 1519.2  No matter how much your cat
    loves you there is nothing that will bond you at that moment 
    except a strangle hold, and another pair of arms.
    
    Just make sure that the clippers are very sharp.
    
    There are also steptic "Q-Tips" that most vets will sell to you.
    
    A couple of very dry martini's before are also quite helpful.
    
    B/
    

    Step #1  Learn how to wrestle!
    
    Step #2  I agree with .1.  I have had the best results with the
    kind of clippers are the kind that look like scissors and have 2
    curved blades on the end.
           
    Step #3  Put on long pants and a thick long sleeved shirt.  This
    somewhat protects you from being scratched in the process.
    
    Step #4  get your cat right after it had taken a nap.  They are
    still a bit groggy and will (usually) at least let you cut one or
    two claws before squirming.
           
    Step #5  Make sure you give your cat all the loving a reassuring
    you can give him/her while you are clipping the nails.  Be firm,
    but gentle.
         
    Good luck. 
         
    Holly
    

    Re: .3
    
         Who drinks the martinis?  You or the cat?
    
    
    Bob

    I believe that there are two methods for giving your cat a quick
    and easy manicure.  Unfortunatly, neither of them works!
    
    Marion

Equpment I like best is human TOENAIL clippers (not fingernail, but the
bigger ones)...of course, I also consider a roommate capable of holding
the other three legs and cat's body motionless a necessity..I then clip
each claw with the clippers help "sideways" to the way I would hold them
to clip my own toenails.  A good technique to use on hairy-footed cats
(my Sam qualifies) is to blow on the hair, forcing it back from the
claw...of course, the cat thinks you're really wierd when you blow on
his toes, but hey - whatever works!

Re:  the martinis - well, I'm not sure how you'd get them down the cat,
but that's where they would do the most good!


	D_who_does_4_cats_every_other_weekend

Since I have no one to help me hold my kitties down, what I do is lure
each one into the downstairs bathroom (it's small and I can shut the
door).  Then I wrap the cat in a towel secured at the neck with a
safety pin (not too tight to choke the cat, and not so loose that they
can get out of it).  

Now Daisy, who is not particularly bright, thinks that she is paralyzed 
when she is wrapped in a towel so it's not a major problem with her. The
towel is necessary for her because she hates being held and squirms like 
crazy.

Shamus screams like a hellcat when his claws are being clipped and tries
very hard to bite me or swat me.  It's strange, because he was so docile
as a kitten that I could clip his claws under any circumstances.  Both cats
get copious treats both during the process and afterwards.

I've gotten a new claw trimmer for them recently (altho I can't remember
it's name) which seems to cause them less grief and anxiety.

Pam

Reply .4, Step #4 is the single most helpful suggestion.  I do my 8
regularly, with no struggle or bleeding on anyone's part -- but only
when I can get them during a nap.  Once you have a little experience
you can very quickly do a whole foot before they are awake enough
to realize what you're doing, and you can finish the other foot while
they're figuring out how much they want to complain.  I don't usually
trim their back toenails since they seem to keep them short enough.

If you have a cat who argues particularly violently, you might want to
spread it out over several sessions.  Clip only a few nails each time,
letting the cat calm down between sessions.  Reduces the stress to
a manageable level each time rather than having one knockdown-drag out
fight.

Be firm, and have band-aids available (for you, not the cat!).


Jan  who_has_done_two_this_week_only_six_more_to_go

    On my last litter, I started trimming their nails when the kittens
    were only two days old and kept it up once a week after that.  We
    kept one of the kittens and she is so easy to "do".  For future
    reference, it helps to start them out young (I think so anyway,
    another noter mentioned that his/her cat was easy when young but
    not so now)  
    
    I have found that the easiest position to do it in is to have the
    cat on it's back in my lap.  The back claws get trimmed too because
    most of my cats are shoulder sitters (say no more) and often use
    me to push off from when they are ready to get down.  Also - for
    purposes of showing, all claws on all four paws must be trimmed.
    
    

    I also use the clippers mentioned in .1.  I used to use regular
    people nail clippers but found that this left a crunched ragged
    edge behind when I clipped.  I felt like I was damaging the strength
    of the nail and causing it to split so I changed to the other kind
    of clipper.
    
    I usually just pick up Amelia or Bailey shortly after napping
    (sometimes I'm cruel and wake them up specifically for this, what a 
    mean mom), put them on their back in my lap with their heads under 
    my chin.  I start with the front paws apply a little pressure to each 
    "finger" to make the claw stick out (but not enough to hurt) then snip 
    the points off.  I do the rear paws last.  Usually they're so dazed I 
    get through this quickly.  I do talk to them in a quite/calm voice
    while I'm doing it and they look up at me with the most pitiful
    looks that I usually feel guilting for doing it.  I'm usually glad
    I did when they push off of my legs/arms, etc. with claws out for
    a really good push off.
    
    Jan

    I have never clipped my cats' claws (although I do clean Oliver's
    for him!).
    
    Do any of you clip outdoor cats'?
    
    Helen.

    
    The claw clippers we use at home seem to be different to all types
    mentioned before. They resemble a cigar clipper (or wire strippers
    to those of you who don't know what a cigar clipper looks like)
    with the two blades overlapping at the end and an oval hole between
    into which the claw is inserted and then chopped. To prevent cutting
    too deep there is a small spoon shaped attachment that can be placed
    behind the hole to prevent the claw going too far through. The only
    time we can't use these is if the claw has grown too long and has
    turned back on itself in which case we use normal nail clippers
    to take the end off and the clippers to tidy the result.
    
    I agree with all previous noters about the "fun" you can have trimming
    claws. My wife and I usually work together with one holding the
    cat (wrapped in a blanket in the case of Suki who lashes out in
    all directions with all claws if held down) and the other (usually
    me) holding the relevant paw and trimming. I also agree that it's
    better to do as much as possible at one time without really upsetting
    the cat and maybe finishing off later on when they have calmed down.
    
    In the case of our Scooby-cat, she always hated claw trimming (blanket
    was always required and a very strong grip) until she grew a very
    long claw that we hadn't noticed and which should have been causing
    some discomfort although she wasn't limping or anything. We trimmed
    it right back and since then she has been much quieter and easy
    to trim. Maybe she realises that it's for her own good and stops
    any further paw problems occurring.
    
    Good luck to all claw trimmers - we know what it's like
    
    Brian and Adrienne (and Scooby, Little One, Suki and Primo)
    
    P.S. If you have any wrist bands I recommend their use while trimming
    some of the more violent furries - it can stop the "Did you try
    and slit your wrists last night?" type questions.

    My daughter and I trim Jasper's nails periodically (usually when
    we notice that he starts to get stuck on all types of materials).  
    We have a scizzor type clipper, and usually do just the tips.  What
    could be a very quick job, usually ends up taking twice as long.
    Jasper is really good and doesn't squirm around too much.  But,
    we end up in hysterical laughter because of the howling he does.
    He does what starts out to be a meow, and extends it for an entire
    breath.  He does this over and over again and it is so funny to
    hear him.  We know we're not hurting him in any way.  He just doesn't
    want to be doing something that he doesn't want to do.  He's sooooo
    cute!