Anyone have any advise??? My 2 yr old little girl kitty was found when she was about 4 or 5 months old; she obviously didn’t have much time in a litter. She watches my male kitty (also now 2 & both fixed) and has copied much of his habits, HOWEVER.. the little dear doesn’t know how to retract her claws. She doesn’t scratch the furniture, has plenty of toys and stimulation; she doesn’t like to be held let alone get her nails trimmed, I can get them done two at a sitting if I’m lucky. As they are strickly inside pets there’s limited availability to “wear” them down and she will inadvertantly scratch or poke people. any advice out there???

I wish mine didn’t scratch the furniture!!

My two kitties used to be fine with getting their nails done, then I took them to the vet to get fixed and had them trim their nails and put soft paws on while they were there… now they’re terrified. I don’t know if they associate the nail trimming with the whole surgery experience, or if something else happened there that I don’t know about. But they’re both very skittish when I try to trim their claws, especially my big blob of a ‘fraidy cat, Mooshu. I can’t get even one clipped if he’s even remotely awake. I have to wait till he falls asleep on or near me while I’m in arms length of the clippers. As it is then, if I move too much or touch his nail with the steel, he usually wakes up and runs away like the house is on fire. If I’m lucky and he’s completely out cold, I can get a paw or two in before he wakes up and runs!

I know a lot of people who have cats who won’t sit still for the trimming. The last time I was at the vets there was a massive kitty in a crate hissing and spitting and yowling up a storm who had to be sedated before the vet could trim her nails. You may have to have your vet do something similar if nothng else works, but I would try the clipping-while-sleeping method first.

Once you get her claws trimmed, if she can’t retract her claws you may want to get her on Soft Paws - they’re little gelcap-like sleeves that cover over the cats nails so they can’t scratch things. The claws are still there, just covered. You can even get them in lots of different colours, not that your cats will care one way or the other! Most of the cats I’ve run into seem to do just fine with them and it savea lot of grief with any clawing/scratching issues.

I SOOO thought this was going to be the answer for me, but mine seem to have issues with them, especially my big guy. His sister just looks aggravated at me, and proceeds to chew them off fairly rapidly, but he can’t seem to handle them at all. I tried doing them at home so it he wouldn’t have to face a traumatic visit to the vet, but he cries and cries and it just breaks my heart. Hubby couldn’t handle it so I had a friend who has cats come and help me… yeah, now he’s afraid of strangers. After one time at the vet and two attempts at home, I gave up. I swear, I think he has a reaction to the glue, because he reacted more to the attaching of the caps than the clipping of the nails. Question for our resident FP Vet- have you heard of any other cats getting this kind of reaction to soft paws? If the reaction is to the glue, is there any other kind of adhesive that we could use?

My brood are the only cats I’ve run into that have issues with them, so yours should do just fine. Don’t let my big ‘fraidy man scare you off! Good luck, and let us know how it goes!

The fast-setting glues, such as the one that comes with the Soft Paws create an “exothermic reaction,” so they generate heat.  This is most likely what the kitties are reacting to when you place the nail caps on the nails.  I generally recommend one drop of glue in the nail cap, wait 1-2 seconds and then gently place on the trimmed nail.

A few thoughts :  I’ve found that Super Glue works better than the one sent with the Soft Paws kits (but you still need to consider the small amount of heat that is generated).  Some of these cats need a little anti-anxiety medication (such as Xanax/alprazolam) to get the job done.

Your veterinarian can help you determine the correct dosage and dosing interval. 

Michele Gaspar, DVM, DABVP (Feline)

Thanks for the info on the nail glue! I thought he was having an allergic reaction to the glue and I didn’t want to put him thru any more torture.  He’s such a big baby about a lot of things, but his reaction to the nail caps was pure terror, not simple whining.

I’d prefer to give it another try at home where he’s not so traumatized, but I think you hit the nail on the head with the mood altering substances. Do you think non-prescription anti-anxiety aids like feliway would help? I’d already been considering getting it when he was getting more aggressive towrds his sister, but his aggression disappeared as fast as it cropped up and he’s back to being Mr Mellow… most of the time anyway. By then I read that it was supposed to help with other stress-related behaviours, like scratching, and thought what the heck, it can’t hurt.  If I get feliway to use for nail-capping as well as general purposes, do you recommend I get the spray or the diffuser?

I think the Feliway diffusers are excellent for daily use in any home with cats.  The Feliway mimics the “facial marking” pheremone and is excellent for stress relief.

Another product to consider, which can be purchased through your veterinarian, is Vetri-Science’s Composure.  This is a liquid that contains an amino acid, l-threanine.  It can be used “as needed” (car rides, for example) and is easily mixed with food.

Cats are extremely sensitive to essential oils, so I would avoid these.  I don’t recommend Bach Flower Rescue Remedy, because of the high alcohol content (must be mixed with water or food) and I’ve never found it beneficial to my kitty patients.

Please let us know if any of these recommendations work!

Michele Gaspar, DVM, DABVP (Feline)

Kool! I’ll have to wait for payday to pick up a diffuser and some new soft paws/soft claws, whichever ones they have at Petco. If there’s a big $ difference I’ll just order them online. And since I can’t remember if we have a bottle of superglue that’s still viable, I’ll just get a new one. I’ve never even heard of the flower remedy, but I think I need to keep some Composure on hand for emergencies. Since they rarely leave the house I’ll wait on it for now, unless the Feliway isn’t quite enough to do the trick, but I’ll have to pick some up before hurricane season hits full swing!

I’ll let you know how it goes!

Just picked up a pack of Soft Claws and the feliway spray tonite. Still need to pick up an new pack of superglue. Will give it a go on my next day off. I wish petco had coloured nail caps, it’s easier to tell if they’ve chewed one off when the caps are not see-thru…

Charlene—I have a few cats in the practice who sport purple Soft Paws.  I believe they only are available on-line.

Let me know if you have any problems applying them.

Michele Gaspar, DVM, DABVP (Feline)

Hello there from Maryland! -

I have two cats, and when they were kittens from the start I would pet them (brief times, as kittens like to move and sqirm all the time - so much to see and check out). I would gently hold their front leg, rub their foot, and toes, then let them go. This got them used to having feet touched (cats don’t like that), and after awhile trimmed a nail or two. Work up to getting all toes trimmed. Usually don’t even now, years later, get them all done at the same sitting.
Also, as cats primary sense is smell, when I intend on doing anything to them (nail clipping, cleaning ears, brushing) always show the cat (they usually sniff the item),what I am using on them and explain what I am going to do before I start. Sounds crazy, but it actually works, get more cooperation from them!

Good luck in your endeavors - and be patient!

J McCartan from Maryland

Great tips on working WITH the kitties, using patience and rewards!  Michele Gaspar, DVM, DABVP (Feline)

I let mine sniff all their tools too, I guess its not so scary once you’ve rubbed your head all over it! : P Unless it happens to touch your nails… *sigh*

Clipping updates:

I have all the supplies now, but still no nails have been capped. I don’t see the Feliway doing much of anything, save that they wander around the house sniffing the air when I use it. I’ve sprayed the Feliway on to the clawed areas of the carpet and furniture as instructed, but I don’t see them avoiding those areas any less or rubbing their heads and scent marking them as it suggested they would. I haven’t noticed them calming down any more with the spray either, though my cats are fairly low-key most of the time… except with the nails. It still might help if we have to evacuate during hurricane season, so I’ll reserve judgement for that later. But for now I still need to use the sleep-&-snip method for nail trimming. And althought they’ve sniffed and rubbed the individual components (clippers, nail caps, glue bottle, etc) I still can’t bring them all together just yet. So we remain a work in progress.

New question on the same topic…

I friend of mine has two very rambunctious boston terriers and LOVES this new gadget she got for trimming their nails. It’s called a Peticure, and its basically a dremel-like tool (or adapter to go on your own dremel) designed for trimming pet nails. The day after she told me about this thing I saw a mini infomercial on it, saying how it puts less pressure on the quick than clippers do, so is less painful and frightening for the animals. I’ve seen many blogs on the horrendous customer service issues, but the reviews for the product itself seem to be positive now that some battery issues have been resolved. Before I stick my toes in I wanted to know if you’ve heard anything on how these work with cats? The only reviews I’ve seen have been with dogs. Has anyone had any experience with these things? Just one more option for the frightened kitties…

I have no experience with this product.  I use a dremel instrument on my own dogs, but haven’t used them in many cats.  I would think that a fine grit, small dremel could be used on low speed in cats and these are available in almost all large hardware stores.

As far as the Feliway, it’s more useful as a general calming agent, rather than for specific events.

Good luck and let us know if we can help further.

Michele Gaspar, DVM, DABVP (Feline)

Okay, my experience with Feliway:  I plugged in 3 diffusers in different parts of the house, and left them until they were just about dry, replaced the liquid, and left them for another month.  My cats acted no differently, reacted no differently, played no differently, did their business no differently, and slept no differently.  Don’t waste your money, those refills are not cheap.  I have to give credit to the “developer”, though.  It’s a good gimmick.

My experience with Peticure:  I tried on my Scotties, and had to get out my mini-dremel to smooth the rough edges it left.  I much prefer the positioning and handling I get from my mini-dremel, anyway.  As for the cats, if we’re talking about the same tool, there’s no way you’re going to get a skittish cat to hold still while you stick his claw into that thing.  It’s big and it whirs.  When the cat feels the vibration, you’ll have to peel him off the ceiling.  Just passing along my experience. 

I’m such a sucker for gimmicks.

Gail

FWIW: There is a Rescue Remedy specifically formulated for pets, which has no alcohol.

Personally, if I had to do something as anxiety provoking as putting glue on my cats’ nails, I’d probably use the Xanax, but wanted to let people know there is a non-alcoholic version of Rescue Remedy.