Need helm with claw trimming?

When you are holding her in your lap, have some food strapped to the outside of your hand (you can do this by piercing a hole through some chicken with a skewer and threading string through) and when you are holding the top of her paw with your thumb and the bottom of her paw with your index finger to release the claws, pull the food away from her when she tried to attack you or leave.

She needs to know that if she stays on your lap and allows you to trim her claws she will be treated (with either food or a new toy or something like that). Make sure that if you do accomplish the trimming, that you treat her after wards to tell her she was good.

If you don't get what you are looking for from my answer or from other answers, here are a few links that I found that might be a little helpful:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=DzOEsm7su08

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut886IEvn9w

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=JoN_592EEfw

Also, while I have the chance to finally ask (even though this has nothing to do with your question - it's more of a personal question that has been bugging me) what's going on with your name? Before it was MagicianTrent (which is what it appears like on your profile and the leaderboards) but when you answer and ask it's m_brink.

Could you please clear this up for me?

A cat's nails need to be trimmed every couple of weeks - not after many, many months. The nail can actually start imbedding into the paw pad.

What sort of clipper are you using? If this isn't the type you have I HIGHLY recommend you buying one. They're really easy to use - you can see just where you're cutting and they clip the nail neatly - http://grooming.petedge.com/Master-Grooming-Tools-...

The first step would be dealing with her not liking to be held. Buy some chicken baby food. I haven't met a cat that doesn't love chicken baby food. Sit the cat in your lap with the jar of chicken baby food there and offer her some - just let her lick it out of the jar. If she steps out of your lap put her back. So let her know she's only going to get the food if she sits in your lap. Do this often till realizes that your lap = a yummy treat.

Get a soft blanket and wrap her up in it with just the leg out of the paw you wish to clip. This way if she struggles she can't scratch you. Gently press the pad of the toe you wish to clip with your thumb so the claw comes out and clip the claw beyond the quick off (see picture here - http://www.catscratching.com/htmls/article.htm). You can start by just clipping the very tip and then look at it again and trim a bit more. Repeat this for each paw. The back legs can be tricky without someone's help. Surely you have one friend, neighbour, coworker or family member that could help you with this.

During the nail clipping offer the baby food. At first do it after each claw - just a lick. And if you manage to get through all the nails - let her lap up as much as she wants. If she does get really fiesty during the trimming give her a break. You may need to just do a paw at a time one day at a time.

I used this method with a cat I adopted several months ago that had been abused. I couldn't touch her paws at all when I first got her. Now she'll happily sit in my lap while I clip her front nails and I can lay her on her back and do her back nails - with her purring the entire time!

edit: sounds like you're using one of the caliper trimmers. Try the scissor type. SO much easier to use! FYI - contrary to what vLo said a cat scratching post is no substitute for trimming. Cat nails are like an onion - many layers - and scratching only helps remove the outermost layer. And in your case - since it's the back claws - I doubt your cat would kick a scratching post anyway LOL

My cat is VERY feisty and HATES having his nails cut. I wrap him in a towel and talk soothingly to him. I know it's easier said than done, but try to act confident. If you're nervous, your cat WILL pick up on it, and it will be harder to do the job.

Always give the cat a favorite treat the second you're done trimming her nails, so she'll learn to associate that with getting a treat. It didn't take long for my cat to do it.

You said your cat hates having her paws touched. I would start gently rubbing her paws while you're petting her, or give her a treat right after you do it. It might take a bit, but it might help her get used to having her paws touched.

Is there a friend who can help you hold the cat down at least the first time or two that you cut her nails? It seemed to work with me, then I was able to do a few claws at a time, then go back after a little bit and do the others.

Ha, Ha, your such an irresponsible person, blaming the vet for YOUR vicious dog. I hope the next vet throws you right out. If YOU can't control your dog, why the heck would you expect a Stranger to be able to do it? Especially with your inept attempts to restrain your dog almost get the vet hurt. I'll tell you what your dog needs, she needs 1. Training and 2. SEDATION. Call the vet ahead of time, tell them that your dog has been very aggressive in the past and may need to be sedated. Its important because they may need your dog to come in at a different time or have her fasted before she comes in. It is morally reprehensible (that means very wrong) that you are blaming someone else for your own failures in training. All I'm saying is that when MY pet tried to bite Me during a nail trim I worked on Training him. I worked with him every night for months (and yes, I have a full time job) and now I can do it with him, alone. No biting. This is not the vet's failure, as much as you might want to make it about someone else besides yourself. When someone goes into the ER and then punches the doctor or nurse, whose fault is that? Is it the fault of the person trying to give the medical care or the fault of the person doing the punching? Why don't you just do this at home by yourself if You are such an expert at telling other people that your dog is a nice puppy and they are bad at their job? 99% of people are capable of doing this, why can't you? Is it something about your specific dog that is the Problem?

What are you using to trim her nails?

What I do for mine is have them next to me on the couch/bed/etc and then gently hold their paw. if you put your thumb on the top of her paw a little ways back and the rest of your fingers on the other side and push slightly her nails will extend. I use human nail clippers turned sideways. Just take of the curved bit and don't go too far.

Remember to keep calm yourself. They feed off of your stress level and that can make it worse.

You could try going back to the vet or the groomer and have them do it and show you as they trim the nails so you can see how they do it and it has worked on her in the past.

Does she have an ear infection or mites? They usually don't itch their ears unless something is going on in there. Any dark gunk in them?

i use regular nail clippers but i wouldn't recomend you to use them since the cat struggles so much and you can crush the nail and cause it to split! i would recommend you to get a smaller pair of clippers as well as to be able to see what you are doing better! how i cat my cats nails is i hold the cat and sit down in like a bowl type arm chair, or i guess you could do this on the coach. have both feet up and have your heals as close to yoursbut as possible. if you are right handed then have the cat facing your right side and wrape your left arm around her. this is for the upper paws! you will also use your left hand to hold the paw! by sitting like this you are holding her with your whole body and your right arm is free to do what you want. choose what ever nail you want and add slight pressure to the finger to extend the nail. MAKE SURE NOT TO CUT TO CLOSE TO THE PINK PART OF THE NAIL OR SHE WILL BLEED AND NEVER LET YOU TOUCH HER PAW AGAIN! sorry caps was left on!! since the cat isn't used to it stop after the first paw and give her a treat. its always good to give them a treat after having to force them to do what they don't want to. after a while do the other one. the back feet a a little harder to get at but try to pretty much do it the same way. i really try not to cut my cats back nails for the fact that i want them to atleast be able to keep their ballance if they jump on something since they have no front ones anymore. but if you are worried about her cutting her ears then trim just a small amount! but you do realize now though that since she is an itchy kitty and wont be able to scratch herself as well you may need to become her servent for a while!!!!! lol. well i hope i helped. happy holidays hun!

The easiest way to trim the claws is to hold the paw with your index finger, middle finger, and thumb. Push down on the top of the paw with your thumb. This will make the claws extend. Hold the paw at an angle so that you can easily see the claws and where the quick begins within them (make sure you have plenty of light to make it easier to see). Have the cat seated next to you on the sofa with her body underneath your arm, holding her securely against you as you work. Work as quickly as you can. The longer you take, the more she will struggle to get away. Be sure to reward her with a treat after you are done. I never had to trim the back claws of my cats. They always seemed to wear down just fine on their own. Once you have done this a couple of times, you will feel much more confident and your cat will get used to it.

Ne time I have to do something to my cat that makes her think I'm "torturing" her, I wrap her up in a hand towel like a mummy first. Then I have full control of her, & she feels secure. At that point, I can do ne thing I need to. Just leave the paw that u're working w/out.

Don't cut the pink quick b/c then she'll be terrified to get her nails done.

U should also try getting her to look forward to her nail trimmings. Cats r easily motivated by food, so try touching her paw and giving her a treat. Do this everyday for a few weeks, and she should get over her foot thing. U can slowly work ur way into trimming her paws w/out the "mummy method." Give her lots of love, praise, and treats when she's a good kitty. B4 u know it, she'll be begging u to trim her nails :D

...maybe fleas? or allergies? I had a cat that broke out all the time b/c of allergies. Have u introduced ne thing new into ur home? Changed laundry detergents? Is it dusty in ur home? etc.