Cat Grooming, Part I

As we've settled into a routine these past few months, we decided it was time to adopt a cat. A third cat. The house is roomy enough and we've talked for years about adding a third while our two older cats are still fiesty enough to fend off a youngster (which seems to be the tactic they prefer). So into our home came two-year old Cisco. He's been here six days.

It would take a whole other blog to write about the adventures of our Cisco Kidd this past week - from swinging from the bird cage to warming his way into our hearts and making peace with the rest of the floor patrol - so I'm just going to tell you how to train your cat so you can clip his claws and give him a bath. No restraint towels, no scratching, no fuss.

Part I: How to Clip your Cat's Claws

Supplies
To clip your cats claws on your own, you'll need: claw clippers, a can of tuna, a cat. If this is your first time, also add jeans and a heavy coat for yourself.

Objective

To teach your cat to sit quietly, unrestrained, while you trim his claws.

Introduction
If you've never done this before, and have the opportunity, have someone show you how on a cat that accepts this as routine. Note how the quick runs pink through the claw; always clip through the white of the claw and not the pink. Long claws have longer pink: proper care will encourage the pink to reced and stay shorter because it no longer needs to supply as much blood and nutrients to the claw. Pet stores do sell a product to coagulate the blood if the vessel is cut, but the objective here is to train your cat to accept this procedure willingly and pain will block his trust of you and what you want him to do, so don't cut the pink.

Steps
1. Firstly, I don't like to get scratched. And neither do you. So, if you're not sure if your new cat knows how to sit for his pedicure, or if your old cat scares you with his catterwauling so much so that you've always brought him to the vet, get yourself a can of tuna.

2. Drain the can and crumble two large spoonfuls of tuna on a plastic dish. Use plastic because glass or ceramic may knock against the floor, causing a sudden noise. Sudden noises, especially in a stressful situation, may spook your cat into a flurry of motion and you may end up returning to the vet or the groomer and paying for something you can do for your cat yourself.

3. Put on a jeans and a winter coat, one you won't mind getting snagged just in case your cat does decide to use his claws.

4. Find the cat. Whenever I have to do something stressful with my cats (like when going to the vet) I always go to the cat. It establishes that there will be no discussion about the matter. If I were to call the cat, then I'm asking for a two-way relationship with him and the stressful event that follows could be a break in trust. So, take the plate of tuna and find your cat. Talk to him, taking a tidbit of tuna between your fingers to let him sample, then pet him and pick him up.

5. Find a place to sit with him without carpeting or anything he could use to put up a fight with. Make this a win-win situation and give the goal the advantage. Set the tuna beside you out of his reach and place the cat in front of you.

6. Whatever side you are handed, begin on the front paw nearest your body. I'm right handed, so I hold the clippers in my right hand and wrap my left arm around Cisco's upper body. With my left hand I squeeze his front right paw lightly to display the claws and quickly snip off the tip of the claw. Reward with a 'good kitty!', pet and give him a morsel of tuna. Let him take his reward with minimal restraint. A light petting and a hand resting around his shoulder should be enough.

7. Snip one claw, reward. Repeat. If you and you cat are doing fine, great! If not...

8. If your cat is upset, and you are getting upset, continue to restrain and pet the cat until he is somewhat settled. Even a pause in his crying or pause in his movements while he's trying to escape is cause enough to release him. The release will be rewarding him for ceasing to struggle. Keep up the spirit of 'good kitty!' with another tuna treat and call it a day.

8. Addendum. If this is your third or fourth try and your cat is still stuck on number 8, there are a number of behavioral issues that could be occuring. One of the easier problems to deal with is that you've got a smart cat who's training you to let him go! Read below for the cat who trained me how to clip claws. Remember that training an animal improves your relationship with it, and maybe this is too much of an excersise to ask of him or you (especially if your cat was feral). Back up and establish that friendship first through other activities.

9. If you and your cat have made it past the first claw and treat, continue onto the next. Give a treat after every claw clipped. If you feel thankful you've made it past two claws, past a paw, past two paws, then stop. Always end on a good note and don't force the situation. Reward his good behaviour with a treat and release him.

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10. Hind feet are more difficult to trim. Let the cat face away from you at an angle to the right. Wrap your right arm around his chest with the clippers in hand (lefties have to switch this). Gently lift his left hind leg up to his body, sort of like a ferrier trimming a horse, and clip. A finger under the paw will help display the claws. For the right hind foot, leave the cat where he is and reverse your arm positions, with the left arm wrapping aroung his chest and again lifting the paw.

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Congradulations! You have now not only trimmed your cats' claws but have also begun teaching him a calmer way of accepting a trim.

Summary
The key is to have him associate a restrictive situation with positive reinforcement. Verbal praise, tuna, releasing him - these are all excellant training tools that set the situation up to be more pleasant the next time. Repeat once a month with a positive focus and eventually there will be no fuss - it will be routine, and you'll have saved yourself a frazzling trip to the groomer.


How long did it take me to trim Cisco's claws? About five minutes. Number of scratches acquired? Zero. Fuss? None, accept for the girls trying to get at his tuna.

A very dear little cat I had for eighteen years taught me how to do this. A fiesty cat, I would hold her for her exams because the vet wouldn't allow his assistants near, for fear of the deep scratches she'd inflict. In her teens she became diabetic, which caused her nails to grow abnormally fast and long. I trimmed her often by myself. Eventually I could trim her where she lay; she'd chirp her protest and snip-snip! we were done. No fuss, no scratching, no restraints. No tuna either, she was only too happy to see me go. (She was also a sweetie when she wanted to be.)

If you have a tough kitty, hang in there, there's hope! All training takes time and patience and persistence. Good luck to you and your kitty!