Cat thread

[Signe]

I clip the kitties claws at least every two weeks and try to do it once a week.  If they struggle, I stop and get Righ to hold them, which usually makes them less squirmy.  He's everyone's comfort blankie.  Since they were tiny, I've always made a point to include touching their paws during petting and play so they've become used to me fiddling with their claws.  I use the scissor style clippers and only clip the tip.  I keep styptic powder close by, just in case, but I never get anywhere near the quick.

[Engels]

I sorta take pride in the fact that my cats are a bit dangerous.

[Morfiend]

I sorta take pride in the fact that my cats are a bit dangerous.

If they are indoor cats, that is a silly statement. Indoor cats need their claws trimmed from time to time. Since they are not walking around on hard surfaces their claws get longer that they should, and it can actually cause your cat pain and to have problems walking.

I use the same type thing Signe does.

[voodoolily]

I use regular toenail clippers for my boys. I can get through all of the front toes before the squirm out of my lap. Desmond used to purr and lick my hand while I trimmed his nails, but now he's kinda fussy about it.

[rattran]

Yeah, regular nail trimmers work fine it you're careful. And I only do the fronts, rears seem to wear down well enough on all the cats.
 It helps that I've got several scratching posts, and a couple pieces of cat furniture I encourage them to climb up.

[Sjofn]

I try to do Lizzie's front paws once a week (I often fail) and her back ones every other (they don't sharpen up nearly as fast). I can't do it alone, though. Not so much because she struggles, but because she NEEDS to SEE what I am DOING and moves her head into my line of sight constantly. She does sometimes get annoyed with the process and starts trying to grab the clippers (I use the ones like Signe's), but usually it's fairly trauma-free. Ingmar is forever on Holding the Cat duty because he's a lefty and can't handle the right handed clippers.

Brushing, on the other hand, Lizzie cannot get enough of. Eventually she pulls the brush out of my hands and just butts her head against it for a while.

[apocrypha]

I used to do ours with nail clippers but then my girlfriend bought a pair of proper clippers like Signe's picture and they're a *lot* better. Much cleaner cut, easier to do, less hassle.

[Sjofn]

I had used that kind on our bunny (who was WAY LESS TOLERANT of it), they are pretty nice and easy to use.

I miss my bunny. :(

[Viin]

There are little plastic sheaths you can put on your cats claws, so they don't get caught on carpet/etc. Some folks do this instead of declawing and they seem to last a month or two before you have to replace them.

[rattran]

Or you can make little velvet drawstring bags for all their paws, then let them go onto a newly refinished hardwood floor. Fun ensues.

Best move-in ever.

[MahrinSkel]

I have a set of those scissor-style clippers, but quit using them because it was too easy for the cat to struggle at the wrong moment and get cut through the quick.  Human toenail clippers (the larger size) seem to work perfectly, even if the cat jumps, it won't go far enough down the claw to actually make them bleed.

--Dave

[Engels]

I sorta take pride in the fact that my cats are a bit dangerous.

If they are indoor cats, that is a silly statement. Indoor cats need their claws trimmed from time to time. Since they are not walking around on hard surfaces their claws get longer that they should, and it can actually cause your cat pain and to have problems walking.

Of course its a silly statement. Its a freakin' housecat, for crying out loud, not a panther. As far as causing them pain, in my 30 years of owning cats, I've seen this happen on rare occasion with just one of the 6 cats I've had in my care.  I trimmed her claws. It tends to happen to older cats (our cats are 3 years old) when they no longer have the vigor to routinely use scratching posts to keep the length down.

[apocrypha]

Or you can make little velvet drawstring bags for all their paws, then let them go onto a newly refinished hardwood floor. Fun ensues.

Best move-in ever.

Hahaha! 

[Signe]

I have a set of those scissor-style clippers, but quit using them because it was too easy for the cat to struggle at the wrong moment and get cut through the quick.  Human toenail clippers (the larger size) seem to work perfectly, even if the cat jumps, it won't go far enough down the claw to actually make them bleed.

--Dave

I found the opposite to be true.  I feel in better control with them.  I only clip the tips though, well away from the quick, which is why I try to do it often.  Geez, cat nails grow fast!  If the kitty struggles, I simply stop and do it later.  When they're sleepy is the most perfect time. 

[Morfiend]

Of course its a silly statement. Its a freakin' housecat, for crying out loud, not a panther.

Try and pick one up while it is in a panic. You will rethink the part about it not being a Panther. I have a scar on my hand where one of my cats bit down to the bone on my thumb. Thats what I get for trying to "save" him from a friendly dog.

[Tebonas]

So is my cat the only one using a scratching post?

[Sky]

Mine loves his carpeted post, but has never moved over to the sisal post next to it.

[voodoolily]

Mine loves his carpeted post, but has never moved over to the sisal post next to it.

The only way I can get the cats to transition to new toys or furniture is by smearing copious amounts of catnip into them. You can also buy catnip essence in a spray can, and though they fear the spray (we use squirt bottles and sprays as disciplinary tools), they love it if you coat their things with the smell.

[Sky]

Yeah, did that. He licked it and then scratched the carpeted one again. He's a dumbass.

[Cyrrex]

Because he didn't fall for your stupid ploy and still got the catnip?

[Sky]

That's just about enough out of you!

[Ingmar]

So is my cat the only one using a scratching post?

Ours uses her post to sharpen them back up after we trim them! 

[Sjofn]

So is my cat the only one using a scratching post?

Ours uses her post to sharpen them back up after we trim them! 

The best is when she stares at you, wild-eyed and ears back, while she does it.

EDIT: I have to say, that was one of the best things about Lizzie when we first got her. She ONLY scratched her carpeted cave-post-thing for the most part, so we didn't have to do anything to get her to do it! Once in a while she'll claw something else, but all I have to do is say "Lizzie!" in an annoyed tone and she stops immediately.

The worst thing about when we first got her was her deciding to puke every day for about two weeks, which meant many fine vet visits at first. Best we can tell (she had a LOT of damn tests >< ), her tummy just didn't like moving to a new place very much. She's a stealthy puker too, she doesn't make that cat vomit sound or anything.

[FatuousTwat]

Ours seem to like the cardboard strip type.

[Sky]

all I have to do is say "Lizzie!" in an annoyed tone and she stops immediately.

I read somewhere that you shouldn't scold them with their name, so I've trained Bart to respond to a firm "No." Sometimes, when he's being a little bastard on purpose, just the "Nnnnn" is enough to set him off running.

Of course, this backfires when I'm goofing off with my fiancee and suggest something ridiculous and she screams "NO!" and the cat takes off running and hides out. I find it funny, but she gets wicked guilty. He even picks up on the word in normal conversation, "I don't even know!" will get him nervous.

[Signe]

Lister runs away when we yell at Magenta but Magenta doesn't run away from anything.  You have to pick her up and move her while she looks at you like you're insane.  It makes me feel guilty when Lister bolts up the stairs, but sometimes you just have to shout.  Having said that, they're not naughty often.  At least what I consider naughty - I'm very, very liberal.  They basically can do pretty much what they like, barring go after food on the counter, go outside or something else dangerous.  We have scratching posts and stuff everywhere and they almost always use those things to scratch.

[Engels]

Boy, I wish our boy cat, Burger, would pay one lick of attention to anything we say. He sounds a bit like Signe's Magenta. Our girl cat, Artemis, listens and is pretty obedient, but the boy is a total hooligan. We have bought him various scratching posts and put them right by the door jamb that he uses to scratch (now will need to be replaced, there went our rent deposit), even done the whole gentle 'no' thing and taken his paws and rubbed them up and down the new posts. He either doesn't get it or doesn't give a rat's butt. Artemis, on the other hand, has used her scratch pad from day one.

She was the protective sibling, since their mom was a negligent and fairly psychotic mom that needed to be removed from the picture lest she end up hurting the two kittens. The boy's essentially lived under the protective care of his sister, and sorta thinks the rules don't apply to him. I'm probably anthropomorphizing this too much, but heck if I can come up with a better explanation.

[Samwise]

I read somewhere that you shouldn't scold them with their name, so I've trained Bart to respond to a firm "No."

I've got a book on cat behavior (written by a tiger trainer) that espouses the same theory.  The idea is that whatever you use to correct bad behavior shouldn't be the same thing you do when you want them to come to you (i.e. saying their name), and that it shouldn't scare or startle them (because then they're treating you as a predator to be fled rather than as a parent to be obeyed).

[Sky]

the door jamb that he uses to scratch (now will need to be replaced, there went our rent deposit)

Huh? The actual jamb or the trim strip? Either way, you should just fix it yourself, depending on what your rent deposit is. When I left my last rental, I did about $50 worth of replacements to get back my $400.

[voodoolily]

When my cats were babies, I trained them (using undergrad psychology!) by squirting them with a squirt gun coupled with a snap of my fingers. After a little while, I was able to drop the squirt gun and snapping still completely works.

the door jamb that he uses to scratch (now will need to be replaced, there went our rent deposit).

Heh, we just signed to pay $5K to have all of the flooring in our upstairs replaced (plus $200 in paint) thanks to my alpha male cat. He has sprayed every vertical surface in the guest room and hits the wall at the top of the stairs about once a week. It started getting worse when we had an influx of male cats move into our neighborhood. They're not aggressive, but they all think they live on our back deck.

[Engels]

er, sorry, ya, the trim strip.  I think at this stage nothing short of sanding and repainting professionally will make it look good. That, together with the repeatedly-vomited-on carpet (Artemis has this whole bulemic routine going on), I think we'll count ourselves lucky that they don't send a collection agency after us.

[Sky]

er, sorry, ya, the trim strip.  I think at this stage nothing short of sanding and repainting professionally will make it look good.

Painted? Oh hell, that's easy. Score the edges with a blade so you don't ruin the wall by pulling off paint/paper/caulk. Use a catspaw or claw of a hammer to pop out the nails and just replace the trim, cost you maybe a buck or two at a home center. Slap some paint on it, it's a rental so you don't have to be Monet.

I admit I'm getting a bit nuts since I bought the house. I was at my mom's for mothers day and ended up fixing a switch that was improperly installed and made plans to replace a couple receptacles in the living room. Getting OCD about that kind of thing. I've been setting aside an hour a day to get small projects around the house done, tonight I will install a couple new dome lights and get rid of the eeevil round fluorescents in my front room. Also have to price some new baseboard heaters and measure out the corner for a built-in bookcase. But try to limit it to an hour. Having EQ2 canceled helps!

[Engels]

I'm pretty sure the 'strip' is glued into place. Or the nails have been so well painted over there's no evidence of 'em. I think I'm using the right term...The wide (3-4 inch) border along both top and sides of any door frame.

[Sky]

Ok, score the border like I said, then slip a 6" putty knife into the gap carefully. Then use a flatbar to pry the trim away, the putty knife will protect the wall (I learned that trick after I removed the trim in my living room). It is probably nailed, but the finish nails are small and probably were set in with a nail set and puttied over before they painted.

[MahrinSkel]

I've always trained my cats to respond to finger snaps and hand claps.  Cats have sensitive hearing and the concussion of clapping your hands together hard is generally punishment enough to get their attention and make them stop what they're doing.  Then they learn that finger snaps come right before the headache-inducing pop, and it gets a lot easier.

--Dave