>>I would like to attempt to trim my two cats' nails and am having some major apprehension about doing this. I have a female who is about 1yr and a male who is about 5 mos. They have very different temperaments: Molly, the 1yr old, is very timid about being touched around the paw area. Only rarely, when she is extremely relaxed and sleepy - does she let me handle her paws. She has actually developed a skin eritation on the pads of her front paw (we suspect from overgrooming) and needed to have a powdered medication applied to help it heal. This might be why she is so hesitant to let me handle her paws. Ziggy, on the other hand is so relaxed and slack, and therefore easy to handle. He loves to get his paws stroked. I am more nervous about Molly. I would probably entertain the option of taking Molly to the vet to have it done - but worry that even they would not be able to handle her; and might suggest anesthetizing (hope not). Any suggestions? Also - other than the potential to shred furnitute or clothes - does NOT clipping their claws do more harm to a cat?

Supply plenty of scratching posts and you shouldn't have a problem. Get Ziggy started now on the nail trimming while he is young. You should start on tooth brushing too. Molly may le you handle her paws more once her irritation clears up. I have one cat who had frostbitten pads when I rescued him and he is very paw shy now. So I have to have hubby hold him firmly while I grasp the paw and trim the nails. I do get whopped quite a bit. LOL. Not trimming the claws will allow them to get very long and curved under and easily snagged on clothes and furniture and carpeting and can cause the cat to pull nail out. Not to mention their sharp claws digging into soft flesh. Ouch. I do keep my cats claws trimmed. We have grooming sessions every 2 weeks. I have never seen a cat need to be anesthesized for claw trimming. The vet or vet techs know how to properly restrain the cat while trimming.
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Dottie
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