I am all for better living through chemistry. I have two former ferals that dislike being restrained for things like nail trims. They get 100mg gabapentin (mixed in wet food) an hour or so before intended nail trim and it’s much easier/less stressful for everyone involved.
[QUOTE=peedin;8618994]
I will purchase kitty nail clippers (recommendations please?) [/QUOTE]
I use the ones shown in the link from DakotaTA’s post (the scissor - type).
[QUOTE=horsenut_8700;8619233]
I am all for better living through chemistry. I have two former ferals that dislike being restrained for things like nail trims. They get 100mg gabapentin (mixed in wet food) an hour or so before intended nail trim and it’s much easier/less stressful for everyone involved.[/QUOTE]
I was hesitant to mention sedation. I’m not opposed to it. I’m going to feed her in the carrier and if she gets used to it, pop her to the vet’s. If she refuses to eat, on to Plan B.
[QUOTE=peedin;8619453]
I was hesitant to mention sedation. I’m not opposed to it. I’m going to feed her in the carrier and if she gets used to it, pop her to the vet’s. If she refuses to eat, on to Plan B.[/QUOTE]
Generally speaking, sedated plus restrained for a quick trim at home is going to be much less traumatic for her than taking her to the vet.
I’m of no help on nail trimming, as I have my struggles with that as well with my brood (they are all perfect angels for the vet to do it…)
But, for refusal of getting in a carrier I do have a possible suggestion. My Mia refuses to go in a carrier (I have several types), and for our regular vet trips I just put her in a harness and leash and carry her (but driving is a pain because she wants to be on my lap or under my feet). When she needed surgery at the university hospital, I had to come up with another way to contain her for the 2 hour drive and the city - so I got a plastic tub at Target (it’s supposed to be for files) and drilled holes all through the top for air. I left it sitting in the house with a blankie for several weeks so it would smell familiar, and then I just picked her up and put her in and closed it several times before the actual day.
She’s not scared of anything, she’s quite the princess, and she will go for rides in the laundry basket any chance she can get - so I just needed the top load access. But it might be worth a shot - my plastic tub is all clear, so she can see out (good for Mia as she’s quite the busy body) and she did the trip down and back twice just fine. She was contained (the lid was securely latched, otherwise, I would have bungied it) and there were no fights involved. And as a bonus, I think it cost around $11 and a bit of time to drill the holes so it is the cheapest cat carrier I have!
Good luck!
I can’t carry her into the car. She tolerates me holding literally her for 5 seconds (I have timed it). I have lots to think about. I also had the bright idea of a mobile pet groomer. I perhaps am carrying this to the extreme…
Does she sit on your lap? I make a practice of gently handling my kitties’ feet every time they are on my lap. They learn to like a foot massage so nail trimming of s no big deal. Also make sure the clippers are sharp so its done quickly and cleanly.
Gabapentin isn’t true sedation- just takes the edge off. I think sedation is better that having a traumatic experience. I have one dog who gets heavily sedated with Acepromazine for nail trims- it’s not worth it to me to traumatize her every time it needs to be done, and no amount of desensitization has made her any happier about having her feet handled.
[QUOTE=syreino;8619581]
I got a plastic tub at Target (it’s supposed to be for files) and drilled holes all through the top for air. I left it sitting in the house with a blankie for several weeks so it would smell familiar, and then I just picked her up and put her in and closed it several times before the actual day.
She’s not scared of anything, she’s quite the princess, and she will go for rides in the laundry basket any chance she can get - so I just needed the top load access. But it might be worth a shot - my plastic tub is all clear, so she can see out (good for Mia as she’s quite the busy body) and she did the trip down and back twice just fine. She was contained (the lid was securely latched, otherwise, I would have bungied it) and there were no fights involved. And as a bonus, I think it cost around $11 and a bit of time to drill the holes so it is the cheapest cat carrier I have!
Good luck![/QUOTE]
That is brilliant!
No, she does not sit on my lap. I have been touching her feet ever since she came home and she’s no better for it.
Update. Still have not been able to trim her claws. Tonight she got a claw stuck in the carpet, freaked out, pulled back, and started screaming. I finally got her loose after visions of her ripping a toe out. Adrenaline took over. I bunged her in the carrier and took her to the vet. Under $10 to get her claws done. She is now sulking under the bed.
And she has gained almost2 pounds since January so I have to cut down her kibble ration. But not tonight. I don’t want her to be extra mad…
