First Time Trying To Tame A Feral/stray

[WonderY]

If we don't hear from you, we'll send out the coast guard...or is that the cats'st guard? If he's letting you massage his toes, you're probably going to have pretty good luck with the clippers. Let him look at and sniff the clippers, and lay them down so he can investigate, then give it try!

Lordy! You are a bundle of optimism!! I will try and do as you say. Feel a bit better knowing the coast guard is at bay. But seriously I will be sweating my donkeys off...those nails of his are pushing a Guiness record for curvature.

 

[orange&white]

Be very relaxed. I think cats sometimes freak out about their "manicures" because we humans expect it to be a struggle. The cat senses our "sweating donkeys" and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Just remember you don't have to clip his claws right at that moment, so you can relax. If he gets annoyed just tell him, "Ok, we'll try again later. Good kitty," and just leave him be for awhile until he's relaxed again.

 

[maggiedemi]

Here's the link to the grooming bag. I had to order X-Large because my cats are 18 inches long! I haven't put them in it yet, but it seems pretty easy. I might even take them for their vaccinations in it because the bottom unzips. What brand of cat nail clippers should I get?
Cat-in-the-bag E-Z-Zip Cat Carrier​

 

[WonderY]

Here's the link to the grooming bag. I had to order X-Large because my cats are 18 inches long! I haven't put them in it yet, but it seems pretty easy. I might even take them for their vaccinations in it because the bottom unzips. What brand of cat nail clippers should I get?
Cat-in-the-bag E-Z-Zip Cat Carrier​

Wow, that is some contraption! Great idea just not sure how it will actually work. Do you have the cat lie down on it and then zip around them? When you try it out, please let me know. As for the clippers...I have used the Four Paws nail clippers mini with the safety blade. I checked chewy and they don't have the orange type ones (original) that are really good (walmart has it)...if you pick something else, just be sure to get with a safety blade..makes the guessing game easier and less bloody...and then some.

 

[WonderY]

Bawk bawk...I chickened out! But at least I'm alive! He was doing so wonderful today with coming upstairs and playing all around the 1st floor with his pole that I didn't have the heart or balls to attempt to set him back a few days if things didn't go well with clipping 1 or 2 nails. I thought it just wasn't worth it...not yet. He was a madman in the kitchen (as the picture shows of his eyes...gotta zoom), flipped up a rug, grappled along the fridge and ended up under the dining table! He would eat and then immediately travel back upstairs. He didn't come up to bed last night but I think I figured out why. We left our dog downstairs and sometimes he sleeps on the stairs landing therefore blocking the access up. Tonight, dog will be in our sons room and we'll see how it goes.....

 

[WonderY]

Playtime=wildtime

 

[orange&white]

Little Wild Man Silo is soooooo handsome!!!

Good thing to just trust your good instincts about when to try clipping the claw tips.

 

[WonderY]

Little Wild Man Silo is soooooo handsome!!!

Good thing to just trust your good instincts about when to try clipping the claw tips.

Thanks Orange! Perhaps my instincts were just to not visit an ER today..

 

[orange&white]

I agree. ER is the best way to totally trash an otherwise perfectly good Sunday.

 

[maggiedemi]

Ha, Silo's eyes look really wild in that photo. Glad to hear he is coming upstairs and playing so much...From the videos I watched, I guess the cat bag just goes over their heads, then it looks pretty easy to just put over them. The back part is supposed to be really comfortable and roomy, like a cat sleeping bag so they can relax. I'm hoping it will be easier to put their Frontline on them now and pill them with their de-worming pills...Is this the right nail clipper? It says for cats:
Four Paws Ultimate Touch Cat Claw Clipper

 

[rubysmama]

I'm not sure about that cat bag. I watched the video, and the black cat they showed trying to shove into the cat carrier, was not the cat they showed easily getting into the cat bag. I struggle getting Ruby into her carrier, and I KNOW getting her into that cat bag, with not be easy. But it might work for some cats.

Silo looks gorgeous, albeit a little ̶w̶i̶l̶d̶ playful in that photo.

 

[maggiedemi]

Well I got the huge Xtra large one, so it should be okay, they won't feel stuffed in there...I need something, I have trouble keeping them wrapped in a towel, they always get away.

 

[maggiedemi]

Try holding 2 former feral cats in a towel and then try to use your other hand to do the Frontline or Drontal. It just can't be done. And nobody wants to hold 2 former ferals for me, they are afraid of being scratched. So I'm in it alone, I need the bag to hold them while I'm doing all the other stuff. This stuff has to be done for my cats' health, I had to find a solution quick and this is the only bag that will fit them, they are really long cats.

 

[rubysmama]

M maggiedemi I hope it works for you and your cats.

 

[maggiedemi]

If not, you can come over and hold them for me.

 

[WonderY]

I agree. ER is the best way to totally trash an otherwise perfectly good Sunday.

Ha, Silo's eyes look really wild in that photo. Glad to hear he is coming upstairs and playing so much...From the videos I watched, I guess the cat bag just goes over their heads, then it looks pretty easy to just put over them. The back part is supposed to be really comfortable and roomy, like a cat sleeping bag so they can relax. I'm hoping it will be easier to put their Frontline on them now and pill them with their de-worming pills...Is this the right nail clipper? It says for cats:
Four Paws Ultimate Touch Cat Claw Clipper

Thanks! Unfortunately today since I came home from work at 5pm, he's been down in the basement, barely touched his food and my tiny daughter told me, yep...grandma might have scared him...dear heavens!!!! My hubs suggested we put in a camer just to see...not a bad idea. Ok, moving on to you...when are you going to try the bag carrier? It makes sense to me...I just would worry they will flip out, zipped up with just a head sticking out? You're a brave soul! All of that for you. Those aren't the clippers I've used and also those don't have a safety blade but if you're good at it, you may not need it...I'll try to attach the ones I've used for years...here goes...https://www.walmart.com/ip/Four-Paw...94089&wl11=online&wl12=23084324&wl13=&veh=sem

 

[WonderY]

If not, you can come over and hold them for me.

How about we just make it a feral party and bring everyone? I'll takes bets on how long each of us survives?

 

[WonderY]

I am going to sound like a broken record....Silo is behind the toilet!! I went to work and my mom came over! The fishing pole is wrapped up differently than I always do it...(doesn't take a genius). What am I to do?? My husband initially suggested putting up a camera and then, I think a better idea to have my daughter stay in her space for the few hours thereby totally eliminating mom from the cat situation. I have to ponder it because my daughter has all her toys and what nots here...but I'm hoping me tomorrow and maybe I'll just bring some of her stuff up to my moms spot...otherwise it really will be 1 step forward and 50 steps back...

 

[maggiedemi]

It sounds like your mom really likes cats, if she can't resist playing with Silo for even one day. Is there any way she could be taught to "play nice" or play the right way so she doesn't scare him?...Oh, I am the biggest procrastinator when it comes to trying the cat bag. Since I'm already 13 days late putting on their Frontline, I might as well wait until the first of next month. Then I'll try clipping their nails too while they are in there. I'm not worried about Demi, he's pretty tame now. But Maggie, who knows how she'll react. But whatever happens, it has to be better than the towel method. It should be pretty comfy, I got the huge Maine Coon size bag. I'll try to get some pics of them while they are in it.

 

[dustydiamond1]

I've bought several sets of nail clippers but I've found just plain old human fingernail clippers work the best. She just has to be in her 'melted butter state'.