Cat of The Week

General

By Craig / August 6, 2018

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This week’s Cats Of The Week is Binx, he come submitted to us by his human Mikaela and we thank her for the submission!

As you can see below, Binx also loves snoozing in random beds like most cats, this one was made of a suit case!

We thank Mikaela for submitting Binx!! To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 5 photos (feel free to send more!) and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Cat of The Week

General

By Craig / July 30, 2018

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This week’s Cat Of The Week is Mushi and Mushi comes submitted to us by Reddit user Kosmosnoetos! We thank her for the submission!

Mushi was adopted on June 18th, 2013 and the name is derived from the Kanji “虫” which means “insect” or “bug” in Japanese. The reason this name was chosen for her is because she was so tiny and always getting into things! Though she didn’t stay tiny for long, she did retain that character trait of always finding herself in sticky situations!

Mushi is leash trained and enjoys going for long walks with her owners, unless it starts raining! Once she decided to climb up the side of a tree right outside of their door to escape rain drops instead of just turning around and going back inside! For those of you who don’t have any luck leash training your cats (mine are afraid of the leash) you can try an space capsule backpack like I did!

Mushi can also be very demanding. She’s super talkative and is not afraid to state her opinion and do whatever it takes to get her way.

Whether she wants kibbles, treats, or attention, you can bet that no matter what she’ll get what she’s looking for! She has learned that her human’s boyfriend and her get up at different times during the morning. She knows that if she cries and acts like she hasn’t been fed that she has the potential to be fed twice! On a side note, my kitties do the same and we started using an automatic feeder to help!

Her human’s don’t think she’s learned that we can just ask each other if she’s been fed yet! Mushi is still purrfecting her English language skills.

At the end of the day despite always wanting her own way and independence shes down for a nice calm cuddle session. She’s always right between her humans when they go to sleep. Reminds me of my cat Beastling, she loves sleeping next to my side which makes me hot as can be so I had to get her a bed to keep her warm in the winter!

She has a very strong intuition to sense when we are sad or distressed. Mushi has a large family. A mom, dad, and grandparents. They all love her dearly, she’s made a huge impact on all of their lives and she’s a better friend than we could have ever asked for!

We thank Kosmosnoetos for submitting Mushi! To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 5 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Clippers

Product Reviews

By Craig / July 27, 2018

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Cats scratch things. It is instinctual. You can either have a cat that scratches or you should probably not have a cat.  But proper cat nail care will both decrease the damage caused by scratching and minimize the amount your cat scratches.

To properly care for your cat’s nails you’re going to need clippers. There are several different kinds and a laundry list of manufacturers out there. This article will show you the best cat nail clippers available and why to use one versus another.

Pet Republique Professional Cat Nail Clippers

Pet Republique has been in the pet grooming space for a good long time. This set of cat nail clippers is one of their flagship products and there’s a reason for that…they work great and they are dirt cheap. They’ve amassed well over 1000 Amazon reviews with an average of 4.5 stars.

Key items worth noting on this particular model:

• They are made of high quality stainless steel blades that are both strong and sharp (and will stay that way for years).
• Because the blades are high quality you’ll get a clean cut that won’t splinter your cat’s nails.
• The handles are designed to be nonslip to ensure you don’t lose your grip even if your pet squirms while you are clipping.
• These also carry a 30 Days money back guarantee and a 2 year warranty!

Find the Best Deal

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Resco Guillotine Style Cat Clippers

Resco invented the guillotine style nail trimmer in 1937 and has proudly manufactured them in the USA ever since. When a product has been around for over 80 years and it is still going strong you know that it gets the job done. They key feature with guillotine style clippers is that they aren’t throw away like scissor style. Replacement blades are easily purchased and inserted in minutes.

A few other things worth noting about these guillotine clippers:

• The blades are also micro-honed to ensure they are sharp as can be and don’t crush the nail.
• They feature a loop to place the nail before cutting which ensures an extremely clean cut.
• Resco products do feature a lifetime warranty so if you’re unhappy or it breaks you can replace it free.
• You can easily replace the blade when it gets dull without having to buy all new clippers.

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Safari Pet Products Professional Nail Trimmer

With over 5,000 Amazon reviews and an average rating of 4.6 stars on Amazon you know you’re getting an awesome and well respected product by Safari. These guys are also responsible for a laundry list of other cat grooming products from de-shedding tools to hair clippers and so on.

There are a few great pros worth noting on this model:

• It has a built in safety stop which can help ensure you don’t cut too much or too far.
• The reverse is spring-loaded so once you release the sturdy locking mechanism the blades come open and ready for use.
• The handles are nice and grippy so it won’t slip resulting in a botched nail clipping.
• They are stainless steel so they’ll never rust and won’t require sharpening for a long time.

One last note, be sure you order the small version, large is way too big for a cat.

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OmegaPets Cat Nail Clippers

The OmegaPet cat nail clippers are another solid pair of clippers that offer a quick and painless trimming experience for you and your cat. They are also very lightweight, but sturdy enough to stand up to plenty of trimming sessions.

There are a few specifics worth noting with these:

• The blades are made of precision engineered stainless steel for clean cuts every time.
• They require minimal pressure for a great cut because the blades are extremely sharp.
• It has a built in safety lock to keep the blades together and away from children.

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Shiny Pet Cat Nail Clippers

Shiny Pet brings to the table another excellent set of cat nail clippers. These clippers are professional grade and come it at a very low price to ensure you can provide a nice smooth trimming experience for your cat.

Key features worth noting on this set of clippers:

• These clippers are fitted with razor sharp blades made out of stainless steel.
• They also feature an ergonomic handle made out of 100% recycled plastic to minimize waste.
• The grips are finished with a slip-proof coating that ensures a secure grip to prevent painful accidents.
• If you’ve never clipped your cat’s nails they also include a useful ebook (you can read my post how to clip your cat’s nails here).
  

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Trim Pet Nail Clipper and File Combo

Trim Pet brings a combination clipper and file to the market in this package. While you’ll rarely find yourself using a nail file on a cat this may be a good option for you if you have multiple pets. Trim Pets indicates these clippers easily accommodate cats, dogs and rabbits too.

The key features worth noting on this model are:

• These clippers were designed for veterinarians that work with multiple animal types each day and don’t want individualized clippers.
• They include razor sharp tempered stainless steel blades with a safety guard to minimize cutting too much.
• Handles are ergonomically designed to ensure comfort for you while you trim.
• There’s a strong spring built into the clippers to put them right back in ready mode after each clip.
• The spring features a pinch guard to ensure your fingers don’t get stuck in it.

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JW Pet Company Deluxe Nail Trimmer for Cats

JW Pet company brings another guillotine style set of cat nail clippers to the market. The key difference between these and the Resco model is the construction material. JW Pets has focused on a super grippy set of handles to ensure nothing slips. The only drawback to this design is the clippers don’t allow blade replacements like the Resco model.

A few items worth noting about this model:

• It is constructed with a non-slip handle engineered for comfort with an ergonomic design
• It makes trimming your cats nails safe and stress free with the loop for the cat’s nail to hold it steady.
  
• It provides solid clean cuts, but it does not allow for blade replacement and all blades dull with time.
  

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Epica’s Professional Grade Cat Nail Clippers

Epica has become one of the most well respected names in cat grooming because of excellent set of clippers they’ve put on the market. They’ve racked up nearly 4000 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of over 4.8 stars. That’s quite the feat given the high expectations of most pet owners for their money!

Key features worth noting on these clippers are:

• It’s easy to make a precise and safe cut with the semi-circular blades that the Epica model uses.
• You can see exactly where you’re cutting  so there’s no guessing and missing.
• Epica uses high-grade stainless blades that maintain a sharp edge and won’t dull easily, this makes clipping nails effortless.
• The handles are coated in extra grippy rubber to minimize slippage and botched clippings.
• Your clippers are always in safety mode when you aren’t using them because there’s a super simple safety latch.
  
• Epica also includes a 100% lifetime warrant. If you’re unhappy you can get your money back!

Be sure to order the small/medium size from the available options. The large size is far too big for a cat!

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Whisker Wishes Veterinarian Grade Cat Nail Clippers

Whisker Wishes has an excellent set of cat nail clippers here. They come in at a great mid range price for clippers and these are specifically designed for cats. You can usually note the specific design for cats based on the two loops for your fingers to fit in.

Cat nails don’t tend to require as much pressure as dog nails where you’ll see clippers that look more like hedge clippers or pruning shears. That’s not to say those won’t work just fine, they are just designed for multi-pet use.

Key notes for the Whisker Wishes Model:

• High quality stainless steel blades make for clean cuts every time and no chance of rust.
• The grip is designed to hold firmly even if your cat moves around, this ensures you get a stable cut and avoid any bad experiences.
• Handles are designed to accommodate both right and left handed individuals.
• They come in at a great mid range price and do an awesome job.

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Dremel Rotary Cat Nail Grooming Tool

If you’re not into manual effort and you’d rather try an electric option then the Dremel might be just for you. This is a grinder, not a clipper. So basically it rotates really quickly and slowly grinds away your cat’s nails.

You’ll also definitely need to keep in mind that this is much louder than any form of manual clippers. If your cat doesn’t like loud noises this isn’t going to go over well unless you spend adequate time acclimating your cat first.

This product features a couple of key items worth noting:

• It has two different rotary speeds so you exercise far more control over the grinding process.
• It is recommended to use the slow speed to minimize noise and provide more control.
• It is battery operated so there are no pesky cords for your kitty to chew on, battery and battery charger included.
• Dremel made this tool out of super sturdy high density plastic so it’ll last through falls and drops.
• There are a wide variety of sanding bands you can consider for different speeds of grinding the nails away. Recommendation is 240 grit.

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How Do I Clip My Cat’s Nails?

I have written a comprehensive post on this topic right here. Be sure to check it out if you have any general how to questions.

You can also check out the below video which is an excellent resource with a veterinarian teaching you how to clip  cat’s nails.

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What Types of Clippers Are There?

There are three major types of nail clippers on the market for cats. You’ll want to select your option based on the age of the cat and also based on the frequency with which you plan to clip your cat’s nails:

• Guillotine clippers: Similar to the actual guillotine these use an entry slot for the nail and when you squeeze the handles together it shoves a single sharp blade forward to cut the nail.
  • Pros:
    • They provide a really clean cut, especially when the blade is sharp.
    • You can easily buy replacement blends and drop them in yourself.
  • Cons: It can really tough to get nails into the slot
• Scissor clippers: They look just like scissors, pretty straight forward. You can get them in various sizes. You’ll want to use smaller clippers for smaller/younger cats and larger ones for bigger or older cats that get trimmed less often. The clippers used in step 3 are scissor style clippers.
  • Pros: It is far easier to get a nail into scissor clippers than guillotine clippers, they are far easier to maneuver.
  • Cons:
    • If you don’t squeeze very firmly and quickly there’s more likelihood you won’t get a clean cut.
    • Getting them sharpened is difficult. You usually have to simply buy a new set of clippers when they get dull.
• General multi-pet clippers: Multi pet clippers will easily handle clipping your cat’s nails, but they are specifically designed for cats. They’ll look similar to pruning shears. They tend to be a little more heavy duty as they are designed to also accommodate dog nails.
  • Pros: A single model will work for multiple pets (dogs/cats/birds/etc.).
  • Cons: They can be a little large and bulky for cat nails.

I personally use scissor clippers for both of my cats. I normally trim my cat’s nails while someone else holds the cats which makes it easier no matter what type of clippers you decide on.

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How Often Should I Clip My Cat’s Nails?

My experience is that if your cats are pretty religious about scratching to sharpen their nails up then you’ll probably need to trim them about every two weeks or so.  If you wait much longer than two weeks you’ll start to see your cats nails turn into talon like razor blades.

When your cats are younger, especially kitten aged, I would highly recommend trimming them even more often. Once a week followed up by treats is a great way to help build a positive experience around trimming quickly.

You might even want to consider only trimming one paw at a time over a few days while they are young and rewarding them with treats each time. The positive reinforcement works wonders with cats.

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How Do I Get My Cat Used to Nail Clipping?

The frequency section above touches lightly on this, but the more often you trim your cat’s nails the more likely they are to get used to it. I highly recommend starting young if you adopt a kitten. Trim often and reward your kitten often.

If you’ve already got an adult that dislikes or at least doesn’t tolerate trimming well you can explore a few options.

• First and foremost you’ll want to get your cat familiar with the clippers so they aren’t simply afraid when they see them. To do this be sure to leave the clippers in a place that your cat frequents. In her bed or on a place she sleeps often is ideal. This means the clippers will not only acquire her scent, but she’ll be familiar with their sight and associate them with something she likes (sleeping).
• This step may sound silly, but it does work! Next you’ll want to develop familiarity with the sound of clipping. Your cat often can’t actually see what you’re doing while you’re clipping and sometimes new sounds can frighten your feline friend. Cutting pieces of raw uncooked spaghetti near your cat while she’s doing something she enjoys can help associate the sound with a positive experience.

• Last but not least be sure to gradually trim nails if your cat is already afraid or dislikes it.  You might only trim one paw at a time or you might want to trim only a couple of nails before letting your cat scamper off and providing some treats.

This can be a very gradual process. Be sure to give yourself time and be sure to stay dedicated to it. Most cats will never enjoy having their nails trimmed, but tolerating it without scratching or biting you is a huge step in the right direction!

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Should I Clip My Kittens Nails?

As mentioned above you should definitely clip your kitten’s nails. When your cat is young it is the best time to teach them new things about life. Not only are they far more impressionable at this age, but they are also far easier to handle given their size.

This gives you multiple advantages over the long term. The sooner you start educating your kitten on the process the sooner he or she will get used to it and let it happen with minimal complaint!

One consideration that you may need to take into account is that kitten nails are much much smaller than their adult counterparts. Because of this traditional clippers may not be the right choice for their nails. You may want to consider a good high quality set of human nail clippers for your kitten while she is young.

Note you should never human clippers on an adult cat because they aren’t designed to cut through a nail of that thickness. This means that it could easily ‘shatter’ the nail instead of clip it which can be very painful for your cat.

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What Other Things Should I Consider?

Always Be Careful of the Quick

The quick is a part of the nail that has numerous nerve endings and pumps blood into the nail. You can see it if you look closely because it is clearly a different color from your cat’s nail. Note this is incredibly dangerous and painful to cut so you have to be extra careful.

If you do happen to mistakenly cut the quick then your cat’s nail will bleed pretty much immediately. I highly recommend having a styptic powder or gel nearby. This will ensure that you can quickly stop the bleeding. I would also recommend you immediately cease clipping until you can find another time to start.

Dress To Impress

Be sure to dress intelligently for clipping your cat’s nails. You don’t need anything terribly unique, but you’ll definitely want to wear long sleeves and multiple layers. Don’t just approach it wearing a t-shirt or a spaghetti strap shirt for you ladies.

This will ensure if your cat’s claws claws do come out you’ve got a few layers between those sharp claws and your skin. I personally wear a hoodie and jeans and then I like to put a small blanket in my lap when we clip Lexi and Beast.

If you’re working with a cat that is extremely unhappy you may want to wear pot mitts or even farm style protective gloves.

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What Alternatives Are There?

If you’ve read anywhere that declawing your cat is a viable option then you’ve heard incorrectly. Declawing a cat is incredibly inhumane for numerous reasons, but it is also liable to cause your cat numerous health and behavioral problems over the long haul.

If you’re uncomfortable or unable to clip your cat’s nails yourself then there are a few things worth considering:

• Scratching Surfaces: Cats need to scratch something and it is best to provide surfaces designed for it. Otherwise they are likely to scratch up things you don’t want them to (like your couch). Providing numerous surfaces in areas they frequent ensures they can constantly shed the out layers of their nails.
• Groomers: A trip to the groomer is another way to get your cat’s nails trimmed. Admittedly, if they don’t like you clipping their nails they probably won’t be thrilled about the groomer either. But, if you need to take them for a haircut or a trim then the groomer can definitely trim their nails for you.
• Your Veterinarian: Most vets offices will provide a free clipping (and sometimes even a bit of a trim) if you ask them to do it at the end of a visit. This is a nice easy way to get a quick trim done by a team of professionals that basically handle cats all day every day.

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Wrapping It Up On the Best Cat Nail Clippers

Clipping your cat’s nails should be a part of your normal care routine for your feline friend. There are a wide variety of options available when it comes to the clippers you put to use, but no matter what you use you should ensure they are always sharp.

Sharp clippers make sure that when you clip you’ll have nice clean cuts that are unlikely to damage your cat’s nails so that you both have the best experience throughout the whole situation.

If you’re unable to clip your cats nails be sure there are plenty of good scratching surfaces available and consider an alternative like taking your cat to a groomer or asking your veterinarian to perform a clipping during each visit (most do it for free!). You shouldn’t let your cat go without clipping for too long as it can start to make it tough for them to walk.

Whichever option you choose definitely leave a note in the comments below to tell us how it worked out for you!

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

References:ASPCA, Humane Society, Resco Pet Products

Cat of The Week

General

By Craig / July 23, 2018

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This week’s Cats Of The Week are Luna and Lyra, they come submitted to us by Reddit user LyrunaCats and we thank him for the submission!

Luna and Lyra are from the same litter, but LyrunaCats didn’t get them at the same time.  He had Luna first from a family friend when she was 8 weeks old (at the time we thought that she was the last in the litter to be adopted).   He had the week off work when he picked her up so that week was mostly spent playing with her and making her feel at home.

When he returned to work he started to feel guilty that she was alone in the house for a few hours and started to think about getting another one to keep her company. (Good call!!! Cats do much better when adopted in pairs, especially as kittens!)

While browsing Facebook he came across a post that his family friend had put on saying she had one cat left. With the photo included he knew instantly that we would have to take her.  The next day he picked her up and named her Lyra, and the two sisters were reunited.

At first things were a little hard, it seemed they had forgotten they were sisters in the time they were separated so they would fight rough with lots of hissing and growling.  As a result of this they had to keep them separated for the first few days and only bring them together under supervision.  Thankfully it didn’t take long before they became the best of friends and like sisters again.  When he walked into our spare room and found them cuddled together sleeping in bed it was a very happy time for their human friends (see the picture?!?!)!

They will be two years old in September and are still inseparable. They still like to have play fights and are always chasing each other about the house.  They love chasing the laser pointer or trying to catch any bugs that get in.  Our home has cat toys everywhere (it can be hard to walk around at night without stepping on any!) and a few cat tunnels and a large cat climbing frame which they love climbing on and sleeping in the little pods on it.

Both of them are indoor cats but they recently had a ‘catio’ built with a run connecting it to a shed (that was built to hold birds by the previous owner, but they figured they could use it for the cats rather than demolish it) so Luna and Lyra can get some fresh air while remaining safe.

Although they are very similar in appearance (their faces are the easiest way to tell who’s who, Luna has the lighter nose, Lyra has the Black nose), they have very different personalities.  Luna is the more cautious of the pair, when someone new visits she will often hide from them and take her own time to come out and meet them (although she has been getting more comfortable around strangers lately).

She loves sitting on the highest point of the climbing frame so she can keep an eye on everything that’s going on.  Luna is always keeping herself clean by grooming herself and because of this her fur is very, very soft (One way to tell who’s who in the dark!). Another difference is that Luna has a loud purr and you can often hear her purring before you can see her.  Despite all the toys they have for her, she loves chasing paper balls or trying to catch some string.

Lyra on the other hand is very curious, she will often hang around visitors giving them a good sniff and getting some pets from them.  She loves getting into places where she shouldn’t be such as cupboards and drawers.  Lyra is a huge fan of treats, usually all you have to do is pick the bag up and she will hear it from almost anywhere in the house and come running.

Lyra’s favorite toy has to be the laser pointer, she knows the sound of the click of the button will begin looking for the laser straight away. Lyra also loves this little mouse we have that you can fill with catnip, we don’t give it to her that often but she goes nuts when it’s out (Luna doesn’t seem to be affected by catnip as much).

LyrunaCats says getting both cats was one of the best things he has ever done.  Both of them are very quiet and rarely meow for anything and they love to sleep in bed with their humans (lying in bed with two cats purring is so relaxing!).  They also seem to know when their humans are sick and will spend the day lying next to them to make sure they are ok!

LyrunaCats admits that before they had the cats he wasn’t really into them that much (his wife has been crazy for cats for a good few years), but since getting them he have become a crazy cat man! I can totally relate to that!

We thank LyrunaCats for submitting Lyra and Luna! To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 5 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

General

How to Guides

By Craig / July 16, 2018

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I travel often for work, almost every week. Given this I use cat sitting services frequently. Even if it is only for a day, it can be very tough leaving your animal.  This is true for you, your cats and for the sitter too. They are a part of the family after all.

So what ensures a positive experience while you’re away? I asked professional cat sitting companies to share their #1 tips to ensure everyone has a positive experience the next time you leave town.

Share they did! Below you’ll find tips from cat sitting businesses large and small. Their tips will ensure that you and your feline friends have a wonderful experience the next time you go out of town for a day or for two weeks.

The Top Four Tips From 17 Professional Cat Sitters

Below you’ll find these tips fleshed out in far more detail than in the infographic. I’ve taken the detailed tips and summarized them for ease! If you’d like to read the detailed tips right from the pros then scroll on down!

Tip #1: Conduct an In Person Meet & Greet

• Have the sitter that will be watching your cat come in advance and meet your cat
• It enables you to put a face to a name and you can hand the keys to the person that’ll be using them
• The meet and greet also gives your cat a chance to learn their scent and get familiar with it
• It enables you to show them around the house and call out areas of interest and quirks your cat has

Tip #2: Establish a Clear Communication Plan

• Be sure to tell your cat sitter the best way to get in touch with you (text, calls, emails, etc.)
• Between you establish a clear communication plan including frequency and a backup plan in case one method doesn’t work
• If you’d like pictures of your cats daily be clear about that, most sitters will accommodate (and are good photographers to boot!)

Tip #3: Leave Very Detailed Instructions

• Leave printed instructions that describe in detail what needs to be done for your cats each day
• This should include feeding schedule, water refills, litter scooping, hiding spots, brush locations, etc.
• If your cat has any medication or medical needs be sure to leave extra detailed instructions on this topic
• If there are other activities (mail, flowers, etc.) be sure to ask your sitter in advance, but include them on the list too
• Be sure to review your instructions between vacations as we all know our cats can change

Tip #4: Plan In Case of An Emergency

• Always plan for the worst just in case, even for a very short trip
• You could easily encounter flight cancellations or a need to extend your trip
• Buy and leave extra food, litter, medicine for your sitter to use in case your trip gets extended
• Provide an envelope of cash so if you get delayed your sitter can buy necessaries to take care of your cat(s)
• Be sure your cat carrier is visible or easily accessible and the location is noted in case it is needed
• Leave your veterinarian’s info (Name, Phone, Location) just in case your cat gets sick

The Incredibly Detailed Tips Are Below

Below you’ll find far more detailed tips and extensive expertise from the cat sitters that took their time to contribute. Some of the sitters decided to contribute expansive lists & details and others focused on the one key tip that has made or broken experiences in the past. They are all incredibly insightful.

There are an extensive number of tips below that did not make it to the infographic, but they are well worth reading to ensure you have a wonderful experience with your cat sitter.

You’ll find tips related to ensuring your cat has interactive toys, a comfy bed to sleep in and several on preparing your litter box and your kitchen before you leave. And if you’re an experienced cat owner you won’t be surprised to find Feliway in the mix as well.

You’ll also find that these tips range from one man/woman shops focused in a single neighborhood all the way up to huge teams of cat sitters covering whole cities. Be sure to check out their websites for more detail!

*An 18th cat sitter has now weighed in. If you’re interested in adding your tip please contact me at StuffCatsWant@gmail.com.

“Establish clear and seamless communication”

From the MeowSit Team

MeowSit says their #1 tip for cat owners to ensure the cats and the cat sitter have the best experience possible would be to establish clear and seamless communication.

It’s important to discuss all the pet care details (e.g. pet behaviors, feeding schedules, location of food items/toys, etc.), so that both parties have a clear understanding of the expectations of each visit. We love providing pictures and memos to our clients after each visit.

“Leave out a cat care kit on your counter or table so the sitter can find all the food and supplies…”

Emily at the Lakeview Petcare Team

The Lakeview Petcare team indicates you should leave out a cat care kit on your counter or table so the sitter can find all food and supplies. This means bowls, toys, brushes and anything else important.

Also leave a note of printed instructions. This ensures that every little detail is as close to as if you were home as possible. We all know cats love nothing more than a routine!

“Wear a t-shirt for a few days/nights and leave that shirt in an area your cat enjoys…”

From the Chicago Pet Sitters

Chicago Pet Sitters had three key recommendations for cat owners to ensure a smooth trip:

1. Before leaving wear a t-shirt for a few days/nights and leave that shirt in an area your cat enjoys. The scent will bring comfort while you are away.
2. Put a calming pheromone to use. It comes in a diffuser, spray and collar. Some people swear it works, some don’t think it does. I know several vets who use these in their offices, so it’s worth a shot.
3. Finally, leave a radio or TV on for your cat so they can hear voices. It may be nice to know there are people or the sounds of people nearby. We suggest NPR or a classical music station.

“Keep the cat’s routine as similar to their normal routine as possible…”

From Smart Paws Chicago

Smart Paws Chicago says that it always helps when the owner makes arrangements to keep the cat’s routine as similar to their normal routine as possible. Keeping feeding times the same and putting out toys they usually love helps keep the cats happy!

Cats are not a fan of change so new treats or toys are not a good idea when they’re already dealing with a change in routine.

“The number one element in a successful client/provider relationship is trust.”

From Karen at Cat Care by Karen

Cat Care By Karen provided several tips and indicated that each of these is equally important to a successful interaction:

The number one element in a successful client/provider relationship is trust.  You are handing over your house keys to someone you’ve probably just met for the first time.  You are asking that person to come into your home while you’re away, to care for your precious living creature.  So of course you’re going to have some apprehension.  How do you overcome that challenge?

• Research and Ask for Referrals: Read Yelp reviews and ask your veterinarian or favorite pet store clerk for their best referrals.  If you have friends with cats, ask them if they would refer their cat-sitter?  I’m insured and bonded, which is another layer of assurance.  When I was a Realtor in another state, I was also finger-printed and successfully passed a criminal background check.
• Ask How the Service is Run: Will the person who meets with you be the same person who comes to your home each time and performs all of the tasks?  What policies or restrictions does the service have?  For example, is service available every day of the year?  Are there additional charges for holiday or weekend visits?
• Arrange an In-Home, Pre-trip Meeting: This gives you a chance to make sure you’re comfortable with him/her.  You can also go over your care routine, hand off a set of working keys, and determine how — and how frequently — you would like to be updated while you are away.

“Written or printed instructions and details about your cat(s)…”

From Robin at Cats In the City

Cats in the City recommends a comprehensive set of recommendations broken into two key pieces:

1. Written or printed instructions and details about your cat(s) for the sitter including:
   • Your cat’s favorite hiding spots
   • Your itinerary so we know when you leave and return for routing purposes
   • Emergency contact info emailed to us before you leave, it should include a local person who also has house keys.
   • Vet name, address, and phone #
   • Best way to update you (email or text message)
2. Preparation of supplies for your trip + several days in case of a travel hiccup or emergency:
   • Fully stocked kitty supplies and kitty feeding instructions
   • $25.00 labeled emergency cash (to cover incidentals such as paid parking or if you run out of paper towels)
   • Cat carriers should be visible and easily accessible
   • A hand towel as we wash our hands a lot – upon entering your home, after handling food and dishes, after kitty litter scooping

“Turn on something like the National Geographic TV Channel…so they are not feeling lonely”

From Sylvie at The West Village Cat Sitter

The West Village Cat Sitter recommends pet parents turn on something like the National Geographic TV Channel for the cat to ensure they are not feeling totally lonely. Not only will it show a little bit of Light in the house but sound as well.

If you’re gone for an extended period of time they recommend using a timer from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. so your cat can sleep peacefully and also to ensure you don’t bother the neighbors (depending on how loud the volume is).

“Get as much information as possible – either at a meet and greet or through extensive notes”

From Heather at Paws on Pine

The #1 most important thing is to get as much information from the cat owner as possible- either at a meet and greet prior to the first visit or extensive notes about their fur family including feeding, favorite treats and toys, hiding spots etc. With that information, we can ensure the cats, their humans and our cat sitters have the best experience possible.

If a cat isn’t eating or needs a pill and won’t take the pill pocket or if its impossible to pill them by mouth, a can of tuna fish always helps in a pinch. Also knowing if they are a “runner” when the front door opens is usually good to know in advance.

Their favorite hiding spots are super important- we like to see (and of course interact) with our furry family during a visit but some are shy so its good to know where their favorite spots are in advance so we can find them to make sure they are ok.

“Hire a veterinary medical professional who is also a cat whisperer”

From Shanti at The AdvoCat

My tip would be for palliative kitties / or end of life stage / or chronic illness. Hire a veterinary medical professional who is also a cat whisperer to spend a a few hours with your beloved on a daily basis.  The investment is worth your piece of mind.

Twice daily visits are always recommended for cats if your sitter can not do sleep overs for non medical sits.

Also, have a neighbor check in, & on call for any emergency situations.

Be sure your sitter sends updates!

“Make sure you set up a consultation with your Pet Caregiver before the big day”

From the team at Pawfect Day

Our #1 tip for making trips away easier on your cat is to make sure you set up a consultation with your Pet Caregiver before the big day. Cats have so many different personalities and you want to sure your Pet Caregiver and cat are fully acquainted with you present.

This is less threatening than a stranger barging into your home without mommy or daddy present.

This is also a great opportunity to go over any hiding locations. Some cats get very creative! We once found a cat cuddled up under the comforter, in between the pillows.

Does your cat make a run for it when the door opens? Where do you want your sitter to discard the waste? Are there any special toys your cat likes? Any special treats?

You will also want to go over food, bowl location. Does your lock require a special jingle? Make sure the keys work before giving them to your sitter. If you have plant life, make sure to point them out, especially if you will be away for a long period of time.

Most importantly, if your kitty requires medication, it very important you review this with your sitter in advance.

This short meet and greet is a wonderful opportunity for your pet sitter to learn all about your furry baby!

“Make sure your contact information is up-to-date, especially emergency contact information.”

From Shelly at Tales of The Kitty

Make sure your contact information is up-to-date, especially emergency contact information.  Also, if your cat is on medication please check that we have the most current dosages and any constraints associated with the meds (i.e. insulin – how much and what time do you normally administer?)

The one we run into most often, which is most frustrating and so easily avoided:  Ensure you have enough litter and food to last throughout your scheduled visits.  This saves the client any supply pick up fee that may be assessed and makes your sitter happy.

“Make sure that you have enough supplies and have them readily available in their normal station.”

From Jordan at Jordan’s Pet Care

Our best tip to make sure everything goes smoothly for both cats and the cat sitter is to make sure that you have enough supplies and have them readily available in their normal “station.”

That way the pet sitter doesn’t have to go rummaging through cabinets stressing the cat out and the cat will likely get excited when they see the sitter going toward their normal food storage spot.

This will also expedite the process of feeding and leave more time for the sitter to play with the kitty, brush them, or just hang out and give them some extra TLC.

“If you had to boil it down to one thing … consistency! Cats are creatures of habit.”

From Linda and Rita at Just For Cats Pet Sitting

Letting your cat stay home for care is the best thing you can do, surrounded by their own toys, sights and smells. That’s why we are here and why Just For Cats Pet Sitting was started.

Our reservationist gets all of the information ahead of time like what the kitty eats, drinks, where things are, personality, maybe a favorite toy or even, “Fluffy might be shy at first but loves getting scratched behind the ear” and all of this goes into a file.

Then we pick the best kitty care specialist who goes on a meet and greet to get to know the client and the kitty and learn the routine to provide consistency. We assign one primary caregiver who will be the main caregiver on every visit.

If for some reason that caregiver was unable to go (vacation, etc.) and we had to assign a sub, that person will be on file as the sub to send in the future to provide consistency. That way they know the client and the kitty and know what to look for, what is normal and what is not normal.

So, I guess if you had to boil it down to one thing … consistency! Cats are creatures of habit, after all!

“Use a professional! Don’t use ‘hobby’ sitters and don’t use companies that hire independent contractors”

From Jill at Au Purrs

My tips would be more centered around finding a good cat sitter, and tips for owners on their own cats based on the amount of cats we see.

For instance— my feelings about litter/litter systems — the more complicated aka “helpful” they are, usually the harder they end up being to scoop/clean etc on a daily basis. Daily scooping is really the best way to deal with litter.

Since we are a legitimate business, we already have secured online profiles for clients to fill out with all their information and instructions, so *our* advice is as long as everything is in that profile, everything will be done as they like it.

My best advice would be — use a professional! Don’t use “hobby” sitters and don’t use companies that hire IC’s— use ones that hire employees (like they are supposed to) so that clients can rest assured their cats are in good hands and that they can count on the service being the same across the board, no matter what sitter— since when they are employees and not IC’s, the employees must adhere to the company’s policies and procedures.

If they are random people hired as contractors, those contractors can essentially do the visits they are assigned to any way they want. Professional companies should be insured, bonded, and registered with their city (county/state) as a business.

They should treat their employees well and have someone at the helm who is watching to make sure everything is carried out as it should be so that the client can enjoy their vacation. Use a professional! Is my best advice!

“A prior meeting should have occurred where the sitter and your cat had a chance to meet”

From Mike at Sparkle Cat Sitting

I’d say the best advice for a positive experience for both your cat and the cat sitter is multi-faceted. A prior meeting (the in-person Consultation) should have already occurred where the Sitter and your cat have had a chance to meet and create familiarity.

To add a little cushioning to the cats overall experience while the owner is gone, investing in Feliway diffuser plugin for the house helps calm cats. They are safe, with a money back guarantee. The best prices are on Amazon.

Lastly, never force interaction. Allow it to happen organically. Let kitty come to you, don’t go fishing her out from under the bed. She will feel more safe and confident with your presence.

“To ensure a smooth travel, be sure to give as much info as possible to the sitter”

From Kristin at Kristin’s Kitty Care

To ensure a smooth travel, be sure to give as much info as possible to the sitter:

• Location of food, toys, hiding spots, carriers (in case of on emergency)
• Veterinary information and an sealed envelope with your credit card number and a letter from you to authorize Care to your sitter.
• Enough food and supplies to last your whole trip and then some so you don’t feel rushed to buy supplies after returning from a trip.

“The most important ingredient for a successful cat sitting service would be communication with the client”

From Jose at Kitty In New York Cat Care Service

Regardless of the caregiver’s experience and love of cats (which we consider important traits in any cat sitter), the most important ingredient for a successful cat sitting service would be communication with the client.

Clients love to receive photo and video updates of their cats while they are away. They need fast replies from the caregiver. Lack of communication, slow replies and no photo/video updates or negative updates (how the cat did not eat or vomited, attacked them…) are the worst recipe for a cat sitting service.

Open communication, lots of photos and videos and fast replies are what clients look for when they contact us to care for their furry friends.

“The single most important tip…is high communication”

From Maureen at Cozy Cats and Daily Dogs

At Cozy Cats and Daily Dogs, the single most important tip to help us, our clients and feline friends have awesome visits is high communication. Since clients are the best ones to know their pets and their nuances or changes to routine, we encourage them to convey these to our office regularly.

This communication includes any updated (food/dietary, medical, alarm, vet or emergency contact change) information for each trip you schedule, both through our system electronically, and a note in the home, if possible.

What’s really helpful is if the note also reinforces where things are in the home (carrier, toys, litter) to help us to step in when you’re out, to be the eyes and ears for you! This way it’s more likely your cat(s) have a comfortable visit and and you’ll get the peace of mind you need.

And not to worry, at CCDD, we pride ourselves on responsiveness, so you’ll be getting the same high communication back from us!

Wrapping It Up

I’d like to personally thank all of the cat sitters that provided their time for this article. I know you all love cats and animals in general and I appreciate your generosity in helping the rest of us cat owners when we go away for a day or a week.

Cat sitters make our lives so much easier by giving us someone we trust to take care of out pets while we’re away. Your wisdom will certainly be applied to future encounters!

The tips these wonderful professionals have provided are a great resource to ensure that you have a positive experience with a cat sitter you hire in the future. And it’ll make sure your cat has an excellent experience too. If you have to break it down into 4 key areas to remember here’s the list:

1. Conduct a meet and greet in advance
2. Be sure to establish a clear communication plan
3. Leave very detailed instructions about your cat(s)
4. Plan for an emergency and leave extra supplies

Be sure to thank your sitters profusely for looking after your fluffy feline friends! If you have any additional tips please leave them in the comments below.

If you’re a professional cat sitter and would like to be featured in this article please email me at StuffCatsWant@gmail.com.

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Cat of The Week

General

By Craig / July 16, 2018

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This week’s Cat Of The Week is Felicia. She comes submitted to us by Reddit User PoofMoof1 and we thank her for the submission!

In high school PoofMoof1 lived in an area with a feral cat colony and one of her neighbors had an unfixed Siamese who fathered a few litters. Baby Felicia and her mother claimed their yard but would never allow anyone to come close to them.

As far as PoofMoof1 knows, Felicia was the only kitten from the litter as she never saw any other kittens. Unfortunately after a few months the mother suddenly disappeared. Felicia though, now older and able to care for herself, still hung around. Felicia started getting cat food tossed her way from her human friends and as the weeks went on she allowed them to get closer and closer until petting was finally possible.

From then on they’ve been the best of friends, so much so that people joke that Felicia’s human is actually the pet rather than the other way around! Felicia did have one litter of kittens before she had gotten comfortable enough with humans to be caught and spayed. She had two adorable kittens, a brother and sister, who now have lovely homes of their own.

Felicia is now 7 and over the years has gone from fearful of people and aggressive toward other animals to friendly with everyone and everything she meets. It took time but you would never know where she came from because she is so outgoing now. When she gets her Christmas pictures done everyone involved is always surprised at how relaxed of a cat she is.

She loves treats and will sit, stand, and give high fives for them. Her internal clock is perfect and she’ll let her human know when it’s 9 am or 9 pm so she can get her breakfast and dinner, usually before mom has even looked at the clock! She loves wrestling with the family dog and the family’s 6 month old daughter is crazy about her.

Every night she sleeps at the top of the bed on the pillows, but not before waking both her humans up up to give a few kisses. Every morning starts with purrs and more kisses as they wake up and begin the day. When their daughter takes a nap Felicia comes into the room to join in. Felicia also knows when her human friends are sick as she’ll curl up on their chests until they are feeling better.

Felicia is an indoor cat now but she still flexes her wild cat muscles chasing any bugs that dare cross her path. Her favorite game is to be chased around by her human friends or their dog. When she’s especially frisky she’ll turn around and chase back. The game always ends at her cat tower where she wraps her front paws around the post to paw at whoever is playing with her.

When she isn’t following her mom around she can be found relaxing in the window under the warmth of the sun or lounging on my pillow in bed. Her family absolutely adores this sweet little cat and could not ask for a better little friend. They are ever so proud to look back at how much progress she’s made and how she’s almost a different cat from 7 years ago.

What an adorable fur ball Felicia is! And quite the transition from growing up in the back yard to transitioning into such a family house cat! We thank PoofMoof1 for submitting Felicia! To submit your cat for Cat of the Week please send at least 5 photos and a description of at least 400 words to Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.

General

Health Care

How to Guides

By Craig / July 13, 2018

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Clipping your own nails is a pretty simple process, grab the clippers and a file and you’re good to go right?  On the other hand clipping your cat’s nails can be quite a different experience.

You might have a cat that dreads getting her nails clipped and bolts the second she hears you open the drawer where the clippers are. Or even worse you might have a cat that is a sleeping fur ball of ferociousness.

They’ll let you hold them quietly until you clip the first nail then they freak out and scratch the heck out of your arm! No fun for anyone, especially you and your cat.

So how do you go about ensuring that clipping your cat’s nails doesn’t become a hated experience that results in your cat hiding under the bed every time they see clippers pop out?

There are a lot of things you can do to ensure that your cat will not run off instantly, but they might even become used to getting her nails clipped and relax throughout the process. So check out the quick guide below and start wherever you need to!

Start From a Young Age

As with any habit you’d like to instill in your cat, if you can start from when they are a kitten then that is ideal.

Starting young makes your cat easier to handle and less likely for them to cause any serious injury and it gets them used to it before they are large and their little claws have turned into razor blades a quarter of an inch long.

Many of you will adopt cats that are already adults and you won’t have a chance to acclimate them to the process in the same way you would a kitten.

So let’s talk a little bit about an adult cat that isn’t yet used to getting their nails clipped.

Before You Start Clipping Know Your Cat’s Paws

If your cats are anything like mine, even though they are docile for the most part, they really don’t love having me touching their paws. Cat’s paws are unique in that they incredibly sensitive compared to our human feet shoved inside our shoes.

They are incredibly important to cats because without them they can’t hunt meaning they really can’t live. Given this they are very protective of their paws and likely to pull them back the second you touch them.

So let’s get started with getting your cat used to your touch. Take one of your cat’s paws between your fingers and give it a very gentle touch, if she is accepting then a light squeeze is ok to proceed with.

If your cat pulls her paw away simply let go and wait until she is still again. This may take some attempts before she is comfortable with you touching her paws at all. I’d recommend having lots of treats handy and providing them freely during this stage.

Once you’re able to touch her paws effectively then you can try to extend a nail out of her paw. You can do this by pressing from the bottom and tap of the paw on one of the paw pads.

Note: It may also help to play with your cat for 15-30 minutes and then let her calm down after the session and attempt this while she is sleepy/lethargic.

Get Acquainted with the Clippers

Cats love to get slowly acquainted with new things. Slowly exposing your cat to a new set of clippers, even when they aren’t in use, is a great strategy to help things along.

You can leave the clippers in her bed or her favorite place to sleep so that her scent ends up on the clippers. It may sound silly to do this, but it should help things along because she won’t see another brand new object when you get started with clipping!

Stop, Wait, What’s That Sound?

While you may not think about it because the sound of nail clippers doesn’t bother you, it is worth noting that cats can associate the sound with a bad experience. So let’s get these two things onto a good standing in your cat’s mind.

When your cat is nearby or in your lap you can snip a few pieces of uncooked spaghetti with the clippers. Then you can reward your cat with a treat after the clipping of the spaghetti to make her associate the sound with good things.

You can then move along. Next, while massaging one of your cat’s toes, gently press her toe pad. When the nail extends, clip the spaghetti with the clippers while still holding your cat’s paw gently. Now release her toe and quickly give her a treat.

Special thanks to PetMD for this idea!

Gradual Introduction To Clipping

As we all know cats don’t like change. If clipping your cat’s nails is a new experience then you’ll want to ensure you start slowly and provide lots of positive reinforcement. What do I mean by start slowly?

Well your cat has a heft number of nails, 18 to be exact. You’ve got 5 on each front paw and 4 on each back paw. If you’re just getting started with nail clipping you may want to clip only one or two nails the first time and then let your kitty go and reward her with treats.

This may take a while to get your cat fully used to nail clipping and some cats may never enjoy the process completely, so be sure to add in nails gradually.

One thing worth noting is that you’ll need to cut the front nails a lot more often than the back nails. Cats sharpen their front nails more frequently on their scratching posts and they will need far more attention to keep them manageable!

How to Clip the Nails

#1 Nail Trimming Position

If you’re going to be trimming the cat’s nails by yourself, the cat will need to sit on its rear on your lap, facing away from you, while you hold its paw with one hand (and, eventually, the clippers with the other).

#2 Use Nail Clippers Designed for Cats & Be Sure They are Sharp

It may go without saying, but just in case.  To trim your cat’s nails, you’ll need a pair of nail clippers designed to clip cat claws. Don’t products that aren’t specifically designed for cat nails as you could end up injuring your cat. The only real exception is for very kittens where you may use a pair of human nail clippers while their nails are still tiny. I have used my scissor style clippers on foster kittens under 8 weeks and it works just fine.

There are several different styles of nail clippers, all of which largely do the same job. The most common two types are:

• Guillotine clippers: Similar to the actual guillotine these use an entry slot for the nail and when you squeeze the handles together it shoves a single sharp blade forward to cut the nail. These are great clippers all around, but if your cat has really long nails that are curved like talons they can be a bit of a hassle to get the nail into the slot. The clippers in the shot above are guillotine clippers.
• Scissor clippers: They look just like scissors, pretty straight forward. You can get them in various sizes. You’ll want to use smaller clippers for smaller/younger cats and larger ones for bigger or older cats that get trimmed less often. The clippers used in step 3 are scissor style clippers.

Ensure the clippers are sharp. If the clippers are sharp the cat won’t feel the quick clip. Your cat’s clippers will start to dull after extensive use. Be sure to replace them if you notice your clippers aren’t cleanly cutting the nails. Dull blades is likely the cause.

#3 Now For the Clipping

You’ve got your cat in position, you’ve got your clippers in one hand. Now it is time to clip. All your conditioning and practice now comes into play.  Press one of your cat’s paws to extend the nail and then find the quick, slide your clippers into place, well away from the quick, and clip.

Ideally you’ll want to set your clippers up to cut from the bottom of the nail to the top of the nail, not the other way around. This will help minimize splitting the nails which can result in the clippers sliding or pushing a lot more pressure onto the quick which can be painful.

Be sure to press firmly and quickly once the clippers are positioned. This ensures a clean cut for the nail.

As discussed above you may only be able to clip one or two nails the first few times. Be patient! It might require multiple sessions over multiple days to get to all of the nails the first few times.

#4 Never Cut too Much

The pink part of a cat’s nail is called the quick and you’ll want to be really careful of this.  Most cats will react very poorly if you cut it. This is because it is extremely painful and actually has nerves and blood flowing through it.

If you happen to cut this your cat will bleed and your cat will definitely start to associate nail clippings with a bad experience. DO NOT CUT THIS AREA. Only cut the excess part of the nail.

As with many things in life, you’re far better off being extra careful and leaving extra nail on your cat than you are being aggressive and injuring your cat.

I don’t know how many positive experiences it takes to fix a negative one, but in general most cat swill consider every nail clipping a negative experience. Do your best not to make it any worse.

If you do accidentally cut the quick, any bleeding can be stopped with a styptic powder or gel. It’s a good idea to keep it nearby while you trim, especially if you’re new to it.

#5 Get Smart and Wear Protective Clothing

If you’re a new cat owner I’d also highly recommend you wear protective clothing when trimming your cat’s nails. No, you don’t need Kevlar or anything or a SWAT helmet.

Wear long sleeves and multiple layers so that if your cat’s claws do come out or if they do react poorly you’ve got a certain level of protection. I aim to wear a thick hooded sweater and jeans while we trim just on the off chance a stray claw comes my way.

If you’ve got two people for your trimming and you’re working with a new cat you might want to have the cat holder wear pot mitts just for the sake of safety the first few times.

The person with the clippers clearly can’t wear these so they’ll want to be very observant of the cat’s behavior to watch for warning signs!

#6 Additional Thoughts If It Still Isn’t Going Well:

The Towel Taco: While not ideal for clipping, the classic towel taco can really help minimize your cat’s movement during the clipping process. The difficult part is leaving a front paw out to clip while you wrap the rest of your kitty up.  That being said, this can be a very helpful method for trimming and clipping because it minimizes the potential threats!

Tag Team The Nail Clipping: If you have another person around this can make nail clipping a breeze compared to attempting it solo. I’ll freely admit that I’ve been lucky in that I always have another person to hold the cat while I perform the clipping. This makes the whole process undoubtedly easier and I highly recommend you bring help when you can.

Ask Your Vet Team: One thing I absolutely love about my Vet is that every time I take my cat in she gets a nail clipping free of charge. Obviously this isn’t often enough to cover me for the year. But I’d highly recommend you ask your vet if they can do a complimentary nail trimming while you are already in. They almost always have a multiple person team and they are very experienced in handling difficult felines. This might save you one or two clipping sessions a year.

Hire a Groomer: Last but not least, if you aren’t having any luck trimming your cat yourself you can always hire a groomer to do it. I’d personally recommend trimming your cat’s nails every two weeks and this can add up to be quite expensive if you have a groomer do it each time. But if your cat is horrified of you trimming her nails then this may be a solution.

One other thing to keep in mind is that if you do decide to pursue this route you’ll likely have to load your cat into the carrier and transport her on a consistent basis. Some cats really dislike this experience so you may want to check out my article on how to get cats into carriers the easy way.

Anything Else Worth Noting

Last but not least remember that your cat’s nails will grow her entire life and this is something you’ll need her to get used to at some point.  Even if you find trimming her claws difficult you should not declaw your cat.

It is horribly painful for your cat and can cause all sorts of both health and behavioral issues.

I’d also suggest you ensure you provide a high quality scratching environment for your cat. This will ensure that your cat doesn’t end up scratching your furniture or your carpet and instead focuses on the right items that you specifically want them to scratch.

Check out this article for more details on cat scratching.

Wrapping it Up on Nail Clipping

As you can see there’s a lot to take into account when you want to clip your cat’s nails and likely you won’t be able to do this on your own time! Cats have minds of their own and love to make the simplest of tasks as complicated as they can. They do rule the household after all.

I’ve personally been blessed with cats at home that are pretty easy to trim and that I have another person to trim with, but trimming a cat alone at the shelter is quite a task when it is necessary!

Also be sure to read up on other grooming practices like brushing your cat on a consistent basis as well. If you have any questions about nail clipping or if you have any experiences you’d like to share then please leave a comment below or write me directly at Craig@StuffCatsWant.com.

StuffCatsWant.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

References: ASPCA, PetMD