Kitty nails and kitty treats...

[azdesertrose]

I had to trim both cats' nails this week. They get treats after they get their nails clipped; it's been my experience that giving them treats afterward makes them learn to tolerate the pedicure. They start to associate the claw-clipping with treats and calm down while you clip their claws. My mother thinks I'm nuts for this but in my anecdotal experience, it works, and you get clawed less and less as time goes on and the association between treats and clipping grows stronger. They don't struggle as much (and struggling makes it harder to clip their claws) and they don't whine and fuss as much.

I do the same thing with the dog but I didn't get to him in puppyhood so I don't know how strong the association will ever get to be. He still whines and fusses and struggles when I have to clip his claws.

Comments

[myrrhdusa.livejournal.com]

Firefly gets a little chunk of sardine after her shot in the morning. It definitely works, because she not only reminds me every morning, but she jumps up onto the table and assumes the shot giving position!

[azdesertrose.livejournal.com]

Okay, at least I'm not the only one who gives treats to make unpleasant things pleasanter for my cats. :D