How To Restrain A Cat To File Its Nails

Dr. Sophia Yin

The "scarf wrap" technique is a great way to towel a cat.

When you need to trim your feline'due south nails or give her medication, there's a common household item that can make the procedure go much more smoothly — a large bath towel.

"Wrapping your cat in a towel is a dandy way to protect yourself from claws," saidDr. Sophia Yin, a veterinarian and applied animal behaviorist. "Towel wrapping also prevents escapes, and helps calm downwards a cat."

Toweling tin besides benefit cats who tend to exist anxious, fearful or aggressive when handled, added Dr. Yin, writer of Low Stress: Handling, Restraint and Behavior Modifications of Dogs and Cats.

"Cats tin can be more hard than dogs to restrain for several reasons," said Dr. Yin. "In general, cats receive less socialization and handling than dogs, and their evolutionary history as a prey species tin also cause them to experience more vulnerable when restrained. And cats can easily reach around to grab, seize with teeth or scratch you."

Elevation Toweling Tips

Before you try the technique, here are few tricks that you tin can do to brand toweling easier:

Never rush or force your cat into a towel. She may scream or fifty-fifty urinate or defecate out of pure panic.

Position your true cat on summit of a towel that's on a apartment surface. And so open a tin of food and identify information technology on the towel, so that your true cat has to lie or sit on the towel to eat her meal.

Loosely wrap the towel over your cat'southward back while she eats. Gently pet her back and permit her walk abroad when she's washed eating.

"If your true cat is more motivated by toys, dangle a plume wand for her to swat while on the towel," noted Dr. Yin. "The goal is to have your cat develop a positive association with the towel. It's likewise important for the owner to be calm and not experience rushed or frustrated, because the cat can read those emotions."

There are several toweling-the-true cat techniques, just i of the most effective and versatile options is known as the "scarf wrap." It gives y'all access to your cat's rear stop, forepart legs and head — all while keeping her snug and calm.

Scarf Wrap Your Cat in 5 Steps

Cat Toweling Step 1

Stride 1 First by placing your cat several inches from the front edge of the towel, almost a foot in from one side.

Cat Toweling Step 2

Step two Wrap the curt side of the towel snugly effectually your cat'south neck, similar a scarf.

Cat Toweling Step 3

Stride iii Pull the short side of the towel over your cat, so that her entire torso is covered, except for the face.

Cat Toweling Step 4

Footstep 4 Pull the front edge of the towel frontward, which volition wrap under your cat'south cervix.

Cat Toweling Step 5

Footstep five Once the towel is wrapped all the way effectually, grab the other side and pull it over your cat, making certain that it'due south snugly in place.

Now your cat is ready for nail trimming

Now that your cat is secured in the towel, you lot can give her medication or clip her nails by working on one leg at a time. When trimming nails, use your arm to gently hold the cat next to your body, and proceed your hands away from her oral fissure to prevent bites.

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