Cammie went to the animal hospital this weekend, though her visit was not due to any health concerns. In fact, being in good shape, her claws grow rapidly and sharply, and therein lies the problem.
The Siamese princess is improving in her trust all the time. When she is on my lap, which is at least once per day, she has allowed me to handle her paws, so long as I continue to pet her. She is not yet at the point of permitting me to cut her claws, and dislikes strangers coming into the house to do so. Yet when she is taken to the animal hospital for a trim, she is docile, perhaps stunned by the environment.
This time, I was able to accompany Cammie. She was handled by myself and the technician without trouble. Her rear claws were trimmed as well as her front; this elicited only a short hiss and grumbling from my foster-cat. Afterward, I took advantage of the situation and held her as I do Tungsten, and she didn’t object. She hurried back into her carrier without prompting, no doubt knowing, as I told her, that we were “all done.”
Later that day, I picked her up again and held her, for no more than ten seconds, while petting her. She neither growled nor hissed, and didn’t object in any way. I put her down quickly, though, so that she touched the floor again before she could display disapproval, while being held was still acceptable. I will try to do this at least once a day, increasing the time she is in my arms with each attempt. Her trust in humans is growing, and will, I am certain, reach the point at which she will allow me to cut her claws and even carry her around the house.
For now, however, this is how enthused Cammie was with the day.
She is lovely, John. What beautiful markings. I had a cat that disliked having her claws cut, too. I resorted to cutting one a day and it worked out fine. Thanks for your nice comment on Lily's passing. She will be sadly missed by all of us. Deb
ReplyDeleteAt least Cammie isn't a vet "killer." Good her claws her were trimmed and that she let you pick her up even for a few seconds.
ReplyDeleteNot every cat likes to be held--Nicki only will let me do it now for a short time because he sees Derry being picked up and cuddled (at Derry's own request) and oh, how my Annie hated being picked up. LOL.
You're doing an awesome foster job with Cammie. It would be lovely if someone would fall in love with her -- do you do FB? Most people do, I suppose, though I refuse. But she could be featured there; maybe she'd get a wider audience?
Purrs and peace.
The rescue-group I work with (and of which Cammie's a member) does have a Facebook page (that's what FB means, I take it?) but after her abortive adoption to Regina, we are looking only for a local adoption for her. Still, Facebook is used by local people who may not otherwise see her.
DeleteAnd I can pick her up at any time now - though I don't try in the mornings. She's too grumpy in the mornings.
Oh the Princess :)
ReplyDeleteShe actually looks a little sleepy or is that a look of disdain? Good for her and you too that she did so well with the claw trimming.
ReplyDeleteCammie has settled back in well and obviously trusts you.
ReplyDeleteFlynn had never had his claws cut until a visit to the vet to have a tooth removed. When he came home he tried to flex his claws on the carpet and they kept sliding across the top. When I looked, his claws had been cut very short. I was not pleased as he loves to climb trees and needs sharp claws for that. I rang to ask why they had been cut and one of the nurses said he had scratched her so she cut them. He is not a nasty cat and would not have done it in malice.
Since he was so ill he didn't go for his walks his claws had grown quite long so I sat him on the bed and used human nail clippers to trim the ends off. He is so good and lets me extend each claw to snip it off. I do it regularly now just to take the sharpest points off and he still has enough to climb trees if he wants to.
When I cut my other cats' claws, I try to get them short because most find it such an ordeal to have to them trimmed that I want the trimming to last a while. But I want to keep them long enough for some tree-climbing, too. Flynn hardly seems like the sort of cat who needs short claws for safety's sake.
DeleteI've been around here for quite a while, and I am only now climbing on mommy's lap less than once a day. And if mommy bends down to pick me up I run. Don't mind her when she feeds me--although to keep her happy I I sit for her before eating.
ReplyDeleteQUINN
A lady's day at the spa. At least that is what I tell Jessica when we are off to the vet's for her claw trim. She doesn't buy it. She is what Fuzzy Tales describes as a "TV killer". The nice lady howls, hisses, scratches and bites. She will not let me do her nails either. Cammie is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about being picked up. I get the squiggle jiggle going right away Dad lets me down and I then walk over and give him a nice head bump to let him know things are alright. We need to keep you humans on your toes you know!
ReplyDeleteTimmy